ions, the Worthy and Inquisitive Dr. _John Beal_, is
doing his part with much assiduity (of which he hath by several Letters
acquainted his Friends in _London_) both by observing himself, and by
procuring many Correspondents in several places in _England_ for the same
purpose; judging it of great importance, that Observations of this kind be
made in parts somewhat distant from one another, that so from many of
those, accurately made and then compared, it may be discovered, whether the
Aire gravitates more in the parts of the Earth lying more _East_ or _West_,
_North_ or _South_? whether on such as lie neerer to the _Sea_, or further
up into the _Mainland_? in hotter or colder weather? whether in {155} high
Winds or Calms? whether in wet weather or dry? whether most when a North,
or when a South, when an East or a West wind blows? and whether it keeps
the same seasons of Changes? and whether the seasons and changes of the Air
and Weather can be thereby discover'd, and the now hidden causes of many
other _Phaenomena_ detected?

The said _Doctor_ is so much pleased with the discovery already made by the
help of this Instrument, that he thinks it to be one of the most wonderful
that ever was in the World, if we speak of strangeness, and just wonder,
and of Philosophical importance, separate from the interest of lucre. For
(_saith he in one of his Letters_) who could ever expect, that we men
should find an Art, to weigh all the Air that hangs over our heads, in all
the changes of it, and, as it were, to weigh, and to distinguish by weight,
the Winds and the Clouds? Or, who did believe, that by palpable evidence we
should be able to prove, the _serenest_ Air to be most heavy, and the
_thickest_ Air, and when darkest Clouds hang neerest to us, ready to
dissolve, or dropping, _then_ to be lightest. And though (_so he goes on_)
we cannot yet reach to all the Uses and Applications of it, yet we should
be entertain'd for a while, by the truly Honourable Mr. _Boyle_, as the
leading person herein, upon the delight and wonder. The _Magnet_ was known
many hundreds of years before it was applied to find out _New Worlds_. To
me (_saith he_) tis a wonderful delight, that I have alwaies in my Study
before my eye such a _Curious Ballance_.

Having thus in _General_ expressed his thoughts about this Invention, and
the singular pleasure, he takes in the Observations made therewith, he
descends to particulars, and in several Letters communicat