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Article CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF THE DUMP PHILOSOPHER. ← Page 6 of 6
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Dump Philosopher.
me : and while others are busied in admiring the structure of it , and narrowly examining the characters ofthe degrees , which are only intelli gible to myself , I have an opportunity of enquiring into the capacities and faculties of their minds . ' In assemblies , made up partly of the fair sex , I generally observe my thermometer to risi , at least , above Sprightliness : and in those which consist wholly of men , it rises in proportion as the bottles empty but when I have visited the same friends the next morning , at their tea-table , I generally find it sunk two degrees lower than it was before it begun to rise the preceding evening . '*
Here my friend was interrupted , by the servant s coming to tell him the music and tea-table waited for him in the garden : upon which , he put the little instrument into its case , and giving it me , said he was going- the next day on a journey , from which he should hardly return in less than a fortnight ; and as it might be of some diversion to me in the mean while , I was welcome to carry it with me . He gave meat the same timeanother casein which he said
, , , I xvould find an instrument , differing both in form and use , which latter I should be instructed in by the manuscript he carefully wrapt up with it . We , thereupon , went down into the garden , where I found ei ght persons , men and women , each at different instruments , and all my friend ' s domestics . Madame la Gouvernante played the thorough-bass , on the harpsichord , and sung several songs , which she
accompanied herself ; while my friend played the bass-viol . However , she frequently rose , and surrendered her place to another , while she served us with tea and coffee , and , for the greater" variety , gave us two or three solos on the lute , My mind was , in the mean time , so taken up with the treasure I had in my pocket , that , notwithstanding the great love I have for musicI could hardly give attention to this
, elegant entertainment , which continued for near two hours . I then took leave of my friend , expressing the greatest sense of gratitude I was capable of , he , on his side , continuing his professions of a sincere friendshi p , and insisting upon my spending some days with him , at his return .
I no sooner got to my lodgings , than I shut myself up in my chamber , and begun to write these particulars , resolving to let you partake , as soon as possible , of the pleasure I had already received , and mi g ht hope hereafter , in the acquisition of so valuable an acquaintance , of whom I shall always be able to say , with Pliny , erat homo ingeniosus , aatftts , acer , & qui . phirimum & sails haberet & fellis , nee candoris minor . My next will , I believe , give you an account of some experiments I shall probably make with the two extraordinary instruments committed to my care .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Dump Philosopher.
me : and while others are busied in admiring the structure of it , and narrowly examining the characters ofthe degrees , which are only intelli gible to myself , I have an opportunity of enquiring into the capacities and faculties of their minds . ' In assemblies , made up partly of the fair sex , I generally observe my thermometer to risi , at least , above Sprightliness : and in those which consist wholly of men , it rises in proportion as the bottles empty but when I have visited the same friends the next morning , at their tea-table , I generally find it sunk two degrees lower than it was before it begun to rise the preceding evening . '*
Here my friend was interrupted , by the servant s coming to tell him the music and tea-table waited for him in the garden : upon which , he put the little instrument into its case , and giving it me , said he was going- the next day on a journey , from which he should hardly return in less than a fortnight ; and as it might be of some diversion to me in the mean while , I was welcome to carry it with me . He gave meat the same timeanother casein which he said
, , , I xvould find an instrument , differing both in form and use , which latter I should be instructed in by the manuscript he carefully wrapt up with it . We , thereupon , went down into the garden , where I found ei ght persons , men and women , each at different instruments , and all my friend ' s domestics . Madame la Gouvernante played the thorough-bass , on the harpsichord , and sung several songs , which she
accompanied herself ; while my friend played the bass-viol . However , she frequently rose , and surrendered her place to another , while she served us with tea and coffee , and , for the greater" variety , gave us two or three solos on the lute , My mind was , in the mean time , so taken up with the treasure I had in my pocket , that , notwithstanding the great love I have for musicI could hardly give attention to this
, elegant entertainment , which continued for near two hours . I then took leave of my friend , expressing the greatest sense of gratitude I was capable of , he , on his side , continuing his professions of a sincere friendshi p , and insisting upon my spending some days with him , at his return .
I no sooner got to my lodgings , than I shut myself up in my chamber , and begun to write these particulars , resolving to let you partake , as soon as possible , of the pleasure I had already received , and mi g ht hope hereafter , in the acquisition of so valuable an acquaintance , of whom I shall always be able to say , with Pliny , erat homo ingeniosus , aatftts , acer , & qui . phirimum & sails haberet & fellis , nee candoris minor . My next will , I believe , give you an account of some experiments I shall probably make with the two extraordinary instruments committed to my care .