The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (Volume 9); Including His Private as Well as His Official and Scientific Correspondence, and Numerous Letters and Documents Now for the First Time Printed, with Many Others Not Included in Any Former Collection, ALS (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1888. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... which was six degrees colder than at the surface. The lead and bottle were visible, but not very distinctly so, at the depth of twelve fathoms; but, when only seven fathoms deep, they were perfectly seen from the ship. This experiment was thus repeated September i ith, when we were in soundings of eighteen fathoms. A keg was previously prepared with a valve at each end, one opening inward, the other outward; this was sent to the bottom in expectation that, by the valves being both open when going down, and both shut when coming up, it would keep within it the water received at bottom. The upper valve performed its office well, but the under one did not shut quite close, so that much of the water was lost in hauling it up the ship's side. As the water, in the keg's passage upwards, could not enter at the top, it was concluded that what water remained in it was of that near the ground; and, on trying this by the thermometer, it was found to be at 58, which was 12 degrees colder than at the surface. This last Journal was obligingly kept for me by Mr. J. Williams, my fellow-passenger in the London packet, who made all the experiments with great exactness. mccclxxi. from miss catherine louisa shipley. twyford, 2 August, 1785. My Dear Good Friend: --You gave me leave to write to you, and I take the first opportunity of profiting by your indulgence. I do assure you, we all left your ship with a heavy heart; but the taking leave was a scene we wished to save you as well as ourselves. God grant you may have a good voyage; it is our constant toast every day at dinner. I was quite provoked with myself when I got to Southampton that I had not thought of something to leave with you, that might have been useful during the voyage, to remind you of me. You produced a housewife; ...