[ ] 
water. For this end, 22 pieces of the heft cork, 
fuch as is diredfed to be ufed for the jackets, ^ were 
provided ; thefe were of different weights, from one 
ounce down to one fcruple j fo that by means of a 
firing to which they were occafionally faflened, one 
might eafily learn what weight they would fufpend in 
the water, and what weight they would not fufpend. 
This being done, the next bufinefs was to find a 
proper perfon to make the experiment upon ; for the 
accuracy of which it was judged proper to felect a man 
of the fmaller fize (as our le.imen are feldom large) 
that was not very fat, becaufe fat people are more 
buoyant than lean or bony perfons j one that could 
fwim, that he might go through the experiment with 
propriety, and without fear; one, therefore, was fixed 
upon, who was plump and mufcular, not very bony, 
but moderately lo; 
Flis height was five feet two inches ; 
His waifl meafured two feet ten inches ; 
His weight was one hundred and four pounds. 
Thus fitted out, he flripped naked, and ten ounces of 
cork being tied about his neck and breafl, he committed 
himlelf to the river Thames, near Chelfea, in a place 
where the water was about a foot below his depth ; 
but he could not keep his head above the furface 
without employing his art, though he found not much 
art required to do it : another ounce of cork was 
therefore added, and he perceived himfelf raifed 
thereby, fo as now to be the more able to keep 
himfelf above the water, but yet he went flowly to 
the bottom, unlels he took care by fwimming to pre- 
vent it. For this reafon another ounce of cork was 
* The cork jackets propofed for faving the lives of feamcii 
and others in fhipwreck arc here meant. 
applied, 
