149

Then Dr. Brown propounded mr Francis asting Mr. Francis Asting for Candid

mr. Hooke also gaue a reason why in this expt. the mercury of its own na
ture would shape Rise higher in a greater and Lower in a Lesse pipe
and why water would doe the quite contrary, which by experiment,
now shewn was plainely made appear to be soe. And shewd that
it was the same which he had long since published. He further added that

These and all other Experiments that haue been formerly made by the Soc
for the Examination of the nature and proprietys of the air, though
they haue been hitherto the opprobrium of the Society. from such as haue
thinks themselues masters of all knowledge a priori and by Reuelation, and despise all
such as is acquired by experimental inquiry, yet there is noe subiect in Nature
more proper for their examination and exercise, for wteuer may be said that
the weighing of the air and the exhausting & Condensating of it in other vessels
and the like were

are triuiall and impertinent tricks, yet he doubteth not to make it euident
that An exact kn and thorough knowledge of that is of more concerne
to mankind then all the other physicall knowledg in the world. for
it is by that we continually subsist & wthout it we cannot /liue/ subsist one
tenth part of an hower. the tis from that proceeds the causes of Infi=
nite of Diseases, and It affordes as many Remedys for those Distem
pers. tis . . . that in wch. we continually . . . reside that is the cause sine
qua non of all vegetables and animalls vpon the Land and it Influences euen
the fish in the sea. Infinite and vnspeakable are the vses of it to the husband -
man the merchant the tradesman the mechanick &c and that age will be
Deseruedly famous that perfects the theory of it.

Ref: CELL/RS/HF_151  © Centre for Editing Lives and Letters