of the Sea without a
Line_; and of _Fetching up Water from the bottom of it_; together with some
Experiments already made with the former of these two Contrivances. The
Author of the French _Journal des Scavans_ found good, to insert them both
in his _Journal_ of _May_ 3. but in another of _May_ 24. intimates, that
the said _Schemes_ and their _Descriptions_ are not very clear and
intelligible (he means, that they were not well understood by _French_
Readers) proposing also some Difficulties, relating to that Subject, and
esteemed by him necessary to be satisfied, before any use could be made of
the said Instruments.

Upon this occasion, the Author of these _Tracts_ thinks fit, here to
represent, {229}

_First_, That _Englishmen_ and such others, as are well versed in the
_English_ tongue, find no difficulty in understanding the descriptions of
these _Engines_, nor in apprehending their structure, exhibited by the
_Figures_, especially if notice be taken of the Emendation, expressed at
the end of _Num._ 10. about the misgraving the _Bended end_ of the
_Springing Wire_ (which it seems has not been noted in _France_, tho' the
said _Num._ 10 is known to have been seen there a pretty while before their
_Journal_ of _May_ 24. was publish'd). And as for the particular of the
_Bucket_, fetching water from the bottom of the Sea, both the _Figure_ and
the annexed _Description_ thereof are so plain and clear, that 'tis some
wonder here, that any difficulty of understanding them is pretended by any,
that hath but ordinary skill in _Cutts_ and the _English_ language. Mean
while, that way, which the _French_ Author recommends for this purpose as
more simple, _Videl. a Brass-Pump with double Valves_, is not at all
unknown in _England_, nor has bin left untried there; but was found
inconvenient, in respect that the Valves in descending did not fully open,
and give the water a free passage through the Cavity of the Vessel, nor in
ascending shut so close, as to hinder the water from coming in at the top:
Whereas by the way proposed in _Num._ 9. both is perform'd with great ease
and security.

_Secondly_, Whereas the _French_ Author is of opinion, that 'tis unknown,
how much time a Heavy Body requires to sink in water, according to a
certain depth; he may please to take notice, that that hath been made out
in _England_ by frequent Experiments; by which, several Depths, found by
this Method of sounding _without_ a Line, were examin'd by