C38) 
II Lezioni intornoallaNatura delleMofettc,c^<:. 
Dtfconrfes concerning the Nature of Dampfj 
by Leonardus Capuanus 5 a Member of the 
Academy of the Inveftigantes. Naples^ in 4"^* 
IN the Preface to this Treatife, the Son, who is the 
Poblilher thereof, gives us the Hiftory of the Begin- 
ning and Fare of the Academy of the Invefligantes , 
whereof his Father, the Author of this Book, was one, 
in fliorr, thus : Marquefs Andreas Concuhletti^ after the 
Example of the Royal and Florentine Societies, invited 
the Learned Men of Napljes to meet on certain days at 
his Houfe to Difcourfe ot and to Cuhivate Learning and 
Knowledge ; thefe aflumed the Name of Invefiigantes , 
with an Hound for their Imprefs, and Lucretius's word, 
Vefltgta lujirat^ for their Motto. Scarce had this So- 
ciety met four or five times, from which fome promiftd 
themfelves great Matters, but it was again broken in 
pieces, by the removal of the chief Perlbn under whofe 
Proteftion they met. It was more than Twenty Years 
before this Piece, containing fome of theLedtures made 
in that AlTembly, were publiih'd in Memory of the be- 
ing of fuch a Society , and Dedicated to the Queen of 
Sweden. In the firft of thefe the Author enumerates 
the chief Places that formerly, or at this day exhiale a 
noxious Vapour, treating largely of the Caves and Lakes, 
near Naples, Puzzuoli^ Baice^ and Cumce, making the 
Lake Avernus differ from thefe Damps, in that it is; mit 
chievous only to Birds, whereas the other are fo to all 
Creatures. Next, he gives the Opinions of the Old 
and New Philofophtrs concerning the caufes of thefe 
Damps. In thQ Second Leiiure^ fuppofing Life to confift 
\ 
