In the next place I shall represent , that notwithstanding Cold 's being so important a subject , it has hitherto been 〈◊〉 most totally neglected . For I remember not , that any of the Classick Authors , I am acquainted with , hath said any thing of it that is considerable . They do indeed generally treat of it , as one of the four first Qualities . But that which they are wont to say , amounts to little more , then that 't is a Quality that does congregate both things of like , and things of unlike nature . The Unsatisfactoriness of which vulgar Definition , I had some years ago Sceptical Chymist . an occasion to manifest ( in another Treatise . ) And having given us this inconsiderate Description of Cold , they commonly take leave of the subject , as if it deserved no further handling , then could be afforded it in a few Lines , wherein indeed they say too much about it , but not enough . And even among other Writers of Bodies of 〈◊〉 Philosophy , or of the Doctrine of Meteors it self , the Reader will find , how little of true and pertinent has been contributed to the ensuing History of Cold. And though among the Vulgar , and the Writers that adopt their Traditions without examining them , I find same few particulars delivered , touching Cold ; yet some of them are so untrue , and others so uncertain , that they have furnished me with little else , then the necessity of Questioning , or of disproving them : so that when I considered all these things , I could not but take notice , that very little has been hitherto said of Cold , by those Schoolmen , and other Writers , ( that I have yet met with ) who have professedly , ( though but perfunctorily , and , as it were , incidentally ) treated of it . But yet instead of thinking it a Discouragement , that so many Learned Men , to whom that Quality could not but be obvious , and to whom it was as familiar as to me , had in so many Ages said little or nothing of it to the purpose ; I found this very thing an invitation to my attempt , that I might in some measure repair the Omissions of Mankinds Curiosity towards a subject so considerable , and so diffus'd , by trying what I could do toward founding the History of a Quality , which has been hitherto so neglected , as if all men judg'd it either unworthy of being cultivated , or uncapable to be improved .

Another inducement to me was , that having six or seven years ago written some Tracts ( though I have not since had opportunity to publish them ) in order to the History of Heat and Flame ; it seem'd the more proper for me to treat of the contrary quality , Cold , since according to the known rule , confronted Opposites give themselves a mutual Illustration . And another inducement of almost the same Nature , was afforded me by remembring , that whereas Cold in its higher degrees , is wont to be communicated to us by the Air , ( whencesoever the Air has it , ) and I have on several occasions been oblig'd to treat of divers Properties of the Air , as of its weight and spring ( in my Physico-Mechanical Treatise ) of the several strengths of that spring , in proportion to the degrees of the airs Condensation , the Experiments of which , reduc'd into Tables , were first publish'd ( and for ought I yet know made ) by us , ( in the defence of that Book against Franciscus Linus * * Chapter the fifth of that Treatise . ) and of divers other Qualities of the air in several passages of our other writings , which 't were now superfluous to take notice of ; all this made it appear convenient enough , that among other Attributes of the Air , which we either have had , or expect to have occasion to treat of , so eminent and diffus d a one as its Coldness , should not be left untouch'd by the same Pen.

But though neither any , nor all these inducements had been sufficient to ingage me to draw together , and recruit my Observations concerning Cold , there was another , that could not miss of prevailing , The Command of the Royal Society , impos'd on me in such a way , that I thought , it would less misbecome me to obey it unskilfully , then not at all . Especially since from so Illustrious a Company ( where I have the Happiness not to be hated ) I may in my endeavours to obey and serve them , hope to find my failings both pardoned , and made Occasions of discovering the Truths , I aim'd at .

II. After this Account of the Motives that induc'd me to resolve to draw together the Notes I had on several occasions set down , about the Phaenomena of Cold , it may be now expected , that I render some reason , why I have thus digested them , and why I have not written the following Treatise in a more accurate way .

First then I readily acknowledge , that the Method is not exact . Nay , that it is less so then the Scheme of heads of Inquiry , that I drew up to give my self a general Prospect of the subject I was to handle . But when I had considered , how comprehensive a Theme I had pitch'd upon , and how much more comprehensive , future discoveries and hints might make it , I thought , it altogether unadvisable for me , that had no more time , nor no more opportunity then I had , when I began to compile the following History , to engage my self to a method , according to which I was not perhaps able to treat of any one of the principal parts of the designed History . And yet on the other side , being unwilling to huddle my Experiments confusedly together , I thought it an expedient , that might in great part decline both those Inconveniences , to draw up a company of comprehensive Titles , under which might commodiously be rang'd most of the Particulars I had observ'd , reserving those few , that were not so easily referable to any of those , to be thrown at last into a Section by themselves . And this I the rather did , because I would not , by a Confinement to a strict method , discourage others from continuing the History , by adding new Titles to those 21. I have treated of , as well as by inserting other Experiments or Observations in any of them .

That the Sections or Titles are very unequal , will not , I presume , be much blam'd by them , that consider , that my Design being to set down Matters of Fact , not write a complete and regular Treatise , the length of each Section was to be determined not by its Proportion , to that which went before it or followed after it , but by the number and condition of the Particulars that were to compose it . And I thought it much more pardonable , that any of the Sections should be disproportionately short , then lengthened either by untruths or by impertinencies .

Some of the accounts will probably to some Readers appear too prolix ; and I could very easily , as well as willingly , have prevented that objection , if I had not more consulted the scope of the Book , then the ease or Reputation of the Writer . But my design being , not only to gratifie some Readers , but to assist others to prosecute the work I had begun , as the Experiments are most of them new , and many of them tri'd by methods hitherto unpractis'd ; I conceiv'd my self oblig'd to set down somewhat circumstantially , not only the Events , but the Manner of my Trials , that I might at once , both the better satisfie the scrupulous , and be assistant to those that would examine or repeat such Experiments , and also gratifie those , who are pleas'd to think , that a somewhat assiduous Conversation with Nature , may have given me some little faculty in devising Experiments , and the ways of making them , above those that have been conversant only with Books and Notions . And in some of the following Trials I was the more induc'd to set down all the principal circumstances , because , that being not to be made , but by the help of Glasses skilsully shap'd , and Hermetically seal'd , and other Instruments and Operations , that require more tools , and more of manual Dexterity , then every ingenious Man is Master of ; 't is very likely that most Readers will not be able , or perhaps willing , to reiterate such Trials , and therefore will be glad to find them so deliver'd , as that they may without too much danger acquiesce in them , as being made with Diligence , as well as Faithfulness . The latter of which Qualities will , I presume , be allow'd me , as well upon the account of the plain and simple way , wherein matters of fact are delivered in the following Book , as upon the score of the Testimonies , that even Adversaries , as well as others , have thought fit to give to the Historical part of my former Treatises . And ( to intimate That on this occasion ) this strict Fidelity to Truth I scruple not to own , though perhaps it may be attended with an inconvenience in point of Reputation , that writers of less Veracity are less exposed to . For I have found by Experience , that some Men , who probably would not mention the Experiments of most others , without vouching their Authors , for fear of losing their own credit , in case the thing related should not prove true ; have , without taking the least notice of me , made use of such Experiments of mine , as I have strong motives to think they never made nor saw , only because they had been related by one , after whom they thought they might without a hazard of their credit deliver any Matter of Fact . And the liberty that some have allow'd themselves in adopting my Communications ( such as they are ) is notorious enough to have been publickly complain'd of more then once , by Persons that are meer strangers to me . But though I had not the Probability , which the Notice , that begins to be taken of it , seems to give me , of having some Justice done me : yet Veracity is a Quality that does , I think , so well become a Christian and a writer of Natural History , that I had much rather 〈◊〉 any Disadvantage , I may be subject to for it , then decline the Practice of it . But to return to the following History .

I confess the Prolixity of some passages of our History is increas'd by the transitions , excuses , and suspitions that are made use of in them ; but I confess too , That if this way of writing be a fault , it was not always caus'd by inadvertency . For as to what is said to connect the parts of our History together , or excuse the not prosecuting of this or that particular Trial , the beedful Reader may oftentimes perceive , that they contain in them , though not perhaps conspicuously , either cautions , or advertisements , or hints , not impertinent to my main scope , and improvable by an attentive Peruser . And as for the suspitions and scruples to which now and then I may seem to have too long indulg'd , I had two or three inducements to invite me to what I did . For the mention of conjectures , that every Reader was not so likely to light upon , might more conduce , then at first one would think , to the main design of my Book , which was to begin , and promote the natural History of Cold , since these suspitions about the causes and scruples about other things , relating to our Experiments , may probably produce , not only new reasonings and Inquiries , but new Trials to clear the difficulties and determine the doubts . Besides I thought it not amiss to take such occasions to make some Readers sensible , that to make indubitable inferences even from certain Experiments , is not near so easie a work , as many are pleas'd to imagine . And whereas I was not without inducements to think , that some Critical and Sagacious Readers , will not only excuse my having taken notice of so many scruples , but wish I had mov'd more on some occasions , and propos'd some in certain cases , where I have not mention'd any , I thought it might invite such Jealous Readers to think , that I foresaw divers little difficulties and scruples , that might be mov'd in several cases , where I have not expresly taken notice of them , either because I judg'd them easie enough to be answered without my help , or because the things themselves were not considerable enough to deserve a long or sollicitous discourse to clear them , especially from ae Writer , that being often tir'd himself in examining such Niceties , was affraid he should too much tire the generality of his Readers , if he should too frequently insist upon them .

If it be objected , that notwithstanding some things are set down prolixly , yet other Experiments , that might properly be referred to some of the Titles I handle , are wholly omitted ; I answer , that this were indeed a fault in one , that should pretend to write full and accurate Discourses of the subjects propos'd in his Titles , but not in me , who do not at all pretend to say under each head all that may be pertinently referr'd to it , ( for that may probably be a great deal more then is yet come to my Knowledge ) but only those Particulars , that I my self have tri'd or observ'd , or at least have receiv'd upon credible Testimony . And perhaps some amends may be made for these Omissions , by my having frequently enough mention'd the Experiments , that , when I propos'd them , I had only design'd or attempted without perfecting them . For the Experience of many Ages has shewn us , that hitherto , not only men do not appear to have made any store of Trials concerning Cold , but seem not to have so much as design'd it . And therefore it seem'd not unreasonable to presume , that it would prove an Assistance to the Generality of Readers , if probable and practicable Experiments were propos'd to them . And since 't is the improvement of the subject that I aim at , by whomsoever it may happen to be improv'd , I thought it but reasonable to use my indeavour , that those Experiments , which for want of opportunity I my self could not try , might be tri'd by others , who may be befriended by more favourable Circumstances . Nor is that great Ornament and Guide of Philosophical Historians of Nature , the Lord Verulam himself , asham'd to substitute , on I know not how many occasions , his Fiat Experimentum , that is a precept or a wish to have an Experiment made , instead of an Account of the Experiment made already . And yet in this mention of things , I could wish to have tri'd , I have been far more sparing then every Reader will take notice of . For I judg'd it not discreet to mention all the Experiments I had thought upon , or even already set down in several Catalogues , lest they should appear extravagant to those , that are unacquainted with the several Notions , and trials , and contrivances , which made them appear to me not irrational , and which yet 't would have been tedious , and not worth while to have particularly mention'd .

But that in what we have newly ( and a little before ) had occasion to say of our ways of making Experiments , our meaning may not be misconstru'd , we must here Advertise the Reader , that though in many of the following Experiments , the contrivances will not perchance be dislik'd , yet in many others they are far enough from being such as might have been propos'd by one , that had wanted no Accommodations fit for such a work as ours . But I was reduc'd to make many of those Experiments in a Village , and whilest I was writing them , was obliged to make frequent Removes , by which means I seldom had the liberty to make my Trials after such a manner , as I could contrive them , if I could have Instruments and other assistances to my wish . For sometimes I wanted conveniently shap'd Glasses , sometimes the Implements necessary to seal them up with , sometimes such ingredients as I needed to work on , oftentimes frosty Weather , for the freezing of Bodies to be expos'd to the open Air , and not seldom Ice and Snow for Artificial congelations ; sometimes Weather-glasses , especially seal'd ones , two of which being unluckily broken after one another , kept me from being able to make divers considerable Experiments ; sometimes tender Scales , and sometimes other Mechanical Instruments of several sorts , and more then sometimes ( for it happened very frequently ) I wanted time so to prosecute and finish the Experiments , as to satisfie my self about divers circumstances , which , though possibly few Readers will take notice to be wanting ; I would gladly have observ'd , if I had not been hindered , not only by the haste I was often fain to make for fear of losing a frost , but the importunity both of other Avocations , and even of the distraction given me by the multitude of Experiments , which haste made me prosecute at once . And indeed , as in divers others of the Treatises , I have occasionally written , so particularly in a great part of this History of Cold , my writing in places , where I wanted such Mechanical Accommodations , as I could have wished for , and devis'd , has reduced me oftentimes both to leave Experiments untri'd , that would have much illustrated my subject , or clear'd the difficulties of it , and contrive several of those I mention , not after the best manner that might be , but after the best manner , that was practicable by the accommodations I was then able to procure : so that it need not be wondered at , or blamed , if in some passages of these Papers , Experiments to the self same purpose are more accurately tri'd , or by more Expedient ways at one time then another . For as a Physician , if he come to practise in the Country , where Apothecaries shops are but ill furnished , both as to the Number and as to the Quality of the Drugs , must accommodate his Practise to the scant Materia Medica , of which alone he has the command : So when I write of Experimental matters , in places where I cannot have Workmen , nor Instruments fit for my turn , I must be content to vary my Experiments accordingly , and sute them to the accommodations I am confined to , which , though it be an unwelcome Condition , is made the less so to me , by a Hope , that the Equitable Readers will think it to be all that a man is bound to do in such cases , to procure the best assistances he can , and manage those , he is able to procure , to the best Advantage .

And this I the rather take notice of on this occasion , that ingenious men might not be too much discouraged by imagining , that , because they live in the Country , or upon other scores cannot furnish themselves with the best Instruments and accommodations , nor injoy the assistance of the skilfullest Artificers ; they are either Unqualifi'd for the making of Experiments and Observations , or Superseded from it . For though in some cases , where the measures of things must be nicely determin'd , and principally in Observations , whereon either Theorems or Hypotheses about the Proportions of things are to be grounded ; very good Instruments are exceeding useful , and sometimes necessary : yet there are thousands of particulars , whose knowledge may be instructive to those , that Are or Would be Naturalists , where no such Nieety is requisite , and where the measuring things by Ounces and Inches will serve the turn , without determining them to Lines , and to Grains . And even in cases , where Exact observations are ( to some purposes ) Requisite , those that are not so , may be oftentimes very useful , by affording Hints , by which others may be 〈◊〉 and assisted to make those more accurate Trials . And here let me take notice , that a Tool or Instrument is not therefore to be despised , if it be Proper enough to the Particular use to which 't is appli'd , because some more Mechanical head or hand , may propose or make another , that is more Artificially contriv'd , or more Neat and Portable , or that will also perform Other things , then that we are speaking of . For there is a vast multitude of Physical Phaenomena , wherein Mathematical exactness is not necessary , and Observations about these , may be well enough made by divers Other ways , then by the most Artificial , that Can be devis'd . As though a fine Watch may have these Advantages , That it is a neater thing , and more portable then an ordinary Clock , that it may be improv'd by the Addition of an Alarum , and that it may also perhaps shew the Day of the Month , the Age of the Moon , the Tides , and divers other things , of which the Clock shews not any ; yet an Ordinary Clock may serve to measure an hour by , as well as this finer Engine ; and so may a Sun-Dyal , and many other Instruments on divers occasions , though in other Cases , and other Regards , they be far less commodious , then either a Watch or Clock . Besides , that in many cases a skilful Natur alist will by a variety and collation of Experiments , make the same discoveries , and perform the same things , for which others are wont to be beholding to Instruments , and perhaps do many things without them , that have never been done with them . And since Necessity is proverbially allow'd to be the Mother of Inventions , even in Tradesmen , and Vulgar heads , why should we doubt , but that the rich and inventive Intellect of a Philosopher , may in cases of necestity turn it self , and contrive the things it can dispose of , into so many differing forms , that it will often make its own Sagacity and Industry supply the want of exact Tools and Instruments . And these Considerations that tend to keep ingenious Men from Dispondency , I therefore think fit to Inculcate , because the Common-wealth of Learning would lose too many useful Observations and Experiments , and the History of Nature would make too slow a Progress , if it were presum'd , that none but Geometers and Mechanitians should imploy themselves about writing any part of that History .

But to return to those Trials of our own , that occasioned this ( as I hope , Seasonable ) Digression , I was about to add , That as the acknowledgement I was making , that some of the Trials were 〈◊〉 want of Accommodations less Artificial then I could have design'd or wish'd them , touches not all , nor haply the greatest part of the following Experiments ; so it need not derogate from the Readers reliance on those which it does concern . For though some of them might have been more Artificially performed to the manner , yet they could not have been more Faithfully registred , as to the Events . Which though I dare promise my self , that most Readers will be induc'd to believe , upon the Considerations not long since intimated ; Yet I think it requisite to give this intimation on this occasion , because , that though I have * * The two Essays of the Unsuccesfulness of Experiments . 〈◊〉 largely manifested to what contingencies divers Experiments are liable , yet I have found very few , whose events are so subject to be varied , by slight and not easily beeded circumstances , as several Experiments concerning Cold : Where oftentimes the degree of that Quality , or the time during which it continues appli'd , or the manner of Application , or the thickness , shape and bulk , &c. of the vessels that contained the matter expos'd to it , may have a far greater influence on the success , then those , that have not tri'd , can easily imagine . And it increases the difficulty , that these Experiments of ours being ( very few excepted ) the only that are yet made publick concerning Cold ; we cannot so easily , as in other cases , free our selves from the doubts , that may be suggested by different events , by comparing together several Experiments of the same kind , though to obviate this inconvenience , as far as I may , I have divers times in cases , where the Experiments seem'd like to be thought strange , or to be distrusted , set down several Trials of the same thing , that they might mutually support and confirm one another .

Of those Contingent Experiments about Cold , I was newly speaking of , the Reader may meet with an eminent Example in the 21. Title , where mention is made of the differing Effects of Air blown out of a pair Bellows upon a Weather-glass : and as for the suspition I there conclude with , ( though I yet doubt , whether 〈◊〉 will reach All the Cases incident to that Experiment ) I have since been confirm'd in it , by finding , that by purposely varying the temper of the Bellows themselves , I could divers times considerably vary the operations , which the Winds , blown out of them in their differing states , had upon the Liquor in the Weather-glass * * Another remarkable instance of the variable success of the Experiments of Cold , I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with in an Experiment 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Dr. 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of oyl of 〈◊〉 . For though I 〈◊〉 that Liquor in smal' vessels of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 . and 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at one 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Air in 〈◊〉 nights , 〈◊〉 extraordinarily sharp , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is more , our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Salt , would 〈◊〉 the Experiment succeed , 〈◊〉 that we tri'd it with several parcels of Oyl of Vitriol . And yet , that the Learned Doctor by the help of the Air alone ( for he uses not our 〈◊〉 mixture ) did bring that Liquor , either to a true 〈◊〉 , or a coagulated substance , that look'd just like Ice ; both 〈◊〉 eminent Virtuosi , and I my self , who had the Curiosity to 〈◊〉 it , can bear him witness . Of this I expect to have an opportunity of saying more , and therefore shall at present add but this one particular , which may sufficiently justifie me for having said , That Weather-glasses & our Sensories may give very differing Informations about the Temperature of the Air turn'd into Wind , by being blown out of the same pair of Bellows . For having taken two Hermetically seal'd Weather-glasses furnished with highly rectified spirit of Wine , and purposely made for my Experiments , by a person eminently dexterous in making such Instruments , and having likewise provided a large pair of Bellows , I found , that by blowing 20. blasts at a time on the Ball of one of them , though the Pipe were not only slender , but of an unusual length , amounting to about 30. Inches , yet the Liquor did not sensibly subside any more then rise . And in the other Weather-glass , whose Pipe was less long , but whose Ball was purposely made far greater to be the fitter for short and nice Experiments , we found more then once , and ( that as well in the cold Air , as in a close Room ) that the wind that was blown in divers blasts out of the Bellows , against the lower part of the Instrument , did not only make the spirit of Wine subside , but did make it manifestly , though but very little , ascend . And 't is not necessary , for the making good of what I taught , that such Trials should always succeed just as these did , since it may suffice to prove what I pretended , that a good seal'd Weather-glass did divers times discover the Wind to be rather warm , then cold , when upon Trial ( then purposely made ) it felt not only manifestly , but considerably cold , both to a By-standers Hand , and to my own Hand and Face , though my hand , that was blown upon , were immediately before more then ordinarily cold .

And I shall here add , That judging it fit to make further Trial , with an unseal'd Weather-glass , I made one , that was in some regards preferable to those mentioned in the second Praeliminary Discourse , by making the Bubble large , and the Cylindrical Pipe so proportion'd to it , that instead of a Drop of water , a Pillar about an Inch long of that Liquor was kept suspended , and play'd as well conspicuously as nimbly up and down in the Pipe . And having fastned this Instrument in an erected Posture , with the Sphaerical part uppermost , to the inside of a Window , by blowing upon the Ball with the Bellows above mentioned , which had lain some hours not very far from the Chimney-corner , ( but without seeming to be sensibly warm'd by the neighbourhood of the fire ) a very few blasts made the suspended water hastily subside , ( and thereby witness the Expansion , and so the warmth of the included Air ) and upon my ceasing to blow , the same water would reascend in the Pipe , and that , though I stood near it to watch it , ( which shows , that the former Depression was not caused by the approach of my warm Body ) and this I did more then once , both alone and before witness , notwithstanding that the Air blown at the same time out of the same Bellows upon our hand and face seem'd cool enough . But fearing to insist any longer on this matter in a Preface , I think it now unseasonable to add , That as some contingent Experiments in subsequent Trials may Fail oftner , so other may perchance Succeed oftner then is expected : As I have sometimes observed in the figures , that appear in the Ice made of some Liquors , that abound with Volatile , Urinous , or with certain other Salts . But to say a word in general of Experiments , whose success is not always uniform : As a Magnetick Needle , though it do not always precisely respect the Poles , but both declines sometimes Eastward , and sometimes Westward , and varies that Declination uncertainly as to us , does nevertheless so far respect the North , as in spight of its Variations to be an Excellent guide to Navigators : So there are contingent Experiments , whose Events , though they sometimes vary , are seldom very exorbitant , but for the most part are regular enough to afford Philosophers very useful Informations and Directions .

If it be demanded , why in the 15 , 18 , and 19. Sections I have inserted so many Quotations out of several Authors , and how that agrees with what I have said not far from the beginning of this Preface of the uncultivatedness of the subject I have adventured on ? I answer , That what I have done crosses not what I have said . For my complaint was , That there has been very little , especially of any moment , delivered concerning Cold by Classick Authors , and that even other learned Writers , who have had occasion to say something purposely of Cold , have handled it exceeding Jejunely ; but this hinders not , but that if a Man will take the Pains to seek out , and enquire of Travellers , and has the curiosity and opportunity to consult Voyages and Navigations , he may among a multitude of other things , that have nothing to do with Cold , meet with some few that concern that subject : And yet the Authors that deliver such particulars , can no more properly be said to have written professedly of Cold , then of Botanicks , or Zoology , or Meteors , or Civil Philosophy , because in the same Journal they mention a great frost , or a great snow , as chancing to happen on such a day , with as little particular design as they mention a Storm , or a Whale , or a Bear , or the manners of an Indian people . This Consideration being premis'd , 't will not be difficult to return an Answer to the former part of the Question lately propos'd . For the unfrequency of my Quotations in most of the Sections of the following History , will , I presume , sufficiently perswade the Reader , that I would not needlesly imploy so many of them in the three Sections , that are nam'd in the Question . But the Writers of Physicks being , for ought I know , silent as to the particulars I have transcrib'd out of other Writers , and the Observations being such as I could not my self make in this Temperate Climate ; I must either make use of other mens Testimonies , or leave some of the Remarkablest Phaenomena of Cold unmention'd . And they that shall try how much pains it will cost them , to range among Books , which many of them contain little but melancholly Acounts of storms and distresses , and Ice , and Bears , and Foxes , to cull out here and there a passage fit to make a part of such a Collection as they may here meet with , will possibly rather thank , then blame me for having , to gratifie my Readers , given my self so laborious and unpleasant an entertainment . And I was the rather content to enlarge a little on the foremention'd occasions , not only because I was unwilling to be ingag'd more then once in so troublesome an Imployment , but ( and that chiefly ) because most of the particulars , I have collected out of Navigators , are afforded me by the Voyages of our own Country-men , who having written only in English , an Account of what their Relations contain of most material concerning Cold , will probably be welcome , as well as new to the curious of other Countries , who cannot understand their Books , divers of which having been long out of Print , are so hard to be procur'd , even here in England , that I doubt not but these Extracts of them will be acceptable , even to divers of the Virtuosi of our own 〈◊〉 , especially since I have been careful to alledge most of the Testimonies in the writers own words , though they are not always the best , wherein the things he delivers might be express'd . And this course I the rather took , that I might do what I think very useful to be done by all writers of Natural History , who would do well to distinguish more carefully , then hitherto many have done betwixt the matters of fact , they deliver as upon their own knowledge , and those which they have but upon trust from others . I know it would be more acceptable to most Readers , if I were less punctual and scrupulous in my Quotations ; it being by many accounted a more Gentile and Masterly way of writing , to cite others but seldom , and then to name only the Authors , or mention what they say in the words of Him , that Cites , not Theirs , that are Cited . And there are some Writers of such known Diligence and Veracity , as to be safely trusted , and some Cases wherein I do not dislike , but comply with this Custom ( after having 〈◊〉 consulted my Author to be Master of his true and genuine sense , ) but in matters Historical , and whereon Philosophical and Important Truths are to be built , I should think my self beholden to a Writer , for setting them down in such a way , as that I may satisfie my self , that the Testimony is faithfully reported . In order to which it will be sometimes very useful to be enabled to repair to the Original Witness , and , if need be , survey there the context of the alledged passage . For I must here advertise 〈◊〉 Reader , that in matters of any moment , 〈◊〉 not from every Writer , that I dare trust the Quotations he makes of the passages of other Authors , in his Own words , not Theirs : For upon comparing very many Quotations , I have found , that oftentimes there is no such thing , as is pretended to be really met with in the place referred to ; and even when neither the Book , nor Chapter , nor Page are misquoted , I have too frequently found , that the Alledgers of Testimonies , do either through Inadvertency misapprehend , or misrecite the sense of the Author they quote , or out of Design make him speak , that which may comply with their purpose , whether it were his own sense or no : and by their Indefinite citations make it too troublesome and difficult a work , for the Reader to find out , whether they have imposed upon him or not . But this only by the by , to return therefore to the passages we were speaking of , in the 15 , 18 , and 19. Sections , I shall now add , that having in the beginning of the XIX . Title of the insuing History itself rendered an Account of my not scrupling to insert some strange Relations concerning Cold , it will not be requisite to mention here , what the Reader will meet with there . And I scarce doubt but he will excuse such passages , if he consider , That as I could not omit them without leaving out some of the eminentest Phaenomena of Cold , so being unable to examine them here in England , all I could do , was , to report them faithfully , and mention only such as were either affirmed by Eye witnesses ( as the most , I have inserted , are ) or , at least recommended by credible Testimony , whereof we shall say more by and by ; To which sort of Narratives , I know not whether I may refer That , ( which yet for its strangeness may deserve a transient mention , ) came awhile since to my ears , of an English man , who related to an eminent Virtuoso of our acquaintance , That a Dutch Master of a Ship , returning from the Northern Countries , very solemnly affirm'd , being therein seconded by one of his Country-men , and offered to produce his Journal for proof , That indeavouring to sail Northwards as far as he could , he came within less then a degree of the Pole itself , and found the Sea open , and the cold very tolerable . But to return to what we were saying , before this odd Relation diverted us , I did not only decline the mention of divers things , with which I fear many Writers would have adorned a History of Cold , but even of those that I my self have inserted , I would have left out divers , were it not , that many of the Relations , that may appear so wonderful , seem not to me to be repugnant to the nature of things , but only suppose a far greater degree of Cold , then we have in these parts , and yet the familiar effects of the Cold we have here , would perhaps be looked on as incredible , by one that were born and bred in the Kingdom of Congo , where Odoardus Lopes , who lived long there , informs us , that Ice , that is water made solid , is so unknown a rarity , that it would there be valued as much as so much Gold . And a Learned Physician , that lived in Jamaica , being asked how far he found the Temperature of that Country to be like that of Congo , answered me , That in that Island he observed not all the Winter long , either Frost or Snow : And yet here it will not be unseasonable to say a word or two of the three Principal Authors , from whom most of our strange relations we are considering are transcribed .