Glass cane
Date
2 February 1663
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p3
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 188mm
width (page): 148mm
width (page): 148mm
Subject
Content object
Description
In his letter (EL/H1/18) to Robert Moray dated 2 February 1663 (N.S.), Christian Huygens described a quicksilver experiment using a two-foot-long glass cane, whose actual diameter he recorded in the margin (diameter 8 mm). In an extract of the letter, translated here by Henry Oldenburg, the circle is reproduced in the same size (8 mm). The image of Huygens's improved design of the air pump was not included here, most likely because an enlarged copy (Cl.P/4i/23/001) had been ordered alongside the translation on 28 January 1663. The letter was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 4 February 1663.
There are other copies of this image at LBO/1/077 and LBC/1/094.
There are other copies of this image at LBO/1/077 and LBC/1/094.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 28 January 1663, ‘Sir Robert Moray having mentioned his having received a letter from Monsieur Huygens, it was ordered, that an English translation of it be made against the next meeting, and that the scheme contained in it be drawn in great’ (Birch 1:192).
On 4 February 1663, ‘Monsieur Huygens’s letter to Sir Robert Moray, dated from the Hague, February 2, 1662/3, was read; and the experiments mentioned therein, viz. that of the quicksilver sticking to the finger, and that of the not subsiding of water purged from air, were recommended to be made again; the former to Dr. Goddard, in a cane of a less bore than formerly; the latter to Mr. Hooke’ (Birch 1:193).
On 4 February 1663, ‘Monsieur Huygens’s letter to Sir Robert Moray, dated from the Hague, February 2, 1662/3, was read; and the experiments mentioned therein, viz. that of the quicksilver sticking to the finger, and that of the not subsiding of water purged from air, were recommended to be made again; the former to Dr. Goddard, in a cane of a less bore than formerly; the latter to Mr. Hooke’ (Birch 1:193).
Related fellows
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Associated place