Reports of the Late John Smeaton: Made on Various Occasions, in the Course of his Employment as a Civil Engineer

John Smeaton

doi:10.1017/CBO9781107256392

Celebrated for his construction of the Eddystone Lighthouse near Plymouth, John Smeaton (1724–92) established himself as Britain's foremost civil engineer in the eighteenth century. A founder member of the Society of Civil Engineers, he was instrumental in promoting the growth of the profession. The Royal Society awarded him its Copley medal for research into wind and water power in 1759. After his death his papers were acquired by the president of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks, Smeaton's friend and patron. Using these materials, a special committee decided to publish 'every paper of any consequence' written by Smeaton, as a 'fund of practical instruction' for current and future engineers. These were published in four illustrated volumes between 1812 and 1814. Published in 1814 using the original engraved plates, Volume 4 contains the papers that Smeaton published in the Royal Society's Philosophical Transactions, as well as related correspondence.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-ii
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Colophon
pp iii-iv
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ADVERTISEMENT
pp v-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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LETTER from Mr. John Smeatoh to Mr. John Ellicott, F. R. S. concerning fome improvements made by himfelf in the air-pump
pp 1-10
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An engine for raifing water by fire, being an improvement of Savery's conftruction, to render it capable of working itfelf, invented by Mr. De Moura, of Portugal, F. R. S. defcribed
pp 11-13
- By MR. J. Smeaton
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An account of some experiments upon a machine for measuring the way of a ship at sea
pp 14-22
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An account of some improvements of the mariner's compass, in order to render the card and needle proposed by Dr. Knight, of general use, by John Smeaton, philosophical instrument maker
pp 23-26
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An experimental inquiry concerning the natural powers of water and wind to turn mills, and other machines, depending on a circular motion
pp 27-79
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An experimental examination of the quantity and proportion of mechanic power necessary to be employed in giving different degrees of velocity to heavy bodies from a state of rest
pp 80-94
- By MR. John Smeaton
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New fundamental experiments upon the collision of bodies
pp 95-106
- By MR. John Smeaton
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A description of a new tackle or combination of pullies
pp 107-110
- By MR. John Smeaton
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A discourse concerning the menstrual parallax, arising from the mutual gravitation of the earth and moon, its influence on the observation of the sun and planets, with a method of observing it
pp 111-119
- By J. Smeaton
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Description of a new method of observing the heavenly bodies, out of the meridian
pp 120-121
- By J. Smeaton
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Observation of a solar eclipse, the 4th of June, 1769, at the Observatory at Austhorpe, near Leeds, in the county of York
pp 122-123
- By J. Smeaton
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Account of an observation of the right ascension and declination of Mercury out of the meridian, near his greatest elongation, September, 1786
pp 124-144
- By MR. John Smeaton
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Description of an improvement in the application of the quadrant of altitude to a celestial globe, for the resolution of problems dependant on azimuth and altitude
pp 145-148
- By MR. John Smeaton
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A description of a new pyrometer, with a table of experiments made therewith
pp 149-161
- By J. Smeaton
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Description of a new hygrometer
pp 162-169
- By MR. John Smeaton
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Observations on the graduation of astronomical instruments; with an explanation of the method invented by the late Mr. Henry Hindley, of York, clock-maker, to divide circles into any given number of parts
pp 170-202
- By MR. John Smeaton
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Remarks on the different temperature of the air, at Edystone, from that observed at Plymouth, between the 7th and 8th of July, 1757
pp 203-204
- By MR. John Smeaton
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An account of the effects of lightning upon the steeple and church of Lestwithiel, in Cornwall, in a letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclessield, President on the Royal Society
pp 205-208
- By MR. John Smeaton
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Reports of the Late John Smeaton

Made on Various Occasions, in the Course of his Employment as a Civil Engineer

Book description

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-ii

Colophon
pp iii-iv

ADVERTISEMENT
pp v-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

LETTER from Mr. John Smeatoh to Mr. John Ellicott, F. R. S. concerning fome improvements made by himfelf in the air-pump
pp 1-10

An engine for raifing water by fire, being an improvement of Savery's conftruction, to render it capable of working itfelf, invented by Mr. De Moura, of Portugal, F. R. S. defcribed
pp 11-13

An account of some experiments upon a machine for measuring the way of a ship at sea
pp 14-22

An account of some improvements of the mariner's compass, in order to render the card and needle proposed by Dr. Knight, of general use, by John Smeaton, philosophical instrument maker
pp 23-26

An experimental inquiry concerning the natural powers of water and wind to turn mills, and other machines, depending on a circular motion
pp 27-79

An experimental examination of the quantity and proportion of mechanic power necessary to be employed in giving different degrees of velocity to heavy bodies from a state of rest
pp 80-94

New fundamental experiments upon the collision of bodies
pp 95-106

A description of a new tackle or combination of pullies
pp 107-110

A discourse concerning the menstrual parallax, arising from the mutual gravitation of the earth and moon, its influence on the observation of the sun and planets, with a method of observing it
pp 111-119

Description of a new method of observing the heavenly bodies, out of the meridian
pp 120-121

Observation of a solar eclipse, the 4th of June, 1769, at the Observatory at Austhorpe, near Leeds, in the county of York
pp 122-123

Account of an observation of the right ascension and declination of Mercury out of the meridian, near his greatest elongation, September, 1786
pp 124-144

Description of an improvement in the application of the quadrant of altitude to a celestial globe, for the resolution of problems dependant on azimuth and altitude
pp 145-148

A description of a new pyrometer, with a table of experiments made therewith
pp 149-161

Description of a new hygrometer
pp 162-169

Observations on the graduation of astronomical instruments; with an explanation of the method invented by the late Mr. Henry Hindley, of York, clock-maker, to divide circles into any given number of parts
pp 170-202

Remarks on the different temperature of the air, at Edystone, from that observed at Plymouth, between the 7th and 8th of July, 1757
pp 203-204

An account of the effects of lightning upon the steeple and church of Lestwithiel, in Cornwall, in a letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Macclessield, President on the Royal Society
pp 205-208

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Reports of the Late John Smeaton

Made on Various Occasions, in the Course of his Employment as a Civil Engineer

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