* * * * *
A COPY
OF THE
LETTER
That Mr. _Boyle_ wrote to Sir _Robert Morray_,
to accompany the _Observations_ touching
the _Shining Diamond_.
_SIR,_
Though Sir _Robert Morray_ and Monsieur _Zulichem_ be Persons that have
deserv'd so well of the Commonwealth of Learning, that I should think my
self unworthy to be look'd upon as a Member of it, if I declin'd to Obey
them, or to Serve them; yet I should not without Reluctancy send you the
Notes, you desire for him, if I did not hope that you will transmit
together with them, some Account why they are not less unworthy of his
perusal; which, that you may do; I must inform you, how the writing of them
was Occasion'd, which in short was thus. As I was just going out of Town,
hearing that an Ingenious Gentleman of my Acquaintance, lately return'd
from _Italy_, had a Diamond, that being rubb'd, would shine in the Dark,
and that he was not far off, I snatch'd time from my Occasions to make him
a Visit, but finding him ready to go abroad, and having in vain try'd to
make the Stone yield any Light in the Day time, I borrow'd it of him for
that Night, upon condition to restore it him within a Day or two at
furthest, at _Gresham_ College, where we appointed to attend the meeting of
the Society, that was then to be at that place. And hereupon I hasted that
Evening out of Town, and finding after Supper that the Stone which in the
Day time would afford no discernable Light, was really Conspicuous in the
Dark, I was so taken with the Novelty, and so desirous to make some use of
an opportunity that was like to last so little a while, that though at that
time I had no body to assist me but a Foot-Boy, yet sitting up late, I made
a shift that Night to try a pretty number of such of the things that then
came into my thoughts, as were not in that place and time unpracticable.
And the next Day being otherwise imploy'd, I was fain to make use of a
drowsie part of the Night to set down hastily in Writing what I had
observ'd, and without having the time in the Morning, to stay the
transcribing of it, I order'd the Observations to be brought after me to
_Gresham_ College, where you may remember, that they were together with the
Stone it self shown to the Royal Society, by which they had the good
Fortune not to be dislik'd, though several things were through hast
omitted, some of which you will find in the Margin of the inclosed Paper.
The substance of this short Narrative I hope you will let Monsieur
_Zulichem_ know, that he may be kept from expecting any thing of finish'd
in the Observations, and be dispos'd to excuse the want of it. But such as
they are, I hope they will prove (without a Clinch) Luciferous Experiments,
by setting the Speculations of the Curious on work, in a diligent Inquiry
after the Nature of Light, towards the discovery of which, perhaps they
have not yet met with so considerable an Experiment, since here we see
Light produc'd in a dead and opacous Body, and that not as in rotten Wood,
or in Fishes, or as in the _Bolonian_ Stone, by a Natural Corruption, or by
a Violent Destruction of the Texture of the Body, but by so slight a
Mechanical operation upon its Texture, as we seem to know what it is, and
as is immediately perform'd, and that several wayes without at all
prejudicing the Body, or making any sensible alterations in its Manifest
Qualities. And I am the more willing to expose my hasty Tryals to Monsieur
_Zulichem_, and to You, because, he being upon the Consideration of
Dioptricks, so odd a _Phænomenon_ relateing to the Subject, as probably he
treats of, Light will, I hope, excite a person to consider it, that is wont
to consider things he treats of very well. And for you Sir, I hope you will
both recrute and perfect the Observations you receive, For you know that I
cannot add to them, having a good while since restor'd to Mr. _Clayton_ the
Stone, which though it be now in the hands of a Prince that so highly
deserves, by understanding them, the greatest Curiosities; yet he
vouchsafes you that access to him as keeps me from doubting, you may easily
obtain leave to make further Tryals with it, of such a Monarch as ours,
that is not more inquisitive himself, than a favourer of them that are so.
I doubt not but these Notes will put you in mind of the Motion you made to
the Society, to impose upon me the Task of bringing in, what I had on other
occasions observ'd concerning shining Bodies. But though I deny not, that I
sometimes made observations about the _Bolonian_ Stone, and try'd some
Experiments about some other shining Bodies; Yet the same Reasons that
reduc'd me then to be unwilling to receive ev'n their commands, must now be
my Apology for not answering your Expectations, Namely the abstruse nature
of Light, and my being already over-burden'd, and but too much kept
imploy'd by the Urgency of the Press, as well as by more concerning and
distracting Occasions. But yet I will tell you some part of what I have met
with in reference to the Stone, of which I send you an account. Because I
find on the one side, that a great many think it no Rarity upon a mistaken
perswasion, that not only there are store of Carbuncles, of which this is
one; but that all Diamonds and other Glistering Jewels shine in the Dark.
Whereas on the other side there are very Learn'd Men, who (plausibly
enough) deny that there are any Carbuncles or shining Stones at all.
And certainly, those Judicious men have much more to say for themselves,
than the others commonly Plead, and therefore did deservedly look upon Mr.
_Clayton_'s Diamond as a great Rarity. For not only _Boetius de Boot_, who
is judg'd the best Author on this Subject, ascribes no such Virtue to
Diamonds, but begins what he delivers of Carbuncles, with this passage.[26]
_Magna fama est Carbunculi. Is vulgo putatur in tenebris Carbonis instar
lucere; fortassis quia Pyropus seu Anthrax appellatus a veteribus fuit.
Verum hactenus nemo nunquam verè asserere ausus fuit, se gemmam noctu
lucentem vidisse. Garcias ab Horto proregis Indiæ Medicus, refert se
allocutum fuisse, qui se vidisse affirmarent. Sed iis fidem non habuit._
And a later Author, the Diligent and Judicious _Johannes de Laet_ in his
Chapter of Carbuncles and of Rubies, has this passage. _Quia autem
Carbunculi, Pyropi & Anthraces a veteribus nominantur, vulgo creditum fuit,
Carbonis instar in tenebris lucere, quod tamen nullâ gemmâ hastenus
deprehensum, licet à quibusdam temerè jactetur._ And the recentest Writer I
have met with on this Subject, _Olaus Wormius_, in his Account of his well
furnish'd _Musæum_, do's, where he treats of Rubies, concurr with the
former Writers by these Words.[27] _Sunt qui Rubinum veterum Carbunculum
esse existimant, sed deest una illa nota, quod in tenebris instar Anthracis
non luceat: Ast talem Carbunculum in rerum naturâ non inveniri major pars
Authoram existimant. Licet unum aut alterum in India apud Magnates quosdam
reperiri scribant, cum tamen ex aliorum relatione id habeant saltem, sed
ipsi non viderint._ In confirmation of which I shall only add, that hearing
of a Rubie, so very Vivid, that the Jewellers themselves have several times
begg'd leave of the fair Lady to whom it belong'd, that they might try
their choicest Rubies by comparing them with That, I had the Opportunity by
the Favour of this Lady and her Husband, (both which I have the Honour to
be acquainted with) to make a Trial of this famous Rubie in the Night, and
in a Room well Darkn'd, but not only could not discern any thing of Light,
by looking on the Stone before any thing had been done to it, but could not
by all my Rubbing bring it to afford the least Glimmering of Light.
[26] Boetius de Boot. Gem. & Lapid. Histor. Lib. 3. Cap. 8.
[27] Musæi Wormiani. Cap. 17.
But, Sir, though I be very backward to admit strange things for truths, yet
I am not very forward to reject them as impossibilities, and therefore I
would not discourage any from making further Inquiry, whether or no there
be Really in _Rerum natura_, any such thing as a true Carbuncle or Stone
that without Rubbing will shine in the Dark. For if such a thing can be
found, it may afford no small Assistance to the Curious in the
Investigation of Light, besides the Nobleness and Rarity of the thing it
selfe. And though _Vartomannus_ was not an Eye witness of what he relates,
that the King of _Pegu_, one of the Chief Kings of the _East-Indies_, had a
true Carbuncle of that Bigness and Splendour, that it shin'd very
Gloriously in the Dark, and though _Garcias ab Horto_, the _Indian_
Vice-Roys Physician, speaks of another Carbuncle, only upon the Report of
one, that he Discours'd with, who affirmed himself to have seen it; yet as
we are not sure that these Men that gave themselves out to be Eye-witnesses
speak true, yet they may have done so for ought we know to the contrary.
And I could present you with a much considerabler Testimony to the same
purpose, if I had the permission of a Person concern'd, without whose leave
I must not do it. I might tell you that _Marcus Paulus Venetus_[28] (whose
suppos'd Fables, divers of our later Travellours and Navigatours have since
found to be truths) speaking of the King of _Zeilan_ that then was, tells
us, that he was said to have the best Rubie in the World, a Palm long and
as big as a mans Arm, without spot, shining like a Fire, and he subjoyns,
that the Great _Cham_, under whom _Paulus_ was a considerable Officer, sent
and offer'd the value of a City for it; But the King answer'd, he would not
give it for the treasure of the World, nor part with it, having been his
Ancestours. And I could add, that in the Relation made by two _Russian_
Cossacks of their Journey into _Catay_[29], written to their Emperour, they
mention'd their having been told by the people of those parts, that their
King had a Stone, which Lights as the Sun both Day and Night, call'd in
their Language _Sarra_, which those Cossacks interpret a Ruby. But these
Relations are too uncertain for me to build any thing upon, and therefore I
shall proceed to tell you, that there came hither about two years since out
of _America_, the Governour of one of the Principal Colonies there, an
Ancient _Virtuoso_, and one that has the Honour to be a member of the Royal
Society; this Gentleman finding some of the chief Affairs of his Country
committed to another and me, made me divers Visits, and in one of them when
I enquir'd what Rare Stones they had in those parts of the _Indies_ he
belong'd to, he told me, that the _Indians_ had a Tradition that in a
certain hardly accessible Hill, a pretty way up in the Country, there was a
Stone which in the Night time shin'd very vividly, and to a great distance,
and he assur'd me, that though he thought it not fit to venture himself so
far among those Savages, yet he purposely sent thither a bold _Englishman_,
with some Natives to be his guides, and that this Messenger brought him
back word, that at a distance from the Hillock he had plainly perceiv'd
such a shining Substance as the _Indians_ Tradition mention'd, and being
stimulated by Curiosity, had slighted those Superstitious Fears of the
Inhabitants, and with much ado by reason of the Difficulty of the way, had
made a shift to clamber up to that part of the Hill, where, by a very
heedful Observation, he suppos'd himself to have seen the Light: but
whether 'twere that he had mistaken the place, or for some other Reason, he
could not find it there, though when he was return'd to his former Station,
he did agen see the Light shining in the same place where it shone before.
A further Account of this Light I expect from the Gentleman that gave me
this, who lately sent me the news of his being landed in that Country. And
though I reserve to my self a full Liberty of Believing no more than I see
cause; yet I do the less scruple to relate this, because a good part of it
agrees well enough with another Story that I shall in the next place have
occasion to subjoyn, in order whereunto I shall tell you, that though the
Learned Authors I formerly mention'd, tell us, that no Writer has affirm'd
his having himself seen a real Carbuncle, yet, considering the Light of Mr.
_Claytons_ Diamond, it recall'd into my mind, that some years before, when
I was Inquisitive about Stones, I had met with an old _Italian_ Book highly
extoll'd to me by very competent Judges, and that though the Book were very
scarce, I had purchas'd it at a dear Rate, for the sake of a few
considerable passages I met with in it, and particularly one, which being
very remarkable in it self, and pertinent to our present Argument, I shall
put it for you, though not word for word, which I fear I have forgot to do,
yet as to the Sense, into _English_.
[28] _Purchas_'s Pilgrim. lib. 1. cap. 4. pag. 104.
[29] In the year 1619.
_Having promis'd_ (Says our Author)[30] _to say something of that most
precious sort of Jewels,_ Carbuncles, _because they are very rarely to be
met with, we shall briefly deliver what we know of them. In_ Clement _the
seventh's time, I happen'd to see one of_ _them at a certain_ Ragusian
_Merchants, nam'd_ Beigoio di Bona, _This was a Carbuncle white, of that
kind of whiteness which we said was to be found in those Rubies of which we
made mention a little above,_ (where he had said that those Rubies had a
kind of Livid Whiteness or Paleness like that of a Calcidonian) _but it had
in it a Lustre so pleasing and so marveilous, that it shin'd in the Dark,
but not as much as colour'd Carbuncles, though it be true, that in an
exceeding Dark place I saw it shine in the manner of fire almost gone out.
But as for colour'd Carbuncles, it has not been my Fortune to have seen
any, wherefore I will onely set down what I Learn'd about them Discoursing
in my Youth with a_ Roman _Gentleman of antient Experience in matters of
Jewels, who told me, That one_ Jacopo Cola _being by Night in a Vineyard of
his, and espying something in the midst of it, that shin'd like a little_
glowing Coal, at the foot of a Vine, went near towards the place where he
thought himself to have seen that fire, but not finding it, he said, that
being return'd to the same place, whence he had first descry'd it, and
perceiving there the same splendor as before, he mark'd it so heedfully,
that he came at length to it, where he took up a very little Stone, which
he carry'd away with Transports and Joy. And the next day carrying it about
to show it divers of his Friends, whilst he was relating after what manner
he found it, there casually interven'd a _Venetian_ Embassadour,
exceedingly expert in Jewels, who presently knowing it to be a Carbuncle,
did craftily before he and the said _Jacopo_ parted (so that there was no
Body present that understood the Worth of so Precious a Gemm) purchase it
for the Value of 10. Crowns, and the next day left _Rome_ to shun the being
necessitated to restore it, and (as he affirm'd) it was known within some
while after that the said _Venetian_ Gentleman did in _Constantinople_ sell
that Carbuncle to the then Grand Seignior, newly come to the Empire, for a
hundred thousand Crowns. _And this is what I can say_ concerning
_Carbuncles_, and this is not a little at least as to the first part of
this account, where our _Cellini_ affirms himself to have seen a Real
Carbuncle with his own Eyes, especially since this Author appears wary in
what he delivers, and is inclin'd rather to lessen, than increase the
wonder of it. And his Testimony is the more considerable, because though he
were born a Subject neither to the Pope nor the then King of _France_ (that
Royal _Virtuoso_ _Francis_ the first) yet both the one and the other of
those Princes imploy'd him much about making of their Noblest Jewels. What
is now reported concerning a Shining Substance to be seen in one of the
Islands about _Scotland_, were very improper for me to mention to Sr.
_Robert Morray_, to whom the first Information was Originally brought, and
from whom I expect a farther (for I scarce dare expect a convincing)
account of it. But I must not omit that some _Virtuoso_ questioning me the
other day at _White-Hall_ about Mr. _Claytons_ Diamond, and meeting amongst
them an Ingenious _Dutch_ Gentleman, whose Father was long Embassador for
the Netherlands in _England_, I Learn'd of him, that, he is acquainted with
a person, whose Name he told (but I do not well remember it) who was
Admiral of the _Dutch_ in the _East-Indies_, and who assur'd this Gentleman
_Monsieur Boreel_, that at his return from thence he brought back with him
into _Holland_ a Stone, which though it look'd but like a Pale Dull
Diamond, such as he saw Mr. _Claytons_ to be, yet was it a Real Carbuncle,
and did without rubbing shine so much, that when the Admiral had occasion
to open a Chest which he kept under Deck in a Dark place, where 'twas
forbidden to bring Candles for fear of Mischances, as soon as he open'd the
Trunck, the Stone would by its Native Light, shine so as to Illustrate a
great part of it, and this Gentleman having very civilly and readily
granted me the request I made him, to Write to the Admiral, who is yet
alive in _Holland_, (and probably may still have the Jewel by him,) for a
particular account of this Stone, I hope ere long to receive it, which will
be the more welcome to me, not onely because so unlikely a thing needs a
cleer evidence, but because I have had some suspition of that (supposing
the truth of the thing) what may be a shining Stone in a very hot Countrey
as the _East-Indies_, may perhaps cease to be so (at least in certain
seasons,) in one as cold as _Holland_. For I observ'd in the Diamond I send
you an account of, that not onely rubbing but a very moderate degree of
warmth, though excited by other wayes, would make it shine a little. And
'tis not impossible that there may be Stones as much more susceptible than
that, of the Alterations requisite to make a Diamond shine, as that
appeares to be more susceptible of them, than ordinary Diamonds. And I
confess to you, that this is not the only odd suspition (for they are not
so much as conjectures) that what I try'd upon this Diamond suggested to
me. For not here to entertain you with the changes I think may be effected
ev'n in harder sorts of Stones, by wayes not vulgar, nor very promising,
because I may elsewhere have occasion to speak of them, and this Letter is
but too Prolix already, that which I shall now acknowledge to you is, That
I began to doubt whether there may not in some Cases be some Truth in what
is said of the right Turquois, that it often changes Colour as the wearer
is Sick or Well, and manifestly loses its splendor at his Death. For when I
found that ev'n the warmth of an Affriction that lasted not above a quarter
of a minute, Nay, that of my Body, (whose Constitution you know is none of
the hottest) would make a manifest change in the solidest of Stones a
Diamond, it seem'd not impossible, that certain warm and Saline steams
issuing from the Body of a living man, may by their plenty or paucity, or
by their peculiar Nature, or by the total absence of them, diversifie the
Colour, and the splendor of so soft a Stone as the Turquois. And though I
admir'd to see, that I know not how many Men otherwise Learn'd, should
confidently ascribe to Jewels such Virtues as seem no way competible to
Inanimate Agents, if to any Corporeal ones at all, yet as to what is
affirm'd concerning the Turquois's changing Colour, I know not well how to
reject the Affirmation of so Learned (and which in this case is much more
considerable) so Judicious a Lapidary as _Boetius de Boot_[31], who upon
his own particular and repeated Experience delivers so memorable a
Narrative of the Turquois's changing Colour, that I cannot but think it
worth your Perusal, especially since a much later and very Experienc'd
Author, _Olaus Wormius_,[32] where he treats of that Stone, Confirms it
with this Testimony. _Imprimis memorandum exemplum quod Anshelmus Boetius
de seipso refert, tam mutati Coloris, quam à casu preservationis. Cui &
ipse haud dissimile adferre possum, nisi ex Anshelmo petitum quis putaret._
I remember that I saw two or three years since a _Turcois_ (worn in a Ring)
wherein there were some small spots, which the _Virtuoso_ whose it was
asur'd me he had observ'd to grow sometimes greater sometimes less, and to
be sometimes in one part of the Stone, sometimes in another. And I having
encourag'd to make Pictures from time to time of the Stone, and of the
Situation of the cloudy parts, thatso their Motion may be more
indisputable, and better observ'd, he came to me about the midle of this
very week, and assur'd me that he had, as I wish'd, made from time to time
Schemes or Pictures of the differing parts of the Stone, whereby the
several Removes and motions of the above mentioned Clouds are very
manifest, though the cause seem'd to him very occult: these Pictures he has
promis'd to show me, and is very ready to put the Stone it self into my
hands. But the ring having been the other day casually broken upon his
finger, unless it can be taken out, and set again without any considerable
heat, he is loath to have it medled with, for fear its peculiarity should
be thereby destroy'd. And possibly his apprehension would have been
strengthen'd, if I had had opportunity to tell him what is related by the
Learned _Wormius_[33] of an acquaintance of his, that had a _Nephritick_
stone, of whose eminent Virtues he had often Experience ev'n in himself,
and for that cause wore it still about his Wrist; and yet going upon a time
into a Bath of fair Water only, wherein certain Herbs had been boyl'd, the
Stone by being wetted with this decoction, was depriv'd of all his Virtue,
whence _Wormius_ takes Occasion to advertise the sick, to lay by such
stones whensoever they make use of a Bath. And we might expect to find
_Turcos_ likewise, easily to be wrought upon in point of Colour, if that
were true, which the curious _Antonio Neri_, in his ingenious _Arte
Vetraria_[34] teaches of it, namely, That _Turcois's discolour'd_ and grown
white, will regain and acquire an excellent Colour, if you but keep them
two or three days at most cover'd with Oyl of sweet Almonds kept in a
temperate heat by warm ashes, I say if it were true, because I doubt
whether it be so, and have not as yet had opportunity to satisfie my self
by Tryals, because I find by the confession of the most Skilfull Persons
among whom I have laid out for _Turcoises_, that the true ones are great
rarities, though others be not at all so. And therefore I shall now only
mind you of one thing that you know as well as I, namely, that the rare
Stone which is called _Oculus Mundi_, if it be good in its Kind, will have
so great a change made in its Texture by being barely left a while in the
Languidest of Liquors, common Waters, that from Opacous it will become
Transparent, and acquire a Lustre of which it will again be depriv'd,
without using any other Art or Violence, by leaving it a while in the Air.
And before experience had satisfy'd us of the truth of this, it seem'd as
unlikely that common Water or Air, should work such great changes in that
Gemm, as it now seems that the Effluviums of a human Body should effect
lesser changes in a _Turcois_, especially if more susceptible of them, than
other Stones of the same kind. But both my Watch and my Eyes tell me that
'tis now high time to think of going to sleep, matters of this Nature, will
be better, as well as more easily, clear'd by Conference, than Writing. And
therefore since I think you know me too well to make it needfull for me to
disclame Credulity, notwithstanding my having entertain'd you with all
these Extravagancies; for you know well, how wide a difference I am wont to
put betwixt things that barely _may be_, and things that _are_, and between
those Relations that are but not unworthy to be inquir'd into, and those
that are not worthy to be actually believ'd; without making Apologies for
my Ravings, I shall readily comply with the drowsiness that calls upon me
to release You, and the rather, because Monsieur _Zulichem_ being concern'd
in your desire to know the few things I have observed about the shining
Stone. To entertain those with Suspicions that are accustomed not to
acquiesce but in Demonstrations, were a thing that cannot be look'd upon as
other than very improper by,