Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol 1: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol 1, credited to Edmond Halley, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol 1 by Edmond Halley. Read in English by Lynne T; clarinetcarrot; Kathleen Moore; Barbara Baker; NoelBadrian; Keren Turton; Amy Gramour; MaryAnnS; Anna Simon; Jim Locke; Carol; Ann Boulais; Kristin Gjerløw; Paula Priebe; TriciaG; Kalynda; Molly "The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence." (from its Mission Statement). As scientists have explored the world around them, observed and tried to explain natural phenomena, they have been invited to present papers to the Royal Society. Edmond Halley (of Halley's Comet fame) was an eminent member of the society and gathered together some of the most interesting papers of his day. Today, we may see errors in the logic or calculations, based on current knowledge, but these papers are unedited and as presented at the time and show how scientific knowledge was expanding in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Summary by Lynne Thompson

Recording facts

• Recording title: Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol 1
• Author credits: Edmond Halley
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 30
• Listed recording duration: 12:37:10

Catalogue topics

• nature
• mathematics
• physics
• astronomy
• medical
• mechanics
• earth sciences
• life sciences

Opening tracks: first 24 of 30

1. 00 - Introduction — 27:15
2. 01 - An Estimate of the Quantity of the Vapours Raised out of the Sea Derived from Experiment: Together with an Account of the Circulation of the Watry Vapours of the Sea, and of the Cause of Springs, presented to the Royal Society. By Mr. E. Halley, F. R. S. — 21:06
3. 02 - The True Theory of the Tides, Extracted from that Admired Treatise of Mr. Isaac Newton, Intitled, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica; Being a Discourse Presented with that Book to the Late King James, by Mr. Edmund Halley. — 25:17
4. 03 - A Theory of the Variation of the Magnetical Compass. By Mr. Ed. Halley, Fellow of the Royal Society. — 27:25
5. 04 - An Account of the Cause of the Change of the Variation of the Magnetical Needle, with an Hypothesis of the Structure of the Internal Parts of the Earth; as it was proposed to the Royal Society in one of their late Meetings. By Mr. Edmund Halley. — 37:19
6. 05 - An Historical Account of the Trade Winds and Monsoons, observable in the Seas between and near the Tropicks, with an attempt to assign the Physical Cause of the said Winds, by Mr. Ed. Halley. — 41:27
7. 06 - A Discourse of the Rule of the Decrease of the height of the Mercury in the Barometer, according as Places are elevated above the Surface of the Earth; with an Attempt to discover the true Reason of the Rising and Falling of the Mercury, upon Change of Weather. By Edm. Halley. — 32:06
8. 07 - A Letter of Mr. Isaac Newton, Professor of the Mathematicks in the University of Cambridge; containing his New Theory about Light and Colours: Sent by the Author to the Publisher from Cambridge, Feb. 6. 1671/2; in order to be communicated to the Royal Society. — 29:00
9. 08 - A farther Explanation of the same Theory. — 9:26
10. 09 - An introductory Essay to the Doctrine of Sounds, containing some Proposals for the improvement of Acousticks; As it was presented to the Dublin Society, Nov. 12. 1683, by the Right Reverend Father in God Narcissus Lord Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin. — 35:00
11. 10 - A Discourse concerning the Modern Theory of Generation, by Dr. George Garden of Aberdeen, being part of a Letter to Dr. William Musgrave, L. L. D. Reg. Soc. S. and by him communicated the Royal Society. — 21:30
12. 11 - A short Discourse concerning Concoction: Read at a Meeting of the Royal Society, May ... 1699, by Clopton Havers, M. D. Fellow of the Royal Society. — 33:37
13. 12 - A Discourse concerning some Influence of Respiration on the Motion of the Heart, hitherto unobserved. By J. Drake, M. D. F. R. S. part 1 — 36:03
14. 13 - A Discourse concerning some Influence of Respiration on the Motion of the Heart, hitherto unobserved. By J. Drake, M.D.F.R.S. — 32:20
15. 14 - Some Thoughts and Experiments concerning Vegetation. By John Woodward, M. D. of the College of Physicians, and R. S. and Professor of Physick in Gresham College. Part 1 — 31:33
16. 15 - Some Thoughts and Experiments concerning Vegetation. By John Woodward, M. D. of the College of Physicians, and R. S. and Professor of Physick in Gresham College. Part 2 — 35:30
17. 16 - An Account of the Measure of the thickness of Gold upon Gilt Wire; together with Demonstration of the exceeding Minuteness of the Atoms or constituent Particles of Gold; as it was read before the Royal Society, by E. Halley. — 5:00
18. 17 - An Account of the several Species of Infinite Quantity, and of the Proportions they bear one to the other; as it was read before the Royal Society, by E. Halley. — 6:13
19. 18 - An Account of Dr. Robert Hook's Invention of the Marine Barometer, with its Description and Uses; published by order of the Royal Society, by E. Halley, R. S. S. — 7:37
20. 19 - A Discourse concerning the Proportional Heat of the Sun in all Latitudes, with the Method of collecting the same; as it was read before the Royal Society, in one of their late Meetings. By E. Halley. — 16:48
21. 20 - Concerning the Distance of the Fix'd Stars. By the Honourable Francis Roberts, Esq; S. R. S. — 4:15
22. 21 - The Famous Mr. Isaac Newton's Theory of the Moon. — 22:50
23. 22 - An Estimate of the Degrees of the Mortality of Mankind, drawn from curious Tables of the Births and Funerals at the City of Breslaw; with an Attempt to ascertain the Price of Annuities upon Lives. By Mr. E. Halley, R. S. S. — 41:58
24. 23 - A Discourse concerning Gravity, and its Properties, wherein the Descent of Heavy Bodies, and the Motion of Projects is briefly, but fully handled: Together with the Solution of a Problem of great Use in Gunnery. By E. Halley. — 55:06

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