The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Robert Moray (c.1608/9 - 1673)

Soldier, courtier, and founding member of the Royal Society Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19645?docPos=1 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moray Relationships: Robert Moray was a friend of John Evelyn (1620-1706)
Robert Moray was a correspondent of Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680)
Robert Moray was a member of Royal Society (-)

du Son (1604-fl. 1665) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Robert Moray
Prince Rupert of the Rhine (Dec 1619-29 Nov 1682) was a friend of Robert Moray
Thomas Willisel (bap. 1621-d. 1675?) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Robert Moray
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A relation concerning barnacles, by Sr. Robert Moray, lately one of his Majesties council for the Kingdom of Scotland.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - To some of the queries, which were recommended by Sir R. Moray to Sir Phil. Vernatti, President in Java Major, were left un-answered of those that are sound in the history of the R. Society, p. 158, &c.
as Mentioned or referenced by - The Royal Society and the Invention of Modern Science.
References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

The FLAT CENTRE-SHELL. Balanus compressa. Commonly called the BARNACLE-SHELL; and CONCHA ANATIFERA. Because supposed to be the Egg of the Barnacle. And by some (b) (b) Hector Bœthius quoted by Gesner, and our Countryman Dr. Turner. it is confidently deliver'd, that in the Orcades there are certain Worms grow in Hollow-Trees, which by degrees obtain the Head, Feet, Wings and all the feathers of a Water-Fowl, which grows to the bigness of a Goose. Scaliger also describes this (supposed) Bird within this shell. (a) (a) Exercit. 59. toward the end. And with respect to so worthy a Person as Sir Robert Moray (who never meant to deceive) I my self was once induced to publish his Description of the same. (b) But having examined the Shell it self, I am of Opinion, (b) Philos. Transac. N 137. That all that is said of a Bird, is fabulous. Bartholine (c) would have it to belong to a kind of Cancellus. But I rather (c) Histor. Cent. 6. agree with Columna, that it is a sort of Centre-Shell; as being fixed in like manner upon it's Base, and composed of several shelly parts.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

ANOTHER of the same sort, of an Oval Figure. Given by Sir R. Moray.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A ROCK of DIAMONDS. Given by Sir R. Moray. They grow upon their Bed (which is about three inches broad, and four in length) in Crystals Sexangularly pointed. Of several sizes from the thickness of a midling Pin, to a ¼ of an inch Diametre, but all of them short. Not very perspicuous, but a little greyish, like the Calcedony. Saving one small cluster of them, tinctur'd yellowish. They cut Glass very deep and easily.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

The BASTARD-DIAMOND. Pseudo-adamas. Now remaining, as it was found, bred in a Musculites, a Stone like a Muscleshell. Given also by Sir Robert Moray. 'Tis angular, pointed, and very clear. And cuts Glass with great ease and depth. Of our Bastard-Diamonds here in England, the Cornish are the best; much better than those on St. Vincents Rock near Bristol.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

An AMETHYST of a pale Violet colour; found growing in Scotland. Given by Sir Rob. Moray.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A YELLOW TIN-SPAR from Ireland. Given by Sir Rob. Moray. The several Crystals are angular, pointed, and soft; semiperspicuous like brown Sugar-Candy. Dissoluble with Acids.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A SPAR with CONICK CRYSTALS. They are most of them an inch and ½ long. All very close and continuous, excepting at their Points, as in the Amethyst. Semiperspicuous, and exactly of the colour of the best brown Sugar-Candy. Very soft; and easily dissolved with Spirit of Nitre. It was taken out of a Portland-Stone; and given by Sir Rob. Moray.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

The STARRED WAXEN-VEIN. Given by Sir Rob. Moray. Found in the Isle of Sheapy. On one part of the Stone grows a fair Star, with many Rays, about an inch long, white and glossy: from whence I name it. This Star is of a quite different nature from the Stone on which it grows, as making no Effervescence with Acids, and in figure agreeing rather with the Pyrites.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

CUMBSIMLOCK ORE, Black, and most of it Granulated, immersed in a blackish Stone, dispersed throughout It holds twenty eight lib. sterling per Tun. This, and some other Welsh Ores, given by Sir Rob. Moray.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

BULLATED COPPER, Native, or from the Mine. Given by Sir Rob. Moray. 'Tis pure and of the colour of the best concocted. Whether this piece was not fluxed by some subterraneal fire may be question'd. Of the rest, 'tis plain to the contrary.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

Pure MASSY COPPER from the Mine. Given by the same Hand. It grows to a white and semiperspicuous Spar, which cuts Glass easily, and deep.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

BLACK COPPER ORE, immersed in a Blackish Stone, which is flaked somewhat like Lead-Ore; probably a courser sort of Cinnabar. Given by Sir Rob. Moray.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

LEAD ORE, rich in SILVER. Given by Sir R. Moray. 'Tis of the usual colour, but mixed with white Spar, so hard as to cut Glass. And I suppose, that most Lead Ores with such a Spar, have Silver in them.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A Piece of Jet. Gagates, from Gaza a River of Lycia, where first found. Given by Sir Rob. Moray. Of a shining colour, and in some places, flaky. It cracks when held to the fire; and in it, burns with a thick flame and smoak, and very stinking. If rub'd till its warm, it takes up pieces of Feathers, and such light Bodies. 'Tis found in France, Sicily. And in this Island, in Cleaveland, on the top of Huntley and Whitby Clifts, where the Sea-water never comes.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A Pair of WOODEN-BELLOWS. Contrived to save Leather. Given by Sir Rob. Moray. They may be compared to a Box; saving, that here the Box moves, and strikes not within, but over the Lid: and both of a square Figure. The length of the Box from end to end, within, two feet. The breadth, at the Breech, a foot and ¼; the depth, about a foot. The breadth of the Nose-end, seven inches and ½. The Breech-Board is bended, so as to make part of a Zone, answering to the Lid (which moves upon an Iron Centre or Axis) as the Radius.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

A BOX-HIVE. Given by Sir Rob. Moray. But contrived by Sir Christopher Wren: And the Description hereof first published (d) (d) By Mr. Hartlib. in the Year, 1652. Since then by Mr. Moses Rusden. Design'd to keep them warmer, and more safe; but especially, to prevent their Swarming, and the better to propagate them into Colonies.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)

Sir Robert Moray's HEAD in WAX. Taken off of a Plaster-Mold, which was made upon it.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685) A List of those who have Contributed to this Musæum: excepting some Names which are lost. His Highness Prince RUPERT, Count Palatine of the Rhine. THomasThomas Allen M. D. John Aubrey Esq. WILLIAM L. Visc. BROUNCKER. Hon. ROBERT BOYLE, Esq. Dr. Erasmus Bartholine. John Bembde Esq. Sign. Paul Boccone. Mons. Olaus Borrichius. Joseph Bowles Merch. Sir Thomas Brown Edward Brown. M. D. JONH JOHN late Lord B. of CHESTER. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. ROYAL AFRICAN COMPANY. Walter Charleton M. D. Walter Chetwynd Esq. Andrew Clench M. D. Samuel Colepress, Esq. Thomas Cox, Esq. Edward Cotton M. D. Thomas Crispe Esq. Ellis Crispe, Esq. William Crone M. D. John Evelyn Esq. George Ent Esq. Captain Thomas Fissenden. Nehemjah Grew M. D. Hon. CHARLES HOWARD of N. Esq. Theodore Haac Esq. Thomas Henshaw Esq. Abraham Hill Esq. Mr. Hocknel. Luke Hodgson M. D. Robert Hook Geom. Pr. Anthony Horneck B. D. Sir John Hoskins. John Houghton Pharm. L. Edmund King M. D. Mons. Lannoy. Mr. Langerman Mr. Linger. Fath. Hieronim. Lobus. Richard Lower M. D. Martyn Lyster Esq. Mr. John Malling. Sign. Malpighi. Christopher Merret M. D. Sir Thomas Millington. Sir Jonas Moore. Sir Robert Moray. Mr. S. Morgan. HENRY Duke of NORFOLK. Walter Needham M. D. Isaac Newton Math. Prof. Henry Oldenburge Esq. Philip Packer Esq. Dudley Palmer Esq. Sir William Petty. Robert Plot L L. D. Walter Pope M. D. Thomas Povey Esq. SETH Lord B. of SALISBURY. Mr. Scotto Merch. Mr. John Short. Sir Philip Skippon. Francis Slare M. D. George Smith M. D. Mr. John Somner. Sir Robert Southwell. Dr. Swammerdam. Captain Tayler. George Trumbal T. D. Edward Tyson M. D. WILLIAM late L. WILLOUGHBY of Parham. Sir Christopher Wren P. R. S. George Wheeler Esq. Daniel Whistler, M. D. Henry Whistler Esq. Sir Joseph Williamson. Francis Willughby Esq. John Winthrop Esq. Robert Witty M. D.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
A Letter from Mr. J: Beaumont of Stony-Easton in Sommersetshire to one of the R. S. concerning a New way of Cleaving Rocks.

A worthy Gentleman, who for many years has been a Considerable adventurer in the Lead Mines on Mendip hills, being in London a while since, was pleas'd to acquaint me that the Miners there, within these twelve months, had gotten a new way of Cleaving Rocks with Gunpowder, whereupon I desir'd he would please to favour me with a Present of the Instruments us'd in it, which I conceiv'd would not be unacceptable in the Repository at Gresham Colledge, where I have now caus'd them to be deliuered.

The first Instrument, which by the miners is call'd the Borier described Fig. 7 is made of Iron, and is 2 foot 2 Inches in length, it is an Inch square at the steeled end from a to b, and somewhat lesse in the other part: the use of this Instrument is to make a hole in the Rock deep enough to receive the Powder: the second Instrument, call'd the Gun represented Fig. 8. is 6. Inches in length, 1¼ diameter, and has a hole drill'd through it to receive the priming Powder. The first Instrument is manag'd thus, one man holds it on the Rock and turns it round, while another beats it down with a hammer of five or six pounds weight; when the hole is made somewhat deeper then the length of the Gun, they dry it with a rag, and put into it about 2 or 3 Ounces of Powder, over which they put a thin paper, and on it place the Gun, which they bind firmly into the hole, by driving in against the flat side of the upper part of it, the third Instrument, which is a little Iron wedge 4 inches in length, by the Miners call'd a Quinnet described Fig. 9. when this is done, they pass down a wire through the hole drill'd in the Gun, and pierce the (854) Paper which covers the Powder and then they prime the Gun and lay a traine and goe up out of the work before the Powder comes to take fire; the Paper is put at first overover the Powder, left when the Gun and Quinet are drivedriven down, the tooles may strike fire and kindle the Powder.

In number: 5. of the Philosoph. Transact. set forth by Mr. Oldenburg there is a way of breaking Rocks with Gunpowder Communicated by Sr. Robert Moray. as he received it from Monsr. du Son the Inventor, and there is a draught of the Instruments for that purpose, but in regard those Instruments differ in severall things from these, I thought it might not be amiss if these were likewise Inserted.

I know the use of these Instruments will be of great advantage to Miners, and if there are any Minerall works where they are not yet receiv'd, the Miners may doe well to try them; for (beside what will be sav'd in timber in a year that is usd in burning Rocks, which is very considerable,) we know that as soon as a man has fired his Powder and broken the Rock, he may presently go to work again, whereas after a fire is laid in a Shaft, a man can scarce go to work in 24 hours after, the Rocks being too hot to suffer him.