A new level
Date
14 March 1667
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p1
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 298mm
width (page): 187mm
width (page): 187mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Christopher Wren's design of a 'new levell', which was reported to the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 March 1667.
This image is copied in RBO/3/184 and RBC/2/313.
This image is copied in RBO/3/184 and RBC/2/313.
Transcription
If a Concave glasse be placed to turne upon a foot with a Ball and socket horizontally and a drop of Quicksilver be layd upon it. When the quicksilver lies upon the center of the section the edges of the glasse will be situated in a trew horizontall plaine and consequently a Dioptra layd upon it will give an exact Levell in any Azimuth without motion of the Instrument, and this sort of Levell will prove as treu as from a pendulum of a length equall to the Radius of the Section.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 March 1667, ‘Dr. Wren’s description of a new level for taking the horizon every way in a circle was read, and ordered to be registered’ (Birch 2:157).
Described by Robert Hooke in his Animadversions on Hevelius's Machina Coelestis (London: J. Martyn, 1674), p. 65, where Hooke notes that the mercury has a tendency to stick to the glass.
Described by Robert Hooke in his Animadversions on Hevelius's Machina Coelestis (London: J. Martyn, 1674), p. 65, where Hooke notes that the mercury has a tendency to stick to the glass.
Related fellows
Christopher Wren (1632 - 1723, British) , Architect
Associated place