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Book Review: A Copernicus Census: An Annotated Census of Copernicus', Nuremberg, 1543 and Basel, 1566

Book Review: A Copernicus Census: An Annotated Census of Copernicus', Nuremberg, 1543 and Basel,... BOOKREVIEWS . 243 with this, there is evidence of an increasing recognition of the need for standardiza­ tion - in particular, that gas volumes needed to be reduced to the same temperature and pressure - if results obtained in different experiments were to be compared. Similarly, the measuring instruments themselves were beginning to be subjected to scrutiny. Thus Magellan in a remarkable report in November 1786 detailed measure­ ments he had made of the specific gravity of various samples of mercury, including the mercury used in barometers made by a fellow member of the Society, Edward Nairne, and another well known London instrument maker, Edward Troughton, in order to judge the error that might be involved in using barometric measurements to determine the heights of mountains. The minutes thus provide a fascinating window into natural philosophy as it was practised in London in the 1780s. Since they also record much discussion of the formalities concerning subscriptions, the conduct of meetings and the election of members, they also provide interesting insights into the structuring of social interac­ tions among the "improving" classes in eighteenth-century England. Now that they have been brought into the public domain by Levere and Turner, we http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png History of Science SAGE

Book Review: A Copernicus Census: An Annotated Census of Copernicus', Nuremberg, 1543 and Basel, 1566

Hoskin, Michael
History of Science , Volume 41 (2): 2 – Jun 1, 2003
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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 2003 SAGE Publications
ISSN
0073-2753
eISSN
1753-8564
DOI
10.1177/007327530304100207
Publisher site
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Abstract

BOOKREVIEWS . 243 with this, there is evidence of an increasing recognition of the need for standardiza­ tion - in particular, that gas volumes needed to be reduced to the same temperature and pressure - if results obtained in different experiments were to be compared. Similarly, the measuring instruments themselves were beginning to be subjected to scrutiny. Thus Magellan in a remarkable report in November 1786 detailed measure­ ments he had made of the specific gravity of various samples of mercury, including the mercury used in barometers made by a fellow member of the Society, Edward Nairne, and another well known London instrument maker, Edward Troughton, in order to judge the error that might be involved in using barometric measurements to determine the heights of mountains. The minutes thus provide a fascinating window into natural philosophy as it was practised in London in the 1780s. Since they also record much discussion of the formalities concerning subscriptions, the conduct of meetings and the election of members, they also provide interesting insights into the structuring of social interac­ tions among the "improving" classes in eighteenth-century England. Now that they have been brought into the public domain by Levere and Turner, we

Journal

History of Science – SAGE

Published: Jun 1, 2003

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