A Course of Mechanical, Optical, Hydrostatical, and Pneumatical Experiments. To be perform?d by Francis Hauksbee; and the explanatory lectures read by William Whiston, M.A.

HAUKSBEE, Francis.

Published by [No place, printer, or date; London: 1715?], 1715

About this Item

4to, pp. 3, (1), 20 leaves, and 20 engraved plates numbered in four sequences according to subject. Caption title. First 2 leaves and several corners a little browned and soiled, small piece missing from corner of first and last leaf. Good modern half calf antique. FIRST EDITION of the scientific experiments demonstrated publicly by Francis Hauksbee (1688?1763), nephew of the instrument maker of the same name who was giving similar lectures in about 1705. George Wilson was lecturing on chemistry around the turn of the century, and John Harris began lecturing on mathematics in about 1698, and these were the earliest scientific lectures in London, but the present lectures by Hauksbee appear to be the earliest to be published. ?Hauksbee?became very active in the lecturing world, advertising courses given with Whiston at Crane Court. His co-operation with Whiston, who like Hauksbee failed to obtain the distinction of FRS, continued for many years? At least until 1727 Hauksbee was still giving ?A Course of Mechanical and Experimental Philosophy? with Whiston, in which Newton's improvements to the reflecting telescope were demonstrated, along with magnetical experiments and entertainments? (ODNB). There are four issues listed in ESTC, of which the present is the rarest (2 copies); leaves 12?14 are misnumbered 21?23, the catchword on p. 1 is ?An?, and the last page is numbered 24. See Wellcome III, p. 224, and Musson & Robinson, Science and technology in the Industrial Revolution, p. 40.

Seller Inventory # 2973

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Course of Mechanical, Optical, Hydrostatical, and Pneumatical Experiments. To be perform?d by Francis Hauksbee; and the explanatory lectures read by William Whiston, M.A.
• Publisher: [No place, printer, or date; London: 1715?]
• Publication Date: 1715