* * * * *

THE
Experimental History
OF
COLOURS
Begun.

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The Third PART.

* * * * *

Containing
Promiscuous Experiments
About
COLOURS.

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EXPERIMENT I.

Because that, according to the Conjectures I have above propos’d, one of the most General Causes of the Diversity of Colours in Opacous Bodyes, is, that some reflect the Light mingl’d with more, others with less of Shade (either as to Quantity, or as to Interruption) I hold it not unfit to mention in the first place, the Experiments that I thought upon to examine this Conjecture.  And though coming to transcribe them out of some Physiological Adversaria I had written in loose Papers, I cannot find one of the chief Records I had of my Tryals of this Nature, yet the Papers that scap’d miscarrying, will, I presume, suffice to manifest the main thing for which I now allege them; I find then Among my Adversaria, the following Narrative.

October the 11.  About ten in the Morning in Sun-shiny Weather, (but not without fleeting Clouds) we took several sorts of Paper Stain’d, some of one Colour, and some of another; and in a Darken’d Room whose Window look’d Southward, we cast the Beams that came in at a hole about three Inches and a half in Diameter, upon a White wall that was plac’d on one side, about five foot distance from them.

The White gave much the Brightest Reflection.

The Green, Red, and Blew being Compar’d together, the Red gave much the strongest Reflection, and manifestly enough also threw its Colour upon the Wall; The Green and Blew were scarce Discernable by their Colours, and seem’d to reflect an almost Equal Light.

The Yellow Compar’d with the two last nam’d, Reflected somewhat more Light.

The Red and Purple being Compar’d together, the former manifestly Reflected a good deal more Light.

The Blew and Purple Compar’d together, the former seem’d to Reflect a little more Light, though the Purple Colour were more manifestly seen.

A Sheet of very well fleck’d Marbl’d Paper being Apply’d as the others, did not cast any or its Distinct Colours upon the Wall; nor throw its Light upon it with an Equal Diffusion, but threw the Beams Unstain’d and Bright to this and that part of the Wall, as if it’s Polish had given it the Nature of a specular Body.  But comparing it with a sheet of White Paper, we found the Reflection of the latter to be much Stronger, it diffusing almost as much Light to a good Extent as the Marble Paper did to one part of the Wall.

The Green and Purple left us somewhat in suspence which Reflected the most Light; only the Purple seem’d to have some little Advantage over the Green, which was Dark in its kind.