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A Reproye

Presented by Mr. Rowell

PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS

In THREE PARTS.

CONTAINING

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I. An Enquiry into the Nature and Properties of
the Electrical Fluid, in order to explain, illuf-.
trate and confirm the truth of Sir Ifaac Newton's
Doctrine of a Subtile Medium or Ether.

II. A Differtation on the Nature of Fire in general,
and Production of Heat in particular.

III. A Mifcellaneous difcourfe, wherein the fore-
mentioned active Principle is fhewn to be the only
probable mechanical Caufe of Motion, Cohefion,
Gravity, Magnetifm, and other Phænomena of
Nature.

To which is fubjoin'd, by way of Appendix, a clear
and concife Account of the Variation of the Mag-
netic Needle or Mariner's Compaís; by which the
Longitude is inveftigated on the moft fimple Prin
ciples.

And, to render the whole more intelligible, a Glof
fary of Terms is added.

By

R. LOVETT, LAY-CLERK, 5 FEB 85
Of the Cathedral Church of WORCESTER.

A Fool may find what a wife Man bath overlooked.

WORCESTER:.

Printed for the AUTHOR, by R. LEWIS, Bookfeller
and Printer, at the Bible and Crown, in High-street,
by whom they are SOLD. -Alfo by Mr.
SANDBY, in Fleet Street; and J. JOHNSON and Co.
in Pater-nofter Row, BOOKSELLERS, in LONDON;
and by Mr. FLETCHER, BOOKSELLER, in Ox-
FORD. &c. &c.
MDCCLXVI. Price 65.

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ERRAT A.

At the end of the Preface instead of the Catchword Chap. it fhould be Subfcribers

Page 65, line 3. for 138 read 136

[Chap. P. 45, 1. 26. for, at the beginning, read, in the 11th P. 112, l. 9. for paricularly r. particularly p. 220, 1. 29. for Crufibles r. Crucibles

for 366 r. 388 p..

p. 438, l. 16. for conclufon r. conclufion P. 503, 1. 5. after 104° 31' 26 r. as appears by the preceding Table

P. 507, 1. 17. r. Longitude from London 74° p. 512, 1. 8. after magnetic Meridian in degrees r. find the fide Cm and

PREFACE.

I

F Men of Genius and polite Literature have confeffed their particular embarraffments for want of proper Apologies, whenever they bave addressed the public, the World may judge with what anxiety the Author of the following Sheets must be affected; who, though fully fenfible of the want of a learned Education, yet ventures to publifh (with the greatest diffidence · indeed and humility) his Sentiments on fo delicate and myfterious Subjects as Electricity and Fire.

It was, if I miftake not, in the Year 1739, that I was equally fuprifed and delighted at the performance of many curious Experiments exhibited by the ingenious Dr. Defaguliers, when, none in the whole Course of his Lectures made fo deep an Impreffion as thofe relating to Electricity, altho' they were effected only with a glass Tube.

Thofe pleafing Ideas were much improved, when the electrical Machine was introduced, by which means the force of the Fluid was render'd still more confpicuous, and every obferver faw and concluded that it was real Fire.

Since that Time Electricity hath been the principal Object both of my Study and Practice; and tho' in many respects unqualified for an Author, yet have I from a pure

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regard

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