Magellen (1 results)

viii, 80pp. With an engraved frontispiece. Uncut and unopened in later speckled paper wrappers. Extremities rubbed, later blank paper label to upper wrapper. Small worm-track to upper corners of first two leaves. Presentation copy, inked inscription to foot of title page: 'ex dono authoris'. A presentation copy of Portuguese natural philosopher Jean Hyacinthe de Magellan's (1722-1790) influential dissertation on gas analysis. An Augustinian prior who emigrated to England and Protestantism in 1764, Magellan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1774, at which time he first published this account of his researches on gases, addressed to Joseph Priestley. The glass apparatus for impregnating water with fixed air (i.e. carbon dioxide) is described in detail. Newly improved by 'Mr. Parker,' the apparatus was superior to that used by Priestley and described by him in 1772. Carbon dioxide was prepared by dissolving marble (calcium carbonate) in dilute sulphuric acid. Magellan also describes three new types of eudiometer he had designed; these, and the apparatus for making carbonated waters, are illustrated in the frontispiece. ESTC T31656. Size: 8vo Third edition, revised, corrected, and enlarged by the author.