The mathematical and philosophical works of the Right Reverend John Wilkins ... To which is prefix'd the author's life, and an account of his works / [John Wilkins].

John Wilkins

Date:: 1708

Credit: The mathematical and philosophical works of the Right Reverend John Wilkins ... To which is prefix'd the author's life, and an account of his works / [John Wilkins]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

395/596 page 87

$onsof Pablick Danger and Preparations, have Been Centimes fuddenly fpread over this whole I (land. This may further be advantaged by the Ufe of alilaeus his Perfpe&ive. Tis ftoried of the Inhabitants in Chinay that when ay Merchants do happen upon the Shores of that ingdofn, they are prefently examined, whence ley come, what Commodities they bring , and of rhat^Number they are : Which being known , the 'atch (Tet for that purpofej do prefently inform the mg of their Anfwers, by Smoak in the Day, and ires in the Night: Who by the fame Means does as >eedily return them his Pleafure, whether they tall be admitted or kept out: And fo that is eafily Tpatched in fome few Hours, which could not be ^formed the ordinary Way , without the Trouble 1 many Days. The Practice of all thefe fecret and fwih Mefld- may perhaps feem very difficult at the firfl: • but » does alfo the Art of Writing and Reading to an lettered Man : Cuftom and Experience will make ,e one as facile and ready as the other. That thefe ways of Information already explain- whether by the Species of Sound or Sight, are ic fkme with thofe intimated in JSfuntius Inanimatesj ay be clearly evident to any one who does but tho- mghly perufe that Difcourfe, and compare it with .vers other the like Paffages of the fame Author^ i his Domingo Gonfales. x. For the Species of Sound, his Words are thefe, unhus nihil percipi nifi perfonum, neminem fugit. Exit r(*fy neceJ]e ut is, cut aliquid auditu mediants mmtlatum Vrit, fonos audiat, edfqiie diftinguibiles pro numero and:- dorum * quae cum jint infmita, infiniiay etiam fit epor- b fonorum edendurum 'Varietas. Satis tamen or it ut (Unguantur <vel genere, <vel tempore, mo do etiam & mi* *ro\ Which Paffage, together with that other In- ■ndon in Domingo Gonfales> concerning the Tan- G § guag# ISiisbcquiaf Epijr. Tut, ep. 4. '•v Pofyb.L l o* Nunc, Ind-* »/. p. „ y$