Item GPP/2/1 - Barometrical and Thermometrical Observations in a South Chamber made at Whitton Middlesea, in the year 1760'

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Notebook and pages of observations made by Nathaniel Pigott, 1760-1769. Also includes observations made from other rooms, and observations made in Caen and Louvain France. Includes some memoranda relating to political events.

SUMMARY AND EXTRACTS:
August 1760 to January 1761; date, barometer and thermometer readings, with ‘Memorandums’.
April to October 1762; headed ‘North Room Two O’clock P.M.’ : date and thermometer readings. Note, ‘1762 July 31 – a small shock of an Earthquake abt. one o’clock P.M. att Louvain – I did not perceive it, being in Company att dinner. Supposed to have lasted abt. 3” ’.

From April 1764, date, thermometer and barometer readings, wind direction, weather, and remarks. Note on page for April 1764, ‘Observed att Caen in Normandy 1764 Fahrenheit Thermometer in a north west room observations made Each Day att noon’. Note on page for August 1764, ‘N.B. The Observs. From July were made in a South West Room att noon – Well Screened from the sun’. Under remarks for 16th November 1764, ‘began to observe with Waddington’s Thermometer – finding Martin’s Silvered Do. to give Six degrees too much : therefore that Excess must be Deducted from the anterior observations.’ 10th December 1765, ‘the Degrees of the Thermometer from this day are marked Down between 8 and 9 o’clock in the morning before the fire is lighted in the observatory.’ 1st August 1767 ‘for the Variation of the magnetic needle’ – an experiment using a theodolite.

From 27th December 1767 to 4th January 1768 there are thermometer readings taken several times a day and compared; p.m. times have been corrected to the 24-hour clock. From the 3rd to the 6th of January 1768 there are details of experiments concerning the freezing of rum, wine, cider, beer, brandy and water ; p.m. times have been corrected to the 24-hour clock and at the foot of the page is a note ‘N.B. the above alteration in the hours was made to Reduce them to astro: times. See the Dissertation sent to Docr. Bevis for ye R. Society.’ Last observation taken 5th January 1769.

Summary and extracts have been provided by a volunteer.

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