Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.15459

    Engine for circulating water

    Date
    1685
    Creator
    Unknown, Artist
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    pp2-3
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 228mm
    width (page): 280mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Sketch of Denis Papin's new contrivance of a fountain shown to the Royal Society in June 1685 (RBO/6/072). The image was printed in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 15, no. 173 (1685) to advertise the invention as a 'riddle' for others to guess its design, which was a way to claim priority.

    This appears to be Robert Moray's attempt to work out its design, but with a plea to have it suppressed if it did not work. Perhaps this is the reason why Moray's name is crossed out in ink in the accompanying text.
    Transcription
    I have here given you a rude draught of Monsieur's Pappins curious experiment, hopeing there by to have my conception of it more readily understood; if it carry not with it some appearance of reason I hope you will not expose me and you will much oblige desire you to suppresse it, and you will much oblige, etc, your humble servant Ro. Moray

    At the bottom it reads 'a letter of Mr. R. A. relating to the same subject'
    Transcribed by the Making Visible project
    Related fellows
    Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
    Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > United Kingdom
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