The Posthumous Works of Robert Hooke

Robert Hooke

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9780429593956
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Philosophy History & Theory

Published in 1971: This book represents the Posthumous works of the author, as well as lectures on Philosophy, Astronomy, and Science.

Lectures and Discourses
OF
EARTHQUAKES,
AND
Subterraneous Eruptions.

EXPLICATING

The Causes of the Rugged and Uneven Face
of the EARTH;

AND

What Reasbns may be given for the frequent sinding of Shells and other Sea and Land Petrisied Substances, scattered over the whole Terrestrial Supersicies.

Aaaa

THE Treatise our Author mentions in the beginning of this Discourse I have not had the happiness to meet with among his Tapers; possibly he might formerly have read some Discourses upon these Subjects, but if so they are lost as I am satisfied some other valuable Papers are; if not, I know net well what he means, except some Hints in bis Lectures of Light, and at the end of his Tract of Comets; Tho’ I am rather of Opinion some of the following Papers were wrote before that of Comets: But of this Matter I can affirm nothing positwely. This Discourse more particularly relates to the rugged and unequal appearance of the Earth’s Surface, which he here endeavours to solve by successive Earthquakes and Inundations. I shall not (were I able) attempt to prepossess the Reader, nor longer detain him from the Authors own Discourses; only desire it may be observed, that the following Tapers were read at several distinct times to the Royal Society, and upon that Account not so methodically digested as they would have been had they been publisbed by himsels.

R. W.

---

A Discourse of Earthquakes.

The Introduction to the following Discourse, giving some account of its Design.

I Have formerly endeavour’d to explain several Observations I had made concerning the Figure, Form, Position, Distance, Order, Motions and Operations of the Celestial Bodies, both as to themselves, and one with another, and likewise with respect to the Body of the Earth on which we inhabit. But conceiving it may more nearly concern us to know more particularly the Constitution, Figure, Magnitude and Properties of the Body of the Earth itsels, and of its several constituent Parts, I have endeavour’d to collect such Observations and Natural Histories of others, as may serve to give some Light toward the making a compleat Discovery of them, so far as the Power, Faculties, Organs, and other helps that Nature has furnish’d Man with, may assist us in performing and perfecting thereof.

The Subject if large, as extending as far as the whole Bulk included within. the utmost limits of the Atmosphere: And ’tis not less copious and repleat with variety, as containing all the several Parts and Substances included within. those Limits, namely, The aerial, watery and earthy Parts thereof, whether Superficiall or Subterraneous, whether Exposed or Absconded,whether Supra-terraneal, Superterraneal, or Subterraneal, whether Elemental or Organical, Animate or Inanimate, and all the Species and Kinds of them, and all the constituent Parts of them, and the Composits constituted of them; of which also there will fall under Consideration, the Artificial as well as the Natural Causes and Powers effective of things; then their Generation, Production, Augmentation, Perfections, Vertue, Power, Activity, Operation, Effect, Conservation, Duration, Declination, Destruction, Corruption, Transformation, and in one word, the motion or progression of Nature sensibly exprest, or any other ways discernable in each of those Species. Which Subject, if we consider as it if thus represented, doth look very like an Impossibility to be undertaken even by the whole World, to be gone through within an Age, much less to be undertaken by any particular Society, or a small number of Men. The number of Natural Histories, Observati, ons, Experiments, Calculations, Companions, Deductions and Demonstrations necessary thereunto, seeming to be incomprehensive and numberleis: And therefore a vain Attempt, and not to be thought of till after some Ages past in making Collections of Materials for so great a Building, and the employing a vast number of Hands in making this Preparation; and those of several sorts, such as Readers of History, Criticks, Rangers and Namesetters of Things, Observers and Watchers of several Appearances, and Progressions of Natural Operations and Perfections, Collectors of curious Productions, Experimenters and Examiners of Things by several Means and several Methods and instruments, as by Fire, by Frost, by Menstruums, by Mixtures, by Digestions, Putrefactions, Fermentations and Petrifactions, by Gvindings, Brusings, Weighings and Measuring, Pressing and Condensing, Dilating and Expanding, Differing, Separating and Dividing, Sifting and Streining; by viewing with Glasses and Microscopes, Smelling, Tasting, Feeling, and various other ways of Torturing and Wracking of Natural Bodies, to find out the Truth or the real Effect as it if in its Constitution or State of Being.

To these may be added Registers or Compilers, such as (hall Record and Express in proper Terms these Collections, add to these Examiners and Rangers of Things, such as shall distinguish and marshal them into proper Classes, and denote their Excellencies or Gradations of differing Kinds, their Perfections or Defects, what are Compleat, and what Desective, and to be repeated, and the like.

So that we see the Subject of this Enquiry if very copious and large, and will afford Work enough for every Well-wilier to employ his Head and Hands, to contribute towards the providing Materials for so large a Fabrick and Strusture, as the great quantity of Materials to be collected do seem to denote. However, ’tis possible that a much less number may serve the turn, if fitly qualisied and done with Method and Delign,and it may be much better and easier.

When this mighty Collection if made, what will be the use of so great a Pile? Where will be found the Architect that shall contrive and raise the Superstructure that if to be made of them, that shall sit every one for its proper use? Till which be found, they will indeed be but a heap of Confusion. Who (hall find out the Experiments, the Observations, and other Remarks, sit for this or that Theory? One Stone if too thick, or too thin, too broad, or too narrow, not of a due colour, or hardness, or grain, to suit with the Design, or with some other that are duly scapled for the purpose: This Piece of Timber if not of a right Kind, not of a sufficient Driness and Seasoning, not of a due length and bigness, but wants its Scantlings, or if of an ill Shape for such a purpose, or was not fell’d in a due time: ’Tis Sap-rotten, or Wind-shaken, or rotten at Heart, or too frow, and the like, for the purpose for which ’tis wanted.

The Vse of predesign’d Theories, and Modules of Enquiry.

I mention shis, to hint only by the by, that there may be use of Method in the collecting of Materials, as well as in the use of them, and to shew that there may be made a Provision too great, as well as too little, that there ought to be some End and Aim, some pre-design’d Module and Theory, some Purpose in our Experiments, and more particular observing of such Circumstances as are proper for that Design. And though this Honourable Society have hitherto seem’d to avoid and prohibit pre-conceived Theories and Deductions from particular, and seemingly accidental Experiments; yet I humbly conceive, that such, if knowingly and judiciously made, are Matters of the greatest Importance, as giving a Characteristick of the Aim, Use, and Signisicancy thereof; and without which, many, and possibly the most considerable Particulars, are pasled over without Regard and Observation. The most part of Mankind are taken with the Prettiness or the Strangeness of the Phænomena, and generally negleft the common and the most obvious; whereas in truth, for the most part, they are the most considerable. And the gseatest part of the Productions of Nature are to be seen every where, and by every one, though, for the most part, not heeded or regarded, because they are so common. I could wish therefore that the Information of Experiments might be more relpected, than either the Novelty, the Surprizingness, the Pomp, and Appearances of them.

Of figured Stones.

The obviousness and easiness of knowing many Things in Nature, has been the Cause of their being neglected, even by the more diligent and curious; which nevertheless, if well examined, do very often contain Informations of the greatest value. It has been generally noted by common, as well as inquisitive, Persons, that divers Stones have been found, formed into the Shapes of Fishes, Shells, Fruits, Leaves, Wood, Barks, and other Vegetable and Animal Substances: We commonly know some of them exastly resembling the Shape of Things we commonly find (as the Chymists Ipeak) in the Vegetable or Animal Kingdom; others of them indeed bearing some kind of Similitude, and agreeing in many Circumstances, but yet not exactly sigured like any other thing in Nature; and yet of so curious a Shape, that they easily raise both the Attention and Wonder, even of those that are left inquisitive. Of these beautifully shaped Bodies I have observed two sorts: Birst, some more properly natural, such as have their Figures peculiar to their Substances: Others more improperly so, that is, such as seem to receive from and accidental Mould.

Of Chrystals, and the like, Stones, shat into Figures.

Of the first sort, are all those curiously figured Bodies of Salts, Talks, Spars, Crystals, Diamonds, Rubies, Amethysts, Ores, and divers Other Mineral Substances, wherewith the World if adorned and enriched; which I at present omit to describe, as reserving them for a Second Part, they feeming to be, as it were, the Elemental Figures, or the A B C of Nature’s working, the Reason of whole curious Geometrical Forms (as I may so call them) if very easily explicable Mechanically: And shall proceed to the second sort of Bodies.

Of Petrifactions.

Of these are two kinds; either first the very Substances themselves converted into Stone, such are Bones. Teeth, Shells, Fruit, Wood, Moss, Mushrooms, and divers Vegetable and Animal Substances: Or secondly, such other Mineral or Earthy Substances, as Clays, Sands, Earths, Flinty Juices, &c. which have silled up, and been moulded in divers other Bodies, as Shells, Bones, Fruits, &c. but especially Shells. These, according to the Representations they bear of other Bodies, have received divers Names; of which Aldrovandus, Bauhinus, Imperatpts, Wormius, and others, reckon a great number: Such are, Cornu ammonis sine armatura, Helicoides, Hoplites, multiplex obscure lucens, muricatum, crisiatum, cristatum pertusum, striatum Campoides, Campoides Echinatum, Caprinum cornu, Cornu Arietinum, Sceleton Serpent is. Conchites bivalvis striatus, Mytulus biforis, cinerius rugosus, Coclites, Chama lapidea, lœvis, rugata, Osiracites, Pectenites, Bucardia, Strombites, Belemnitœ, Cornu fossile, Glossopetrœ, Astroites, Entrochos, Colonetta, Lapis judaicus, Fungites, fungus saxeus, Lapis Indicus, Brontias, Brontias savoginens, Ombria, Ovum anguinum, Lignum petrifactum. Of these I shall describe some sew, because every one has not tne Opportunity of seeing and examining them.

AS to the figured Stones or Petrifactions here mention’d, I found only one Sheet of the Descriptions of several of the Cornu-Ammonis sort, with some of the Echini, or Helmet-stones, which Descriptions follow: As for the Designs of them, they were, I know not by what means, not to be found amongst his Manuscripts; but by the Favour of Dr. Sloane, into whose Hands they happily sell, I procured them for the Graver, to whom the World and my self are obliged for this, as well as for ether more valuable Communications. The Five sirsi Tables were design’d by Dr. Hook himself; and tho’ he has not persected the Deseriptions of them all, yet I have procured them all to be graved, supplying in some measure my self those Figures which were left undescribed by him. The Two last I drew my self from some gigured Stones I happen’d to meet with, not far from Bristol, some Years since; about which time I gave the Designs to Dr. Hook, together with a Particular Explication of the Figures, but by Missortune did not keep an exact Copy of what I then gave him, which, amongsi others of his Papers, if lost. I have endeavoured to supply this, as well as I now can, as the Reader may see by a short Account of a Letter I then sent him, with these Draughts; which I have so far presumed upon the Readers Acceptance, as to insert after the Explications of the Author’s own Draughts.

R. W.

I have designed 15 several sorts of Snail rather than Snake-stones, call’d by some Authors Cornua Ammonis, or Sceleta Serpentum, all of them, both of different Substances and various Shapes; but yet all of them agreeing in these Proprieties, that they were made of a Tapering or Pyramidal Body, coil’d up together, so as that the Tip or Point of it was in the Center, and the Base outmost; next that, in the coiling up, the Axis of this Pyramidal Body kept exactly in the same Plane. 3. That all of them were ridged or furrow’d with Rings, Furrows, or Proturberances and Depressions, which respected the Center of the Spiral, for the most part, but were moulded and rang’d each of them different ways, all of them very regular, and exceedingly ornamental. 4. That in the coiling the lesser and inner Parts sunk, as it were, always into the inside of the greater encompassing Part. 5. That all of them had Diaphragms, or separating Valves, whereby the Parts might oft-times be easily separated. 6. That the Fimbria, or Edges of these Diaphragms, were in most of these Stones very visible; in others of them, where they were sbmewhat more obscure, they might be made apparent, by scraping or rubbing away the outsides of them’ 7. That these Fimbria or Edges, appear’d on the Sursace, like the Out-lines of some curious Foliage, a Specimen of some of which I have given in the 3d and 10th Figures. This, upon Examination of them, I found to proceed from the Fulnels of the Edges of the Diaphragms whereby the Edges were waved or plaited somewhat in the manner of a Ruff. 2. That most of them were covered with a very curiously polish’d, as well as curiously carv’d Sursace, some of them Aiming like burnish’d Brass, as those of the 1st and 2d Figures; others like Brass, tarnish’d black, but rubb’d smooth; others of them like transparent Horn, as the 12th Figure; others like Coperas-stones; others like a coarser sort of white Marble; others like black Marble. 9. That from these polisht Sursaces one might oftimes easily pick off a Substance exactly resembling the plaited shining Substances of a Shell; and thi...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Dedication
• Dedication
• The Life of Dr. Robert Hooke
• A General Scheme, or Idea Of the Present State of Natural Philosophy, and How its Defects may be Remedied By a Methodical Proceeding in the making Experiments and Collecting Observations. Whereby To Compile a Natural History, as the Solid Basis for the Superstructure of True Philosophy
• Lectures of Light, Explicating Its Nature, Properties, and Effects, &c.
• A Discourse of the Nature of Comets
• Lectures and Discourses of Earthquakes, and Subterraneous Eruptions
• Lectures Concerning Navigation and Astronomy
• An Alphabetical Index