Colonial North America: Houghton Library

[*chap. 7th in upper left hand corner*] Naturall Phylosophy [*37 in upper right hand corner*]

[1] the matter Inflameable is fatty, Sulphureous, oylie, Resinous.

[2] the affections are light, motion, and adhasion.

[1] Light caused by flame is bec: of ye motive parts there of which can sufficiently vibrate themselves to give vibration to lumin-ous particles. (where with ye air is filled) that they may also vibrate ye fine spirits of our eye. (sealed in ye optick nerves) so as {that} our souls may perceive their motion. (hence in ye da-rk by a blow on ye eye, a spark, flame, or light appears wi-thin it because of a like in those spirits).

this vibrating is in strait lines, ye continuance of {which} being intercepted by any other Dark body begets a shadow, which is a partiall privation of light, as darkness is totall, {that} is a cessati-on of motion in part apt to cause light, if they were duely mo-ved; and if a greater light appears it swallows up ye less, snat-ching motion from it to it self: hence 'tis that ye sun puts out fire when it shines strongly upon it; and we cannot see ye flame of a candle in a window where ye sun doth brightly shine, so {that} flame may hence take this Definition, fire cau- -sing light.

[2] the motion of flames tenuious parts is upwards by ye press-ure of more heavy adjacent bodies; so {that} it would emerge (like cork put to ye bottom of water) to ye upper surface of ye atm-osphere at least were it not for its natural adhosion to som-ething there below; therefore,

[3] its adhosion by ye bottom to some more solid body is only a receiving a continued supply of Inflameable parts, ye which once spent ye flame vanishes.

[3] the Effects of fire (besides heat and light mentioned) are various, of great use for ye service of men, Separation, Demigrati- -on, exsiccation, induration, fusion, vitrification, elixation, refocillation.

[1] Separation of Heterogeneous parts, whereof some are carried a-bove it; some fall below it.

[1] Carried above it, as smoak or steam, a mixture of light, or more volatile parts of water, salt, and Sulphur; which before were in ye composition of ye body burnt. Smoak makes soot in ye chimney; and a steam is ye ground of Distillation.

[2] falling below it are ashes, and a mixture of Earth and ye fixed Salt.

[2] Demigration, or making black, by piercing multitudes of small holes in the surface of ye body, whereby it drinks in light and re-flects it not for black is but ye privation of light reflected, as we see in the hole of any wall which appears black.

Exsiccation, or drying, by [y superscript e] evaporation of [y superscript e] moisture that is giving [y superscript e] watery particles motion enough to be gone from the body, though not Inflammation, of wch they are not capable. Induration, or hardning (by consequence) of Such bodies, whose Softness is from moisture; as clay. fusion, or melting, by insinuation into [y superscript e] body of mettalls, & putting their ini[sard?] particles into motion, wch when it cease: =th, leaves [y superscript e] parts in quietness, & [y superscript e] body to hardness again. vitrification, (wch is [y superscript t] utmost fusion) or making of glass is by removing the Heterogeneous earthy parts form those wch are apt to flow (or melt), & in flowing to adhere (or stick close together) Elixation (co[?]ion or Dressing meat) is removing Such crude pa: =rts as are unapt for digestion, and nourishment. refocillation (or chersighing [y superscript e] body) in cold Seasons by putting our naturall Spirits into Convenient motion for opening [y superscript e] . por: =es, and promoting a due circulation of [y superscript e] blood, by melting [y superscript e] [clods?] thereof (especially in [y superscript e] extream parts and Capillary vessels) whereby [y superscript e] offensive Steams are ejected , [y superscript e] Spirits qui: =ckned, and dispersed throughout [y superscript e] whole body. and thus much of actuall fire. Potentiall fire is [y superscript t] which dos in it self appear to [y superscript e] Senses not to have any resemblance of fire, yet has many of [y superscript e] pow: =ers thereof manifest in [y superscript e] Effects; as burning, fermentation, (or heating) ebullition or (or [inelligible]) and Sending up fumes. now Such bodies are certain Sharp, or acid salts, which have vola: =tile parts put into motion by humour or liquour (as Lime) or by [y superscript e] Salts of Some other bodies apt to work upon [y superscript m]; for their burning or fermentation is allways by mixing Something Het: =erogeneous; and this commonly is a Solution or Liquour, for if [y superscript e] Salts are dry and unmixt, their parts are quiet, and have no Such agitation: Thus [y superscript e] Salt of a mineral, and a vegetable mixt (as Spirit, and tartar, and vitreol put together) will cause ebullition and a great fervour in [y superscript e] Liquours, wch to touch are otherwise mutually cold. and thus much of fire. [upper brace]Effects produce by fire potentiall, [lower brace]make reall fire though like it not at all.

Chap:.8: of air.

Air (by [y superscript e] ancients) is an Element most humid and warm. its motion upwards; its place between fire and water, and this di: =vided into 3 regions. the Lower Region; wch begins at [y superscript e] Earth or water, and reaches up to the place of [y superscript e] clouds; bec: So far [y superscript e] beams of [y superscript e] Sun are more Strongly reflected from [y superscript e] Earth, whose Steams they carry with them to [y superscript e] matter of [y superscript e] clouds. the middle, wch from [y superscript e] extent of [y superscript e] Lower region reaches to [y superscript e] clouds top: this is Said to be [y superscript e] coldest of [y superscript e] 3 for a two-fold Reason [upper brace] privative. [lower brace] positive. Privative, bec: 'tis So far from [y superscript e] fountain of heat, [y superscript e] many rays springing from that body do no reach it, and so far (on [y superscript e] other side) from [y superscript e] Earth that [y superscript e] reflected rays Do not ascend into it. Positive, and [y superscript t] still (according to [y superscript e] Antients) [upper brace] Directly [lower brace] by accident Directly, the cold vapours, that are by heat lifted up, but [y superscript n] returning to their nature cold, they cool, and chill [y superscript e] air [y superscript t] is mingled with them. by accident, the anteperistasis (a greek compound word handso: =mly) signifying natures Struggle or contranitence against what [Dos?] oppose it: for as nature ordinarily operates according to the utmost of its power, so Doth is much more and especially when it's to conquer a Difficulty. Thus fire besieged with cold in frosty weather, Scorches more vehemently having its heat thereby inte: =nded; and by [y superscript e] like reason, [y superscript e] middle region of [y superscript e] air being beset on both sides (both above and below) by those warmer on: =es, hath between them it's cold intended also: the vapours (I Suppose they mean those which are naturally cold) have their cold strengthned; as [y superscript e] hot vapours also by this neighbouring cold are heightned Somtimes to even a flame and from these reluctances is [y superscript e] generation of meteours in this part of [y superscript e] air (of which af: =ter). whether [y superscript e] air it Self have any native cold may well be doubted, as contrary to their own Definition of air. these 2 regi: =ons together are called [y superscript e] Earths atmosphere. whose extent is variously assigned: Some say 'tis 3 miles of perpendicular hei: =ght from [y superscript e] Earths Surface; Some 4; Some 7; Some more: 'tis not far above [y superscript e] tops of [y superscript e] highest mountains, say Some; it may not be So high Say others; Olympus is Said to have its name from (οʎοs ʎαμπροs) [wholly?] clear without clouds; they mounting not So high. a part of [y superscript e] alps near [Padus?] is Said to have a hill,

[*chap. 8th in upper left hand corner*] Naturall Phylosophy [*43 in upper right hand corner*]

Mercury in ye pipe as will [aquipoize?] ye like pillar throughout the whole atmosphere. this weight of ye atmosphere varies in sever-all times and places, therefore ye Cylinder of mercury in ye pipe is shorter on the top of an high mountain than in ye valley: bec-cause ye like Cylinder of ye atmosphere is Longer in ye whole per-pendicular line's height of ye mountain, and therefore must we-igh more, and have more [sigil of Mercury] in ye pipe to counterpoise it.

Dr. Power (page 104) note {that} Pascalius in a mountain of 500 perch high found ye Difference 3 iches; whence he suggests {that} by ye rule of proportion, we may find out ye height of ye atmos-phere; thus, heigh in ye tube 3 inches, height of ye hill 500 perch; height in the tube 29 inches, heigh of ye atmosphere 4833 perches ie: 15 1/2 miles.

It varies also in the same place so as ye atmosphere presses upon ye [sigil of Mercury] in ye cylinder more or less in ye compass of about 6 inches. according as ye steams are more or less ascending & desce-nding in ye air. and thus are made Barometers, [sigil of Mercury], weather = glasses now of common use.

[2] aptness yea necessity for breathing is ascribed to ye atmosphere and its colder parts; for pure air is unapt for Respiration (as is before noted) this is a perpetuall ambient Ingredent into our bodies and is allways mixing with our Animal Spirits, not only (though cheifly) by breathing, but permeating ye pores of ye whole body and from hence ariseth ye Distinctions wholsome and unwhol-some; sweet and corrupted air, for it be Impregnated with benign and [Calsamick?] particles, it cherisheth, maintains, & restores health: but if (on the other hand) ye steams are [fatid?] and poyson-ous or otherwise malign, they destory ye health and endanger the life. hence fires in ye streets of a city, shooting of great guns, ringing of bells, are accounted profitable in ye time of pestilence. as also ye naturall helps of frost, wind, rains, [?]: bec: these in some measure beat down and dissipate those misamass or corrupted vene-mous steams that hover in ye air. hence our care is (or should be) to mind well ye place of our habitations or settlements, that if air thereof be suitable to our bodies by its agreeable steams. hence also 'tis that some persons in chronicall Distempers, are for their health sent to their native air, that is to ye steams {that} former-ly agreed with them

[text in the middle with a single bracket on the left hand side] Respective attributes are greater weight, usefull for Respiration when 'tis right.

[*44 in upper left hand corner*] Naturall Phylosophy [*chap. 9th in upper right hand corner*]

Chap: 9: Of Water

Water is Defined (by ye Antients) an Elements most cold and humid (or moist). air (by {them}) was said to be most humid, and yey (say they) water humectates (or moistens) ore {then} air bec: of its more crass parts whereby it better [adhares?] to ye thing to be moistned.

Its naturall motionis Down-wards.

Its place between ye lower surface of ye air and upper of ye Earth, {which} it would all naturally cover, but that for ye use of Animalls {which} need air for their lives, ye Earth in some pla-ces is made perminent, as sustained by rocks, and so emergent in ye air; and ye water in other places reduced into hollows, & chan-nels fit to receive it.

[in margain -- N:] note, hence seems to be a confusion of humidity and fluidity, which indeed are Distinct qualities or at least a humid is a fluid with an addition of clammy parts adhoring; and {then} we may say Air is fluid, and water is most humid; but that will not admit humid to be a first Quality, nor will Aristotle's Combination of the 4 first Qualities link well together in finding out ye true number of Elements. we may therefore conceive water to be moi-st, and cold, and leave air to be most fluid.

But Leaving these conjectures of ye Ancients, we shall count ye attributes of water, primary, 3, Quantity, fluidity, gravity; and other secondaries {that} arise from them.

[in margin -- 1] Quantity or extension of water is either [text prefaced by a single bracket] Superficiall, or Bulkey.

[in margin -- 1] Superficiall, {which} is taken, notice of in ye sea. the proportion of which to Dry Land is observed by Geographers: and ye measure of it is taken by Mariners with a log-line, and minute-glass. the log-line is a small whip cord of Diverse fathoms long, ha-ving at each fathoms end a knot and small bit of cloth, or rag of severall colours; one end is fastned to a peice of coard {that} is 18 inches long and 6 inches broad; the other end with all the lenth is round a Trundle that runs round a spit:

National Philosophy Days and nights are equall, Spring and neap are of [lefs?]. Note these things are taken out of equal Galilaeus, but Dr Wallis observes & aligns other times and reasons after another jovt, Concerning this matter, as may by seen in the appendix after this Physcichs. accidentall are variations from the Common periods by ye situation and figure of channels, depths of water , stormy winds, of vast oceans [wich?] give either movement of Impediment. hence arise effects, some move constant, as the mentioned current rise of water; some alltogether uncertain as Extreordinary floods, & Doubling tides. Tides natural are in a day, month, year, Tides accidentally variously appear. now to find out the cause of all these from the Copernican Hypothesis, comparison is made of the Sea to the water, that may be contained in a vessel; for channels and lower or hollow parts of the Earth are but greater vessels, capable of greater Quantities of water. the reciprocations they compare to the greater swayes of a pendulum, wherein some outward cause at the first (say a mans hand) brings the bullet to its height, but afterwards its fall is back again, and continued to swing by its weight in like manner [dos?] water being forcibly raised up by one side of a vessel, through its own weight and fluidity, fall back again, and so continues to Sway from side to side. now the motion of the vessel may cause the water to ascend by one side, by altering either its site or velocity. by altering the site of the vessel ( as in the figure a) inclining it to one or other side, and then the parts of ye bottom must be altered in their distance from the center of ye Earth ( or of gravity) [wch?] presently causes the fluid water to flow towards the lower part. but the bottom of the sea can have its Distance thus altered; and therefore this way will not serve our turn. by altering the velocity of the vessels motion from rest ( or slowness) into motion ( or swiftness) : and on the contrary from swiftness into slowness eithor of these will cause the rising of ye water at one end of other end of the motion. as supposed a boat carries a long [trough?] of water, placed according to ye length of ye boat, and the [trough?] be fastened there unto; if ye boat ye [thrist?] of from ye shoar where it rested, after ye prow, the [trough?] will immediately have the same motion, [bec?]: fastened and solid: but ye water being loose and fluid, will not presenlty take the motion, but linger a little behind in the state of rest wherein it was before; therefore ye [trough?] going on, from under it (as boys strike out the nethermost of 2 groats laid on the top of their thumb) must leave water to neap, and so rise in the stern, by shuffling the hinder & former

Chap 9th Natural Philosophy water together: but have it will not rest, for when it has risen as far as it may upwards towards the stern by that motion of ye trough, it falls away again forwards towards the prow by its own gravity, and so by Degrees carries to a forward motion equall to that of the boats course be retarded or stopt, the water dos not presently retard and stop with it, bec: of ye [loosnefs?] and fluidity before noted. therefore the water continuing the same velocity for a while, it must shuffle parts together, and rise at the prow as it did before at the stern. Now in the Copernican Scheme the Earth [troffing?] it self round its own axis (as a bowl) in the [Diurnall?] revolution it withall round the great orb, ascribed to the sun by Ptolomie (as it were the length of ye green) in the annuall revolution, the center of ye Earth running in the line of ye great orb; therefore ye Superficiall parts of the Earth must needs have an equall velocity (for any one part say the Mediterranean) must sometimes move forwards (from west to east) with a double velocity, namely that of the Diurnall revolution super:added to that of ye annuall, and sometimes with the subtraction of ye Diurnall from ye annuall, as appears by this diagram. Suppose the great circle be the grand orb or Ecliptick (in whose center is ye sun) the [lefs?] circle is the body of ye Earth whose center (c) moves in the Ecliptick onwards from the plain place of (c) (to K L M,[etc?]) mean while turns (a) round by (b o e [&?]) 365 times. Suppose also the place between (a and e) is mediterranean sea; now (a) ye superficall part of ye Earth between (4 & 1) has its motion concurrent, or ye same way with ye center (c), therefore while it [dospafs?] in that distance the superficial (or diurnall) motion must be added to ye centrall (or annuall) and while (a) is moving between the points (1 & 2), as on the other side it goes upwards from (3 to 4), therefore while it is passing these two distacnes the motion of the superficial point (a) is only ye same with the motion of the superficial point (a) is only ye same with the center (c) in the annuall course. but while (a) moves between (2 & 3) it goes backwards and contrary to the annuall motion, [&?] therefore they must subtract from the annuall so much as the

MS Am 2523 THE HOUGHTON LIBRARY *43M-673

1st Page Copy

Extract from a grant made to Amos Botsford and Others of 65,600 acres in the township of Digby dated Halifax {February} the 20th,, 1784 . . .

Boundary of the township of Digby.

"Situate being and lying, beginning at a tree marked J:R. on a cove in the south east part of the Joggin in Annapolis Bason, being the North western bound of the land formerly granted Jonathan Hoare Esq.r - Thence to run south, twenty four degrees East, seven hundred and seventy Chains, of four rods each - Thence south sixty six degrees West, one thousand three hundred chains, - Thence North twenty four degrees West, two hundred and ninety four chains, or until it comes to the back line of the hundred acre lots laid out on the river Siseboo; and to begin again at the lower bound of land commonly called Potters grand on Siseboo river aforesaid - Thence to run south, thirty three degrees West, the course of that grant, one hundred and Thirteen chains - Thence south fifty seven degrees East forty chains, - Thence south sixty six degrees East, two hundred and fifty six chains, on the back of the hundred acre lots aforesaid, or until it

3/

comes to the end of the third course, which ended on the back of the said lots; and to be bounded by the several courses of the river Siseboo, from Potters grant aforesaid, down stream into St. Marys Bay, and by the several courses of the said Bay round through the passage, commonly called Petitte passage into the Bay of Fundy: and by the Bay of Fundy running Eastward, into the gut of Annapolis, and bason to the bounds first mentioned, containing in the whole one hundred Thousand acres, exclusive of the reservations made, and deliniated on the annexed plan - - To wit No twelve on the North side of the eastern branch of the river Siseboo, - No. eighteen, and nineteen on the south side of said river leading into a Paralelogram - likewise reserved of two hundred and ninety four chains, by three hundred and six; at the south Eastern bound of said Township, and hath such shape, form and marks, as appears by a plott thereof here unto annexed. ----"