6834Natural Hiſtory;
There is a conceit runneth abroad, that there ſhould be a White Powder,
11120. which will diſcharge a piece without noiſe, which is a dangerous experi-
7171[Handwritten note 71]7272[Handwritten note 72]7373[Handwritten note 73] ment, if it ſhould be true: For it may cauſe ſecret Murthers, but it ſeemeth
to me unpoſſible; for if the Air pent, be driven forth and ſtrike the Air open,
it will certainly make a noiſe. As for the White Powder, (if any ſuch
thing be that may extinguiſh or dead the noiſe) it is like to be a mixture
of Petre and Sulphure, without Coal. For Petre alone will not take Fire.
And if any Man think, that the ſound may be extinguiſhed or deaded, by
diſcharging the pent Air, before it cometh to the Mouth of the Peece, and
to the open Air, that is not probable; for it will make more divided ſounds:
As if you ſhould make a Croſs-barrel hollow, thorow the Barrel of a
Peece, it may be it would give ſeveral ſounds, both at the Noſe and the
ſides. But I conceive, that if it were poſſible to bring to paſs, that there
ſhould be no Air pent at the Mouth of the Peece, the Bullet might flie
with ſmall or no noiſe. For firſt it is certain, there is no noiſe in the Per-
cuſſion of the Flame upon the Bullet. Next the Bullet, in piercing tho-
row the Air, maketh no noiſe, as hath been ſaid; and then, if there be no
pent Air, that ſtriketh upon open Air, there is no cauſe of noiſe, and yet the
flying of the Bullet will not be ſtaid. For that motion (as hath been oft
ſaid) is in the parts of the Bullet, and not in the Air. So as tryal muſt be
made by taking ſome ſmall Concave of Minal, no more than you mean to
fill with Powder, and laying the Bullet in the Mouth of it half out in the
7171[Handwritten note 71]7272[Handwritten note 72]7373[Handwritten note 73] open Air.
11120. which will diſcharge a piece without noiſe, which is a dangerous experi-
7171[Handwritten note 71]7272[Handwritten note 72]7373[Handwritten note 73] ment, if it ſhould be true: For it may cauſe ſecret Murthers, but it ſeemeth
to me unpoſſible; for if the Air pent, be driven forth and ſtrike the Air open,
it will certainly make a noiſe. As for the White Powder, (if any ſuch
thing be that may extinguiſh or dead the noiſe) it is like to be a mixture
of Petre and Sulphure, without Coal. For Petre alone will not take Fire.
And if any Man think, that the ſound may be extinguiſhed or deaded, by
diſcharging the pent Air, before it cometh to the Mouth of the Peece, and
to the open Air, that is not probable; for it will make more divided ſounds:
As if you ſhould make a Croſs-barrel hollow, thorow the Barrel of a
Peece, it may be it would give ſeveral ſounds, both at the Noſe and the
ſides. But I conceive, that if it were poſſible to bring to paſs, that there
ſhould be no Air pent at the Mouth of the Peece, the Bullet might flie
with ſmall or no noiſe. For firſt it is certain, there is no noiſe in the Per-
cuſſion of the Flame upon the Bullet. Next the Bullet, in piercing tho-
row the Air, maketh no noiſe, as hath been ſaid; and then, if there be no
pent Air, that ſtriketh upon open Air, there is no cauſe of noiſe, and yet the
flying of the Bullet will not be ſtaid. For that motion (as hath been oft
ſaid) is in the parts of the Bullet, and not in the Air. So as tryal muſt be
made by taking ſome ſmall Concave of Minal, no more than you mean to
fill with Powder, and laying the Bullet in the Mouth of it half out in the
7171[Handwritten note 71]7272[Handwritten note 72]7373[Handwritten note 73] open Air.
I heard it affirmed by a Man that was a great dealer in Secrets, but he
22121. was but vain; That there was a Conſpiracy (which himſelf hindred) to have
killed Queen Mary, Siſter to Queen Elizabeth, by a Burning-Glaß, when ſhe
walked in St. James Park, from the Leads of the Houſe. But thus much, no
doubt, is true, That if Burning-Glaſſes could be brought to a great ſtrength,
(as they talk generally of Burning-Glaſſes, that are able to burn a Navy) the
Percuſſion of the Air alone, by ſuch a Burning-Glaß, would make no
noiſe; no more than is found in Corruſcations, and Lighinings without
Thunders.
22121. was but vain; That there was a Conſpiracy (which himſelf hindred) to have
killed Queen Mary, Siſter to Queen Elizabeth, by a Burning-Glaß, when ſhe
walked in St. James Park, from the Leads of the Houſe. But thus much, no
doubt, is true, That if Burning-Glaſſes could be brought to a great ſtrength,
(as they talk generally of Burning-Glaſſes, that are able to burn a Navy) the
Percuſſion of the Air alone, by ſuch a Burning-Glaß, would make no
noiſe; no more than is found in Corruſcations, and Lighinings without
Thunders.
I ſuppoſe that Impreßion of the Air with Sounds, asketh a time to be con-
33122. veighed to the Senſe, as well as the Impreßion of Species viſible, or elſe they will
7171[Handwritten note 71]7272[Handwritten note 72]7373[Handwritten note 73] not be heard. And thereſore, as the Bullet moveth ſo ſwiſt, that it is inviſible,
ſo the ſame ſwiftneſs of motion maketh it inaudible; for we ſee that the ap-
prehenſion of the Eye, is quicker then that of the Ear.
33122. veighed to the Senſe, as well as the Impreßion of Species viſible, or elſe they will
7171[Handwritten note 71]7272[Handwritten note 72]7373[Handwritten note 73] not be heard. And thereſore, as the Bullet moveth ſo ſwiſt, that it is inviſible,
ſo the ſame ſwiftneſs of motion maketh it inaudible; for we ſee that the ap-
prehenſion of the Eye, is quicker then that of the Ear.
All Eruptions of Air, though fmall and ſlight, give an entity of ſound,
44123. which we call Crackling, Puffing, Spiting, & c. As in Bay ſalt, and Bay-leaves
caſt into the fire; ſo in Cheſnuts, when they leap forth of the Aſhes, ſo in
green wood laid upon the fire, eſpecially Roots; ſo in Candles that ſpit
flame, if they be wet; ſoin Raſping, Sneezing, & c. Soin a R oſe leaf gather-
ed together into the faſhion of a Purſe, and broken upon the Forehead, or
Back of the Hand, as Children uſe.
44123. which we call Crackling, Puffing, Spiting, & c. As in Bay ſalt, and Bay-leaves
caſt into the fire; ſo in Cheſnuts, when they leap forth of the Aſhes, ſo in
green wood laid upon the fire, eſpecially Roots; ſo in Candles that ſpit
flame, if they be wet; ſoin Raſping, Sneezing, & c. Soin a R oſe leaf gather-
ed together into the faſhion of a Purſe, and broken upon the Forehead, or
Back of the Hand, as Children uſe.
THe cauſe given of Sound, that it ſhould be an Eliſion of the Air (where-
55124. by, if they mean any thing, they mean Cutting or Dividing, or elſe an
66Experiments
in Con ſort,
touching
Production,
Conſervation,
and Delation
of Sounds; and
the office of the
Air thersin. Attenuating of the Air) is but a term of Ignorance; and the motion is
but a catch of the Wit upon a few Inſtances, as the manner is in the
Philoſophy received. And it is common with Men, that if they have gotten
a pretty expreſſion by a word of Art, that expreſſion goeth currant, though
it be empty of matter. This conceit of Eliſion, appeareth moſt
55124. by, if they mean any thing, they mean Cutting or Dividing, or elſe an
66Experiments
in Con ſort,
touching
Production,
Conſervation,
and Delation
of Sounds; and
the office of the
Air thersin. Attenuating of the Air) is but a term of Ignorance; and the motion is
but a catch of the Wit upon a few Inſtances, as the manner is in the
Philoſophy received. And it is common with Men, that if they have gotten
a pretty expreſſion by a word of Art, that expreſſion goeth currant, though
it be empty of matter. This conceit of Eliſion, appeareth moſt