The honour of performing several physical amusements before their
Britannic Majesties and the Royal Family, was an event that flattered
my ambition in the highest degree. To obtain their suffrages, and those
of that part of this enlightened nation, before which I have repeated
the same experiments and amusements at the Theatre Royal, Hay-Market,
was the summit of my wishes. Having obtained these two desirable
ends, I blessed the moments I had devoted to the study of natural
philosophy and mathematics; to them I am indebted for these inestimable
advantages.
Some invidious hints insinuated relative to the means I practised for
performing these several experiments came to trouble the happiness
I enjoyed. The opportunities I had of demonstrating publicly the
simplicity and fairness of the execution of my experiments, which had
appeared complicated to such a degree as to require a confederate, have
put me in the happy way of destroying those unfavourable impressions,
and of undeceiving those persons who honoured me with their presence;
their repeated applauses have been a very flattering testimony of their
approbation of my endeavours to amuse the public.
Several persons of the first rank having signified their wishes that
I would publish some few easy means of amusing a company, whether in
town or in the country; I could not refuse to comply with their desire:
this is the motive of this little publication. Being near my departure
for France, I shall trace hastily a few experiments, which will be as
simple as they are entertaining, and easy to be performed. If amongst
them there should be found, by chance, some that are known, or even
printed, I hope it will not be taken amiss, nor I shall be looked upon
as a plagiary. Unacquainted with this town, I cannot be informed of
all that exists in print: besides, as in this age the study of natural
philosophy is so universal, it cannot be in the least astonishing if
some of the experiments resulting from that science were already
known. Therefore I claim by anticipation the indulgence of those who
read this work. My only wish is to be so happy as to unite in this
book the clearness and precision necessary to enable my readers to
perform what is contained in each chapter. My project on my return to
this metropolis, is to endeavour to obtain again the suffrages of the
nation, by performing some new experiments. To reveal on this occasion
those which I have performed till now, would be hurtful to my fortune:
besides, most of them require a great deal of mechanism and great
preparations. Others depend on much dexterity and subtilty; which are
out of my power to give, and out of a possibility to be communicated in
writing.
If this feeble Essay, which I have the honour of presenting to the
public, is favourably received, I promise on my return, and after I
have merited their favour, to publish the means I have used to execute
all I have performed.
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