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

  • Saul, Edward, 1677-1754
Date:
1735
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, and the causes of its different gravitation, are assign'd and explain'd. And a modest attempt from thence made towards a rational account and probable judgment of the weather / By Edward Saul. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ «; ] theAtmofphere, without taking in the full Extent of it. Becaufe the Upper Regions of the Air, may be very different from the Lower in their Effects and Indications; nor can any Change of the Weather be lafling, where there is not a fuitable Tendency in the whole Atmojphere to liipport and con¬ firm it. And, upon this Account, as the Weight of the Atmofphere runs through the whole Extent of it ; and is, in Truth, the chief Property concern'd, as well in fupporting the Clouds and \ apours, as in giving way upon any Abatement, to their Defcent in Rain : So the Motions of the Barometer de¬ pending, in like manner, upon the Weight oi the whole At mofphere (rifing with the Rncreafe, and falling upon the Diminution of it) muft be a more likely and reafonable Prelage of the State of the Weather, than any of the common Hygrofcopes, or hVeather Hoafes \ which depend altogether upon the Moifture, or Drynefs of the Air near the Surface of the Earth, and (how myfterious, or ludicrous loever fome of them appear) confift ordinarily of a twifled Cord, or Gut * in damp Weather, fwelling in Bulk, and thereby contracting in Length ; or, on the contrary, when the Air is dry, ihrinking in Bulk, and thereby extending in Length. If therefore we fuppofe, as it fometimes happens, the lower Region of theW/> to be mo.ift, when all above has a Tendency to L 2 be