174 
LETTERS FROM THE REV. WM. DERHAM, D.D. 
of his books from the notes made by his friend. The annuity 
Willoughby left Ray was the chief source of the latter’s means of 
livelihood during the last years of his life. 
It appears from this letter that it was owing to the Doctor’s 
persuasion that Dacre Barrett became a member of the Royal 
Society, to which he was elected in the following February. 
i 7 °T 
Sr. 
I have now gotten a Pneumatick Engine, & the maker will 
be with me to morrow, who is best able to try various Experiments. 
He will be going on Saturday. I have advertised you of this, 
v* you may have the pleasure of seeing the Exp ts as well as my 
self ; and y e Honour of your good company will be a great fav r to 
S r . 
Your much obliged and most humble servt 
W. Derham. 
I desire my humble service to y r Lady, Son & Daughters. 
Upm r . Sep : 22. 1704. 
S r . 
According as I told you I expected, I have gotten a Pneumatick 
Engine, w ch the maker was so kind to leave with me for a week 
or more longer than this present time. I have successfully tryed 
some Exp ts in it, & want to try more, particularly some of Mr. 
Boyles ; & therefore if you have Mr. Boyl’s Book of the Pneumat. 
Eng. or any other on y t Subject, I beg the favour of you to lend 
them me for a little while. I remember there are divers of such 
Exp ts in the Vol : of Transactions w ch I last restored to you, or 
y* before. If you can find them out, & think them worth trying 
over again, I desire you will be pleased to send me y t Vol : again. 
And if you will be pleased, before I return the Engine, to assist 
in, & partake with me in the pleasure of some of these Curiosities 
it will be a great favour to 
S r . 
Your much obliged and most humble servh 
W. Derham. 
I am sure you will be much pleased w rth y e Experim ta , 8 c there¬ 
fore to save you the trouble of a short journey hither, I would 
send rou the Engine, but it would be troublesome, 8 c hazardous to 
y e glasses. 
1 desire the favour of mine & my wifes humble service to your 
Lndy, Son & Daughters. 
Bovle wrote so large a quantity of books on scientific sub¬ 
jects that it is difficult to identify the one the Doctor wanted to 
borrow. It may have been one indexed in the British Museum 
Catalogue as New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall the touching 
the spring of the air, etc., etc., made in a new Pneumatical Machine. 
Published in 1660. 
