C 8o8 ] 
,this to be a perpetual Weik^y or that 'tis probable one 
fliould be made any other way 5 as imlikely may it fecm 
to moftYtha^If^y ^ot to this Society) that there was 
ever any fuch thing as a perpetual Lamp ; notwithftand- 
ingthQTeflimonies oi St. Jufiin^Flutarch, Pliny , Ludovi^ 
cws Vives^ Baptijla Porta^ Licetm^ Tancirollus^ and divers 
others^ whereofforpe are faid to have burnt a looo, fome 
jjoo years. But I dare not think fo many, and lo very 
good Author have all impofed upon us 3 or that 'tis al- 
moft pojQSble that fo many notable inftances as are 
brought for them, fliould all be falfe. Much rather 
therefore fliall I determine (than wholly explode the 
thing) that the liquor oi th.Q{e Lamps did burn without 
any Snuff or Wei\ at all, as we fee Camphor e and moft 
bitumens will, it not being exprefs't ( that I remember ) 
fcarce in any of ther^//3:^2owj' of theie Lamps, that they 
were found with any Weiks^ whence both the inconve- 
niencies above mention d attending a JVeiJ^, ip/ofaHo 
ceafe. It only therefore remaining that we find out an 
tnexhaujiible Oyly which conveyed to a fit vefTel might 
caufe fuch aZa;72/? J why may notour bitumen at Pitch* 
fordiQXYQ the turn > which no queftion will burn without 
a Weik^, aswell^LS^ny oth-^r: liquid, bitumen : fori begged 
not above in this inftance the favour of a WetJ^out of ne- 
ceiEty, but that I was willing to fliew the probability of 
its being done as many waies as T could. All the obje- 
ction I can forefee that is bkely to obtam advantage 
againftfuch Experi?nent^ is that fuch ^Latnp as this, 
would as likely burn in the o^en Air^ as in an inclofed 
damp Vaults w\itXQ^9. the Lamps oithQ Aficients did riou- 
rifli their flame beft, where there was moft want of Jir^ 
only in cloiQ^Faults ^\\d Tombs, and were pre fen tly ex^ 
tinguifh't upon the Itd.^ immiEion Ext ernaljir, thefe 
being qualities neceffiiry, and almoft alwaies aiferted 
as concomitants of the Ancient Sepulchral Lamps. To 
which lanfwcrfirftj thatfome of the L^.^u^j* of the An* 
cients^ 
