An historical and philosophical account of the barometer, or, weather-glass, wherein the reason and use of that instrument, the theory of the atmosphere, the causes of its different gravitation are assigned and explained. And a modest attempt from thence made towards a rational account and probable judgment of the weather / By Edward Saul, A.M.

  • Saul, Edward, 1677-1754.
Date:
1766
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical and philosophical account of the barometer, or, weather-glass, wherein the reason and use of that instrument, the theory of the atmosphere, the causes of its different gravitation are assigned and explained. And a modest attempt from thence made towards a rational account and probable judgment of the weather / By Edward Saul, A.M. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    who daily fee the EffeCt, and are not rightly apprized of the Caufe, to explain the Nature and Reafon of it. My Defign therefore in thefe Papers, is not to write for the Entertainment of Phi- lofophers, or of thefe Gentlemen, who by the Advantage of a learned Education, or of a Courfe of Experiments, have had bet¬ ter Opportunities of improving themfelves in Speculations of this Nature: But for the Satisfaction of many of my inquifitive Countrymen ; who having given themfelves and their Parlours an Air of Phiiofophy, by the Purchafe of a Barometer, may be willing to know the Meaning of it, and deiirous of exerting now and then a Supe¬ riority of Underftanding, by talking clearly and intelligibly upon it. The Defign and Ufe of this Xnftrument, is to (hew the various Changes in the Weight or Preffure of the Air, and thofe of the Weather depending upon it. The Air, in former Ages, was gene¬ rally held to be a Body fpecifically light; or, by its own inherent Spring and Activity, riling naturally, and mounting upwards: But the Philofophers of the laid Century, by various Experiments, have difeovered and demon fir ated it in reality to be a heavy elafiic Fluid ; heavy, becaufe its upper Parts prefs upon the lower, and thofe again upon others below them, with a progreffive Weight, i