Diagram
Date
1 May 1699
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
vol12 p253
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 308mm
width (page): 178mm
width (page): 178mm
Subject
Description
Diagram from a letter by John Monroe dated 1 May 1699 Versailles to Joseph Martin, who was most likely a merchant who was nominated for a Fellowship of the Royal Society, but was never elected. Martin passed on this letter to Hans Sloane. Monroe had attended a meeting of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, which he described. This diagram, Monroe reported, was copied from the one Pierre Varignon had drawn on a 'large slate hung high on the North End of the Hall' for his discussion of a water watch. Monroe's letter was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 10 May 1699.
This is copied from LBO/12/231a.
This is copied from LBO/12/231a.
Transcription
The third that appeared was Monsr Varignon, his discourse was about a water watch; to the making of which, 3 curves or crooked lines must be brought under consideration. The first he calls the Generatrix of the vessel, the second makrs the time the water takes to run out at the hole, which may be placed at the bottom or the side, and the third, the swiftness of the going out of the water. Let any two of these be given him, he'l (sic) find out the third. Let for instance the curve of the time and that of the swiftness on the Hypothesis of Gallileo (sic), or any other that may be imagined given him, he;l find out the generatrix of the vessel. Monsr Varignon did not read his discourse but demonstrated his problem, pointing to the various lines of his figures, drawn on a large slate hung high on the North End of the Hall, with the end of a rod, he held in his hand, and Mr L'Abbé Bignon satsified himself with telling in his pleasant way, twas happy for him he had to do with an assembly so learned, so natural, twas for men that understood not these matters to take him for a conjurer. I have sent you here enclosed a rough draught of one of his figures in which feeo is the generatrix of the vessel; a12 the courve of the time and xve that of the swiftness.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting on 10 May 1699, 'A letter from Mr. Monroe was read concerning several matters, that had passed in the Academie des Sciences at their first meeting' (JBO/10/126).
Related fellows
Hans Sloane (1660 - 1753, Irish) , Physician
Associated place