CHAP. I.
The Author ſhews the Reaſon, first of his Writing on this Subject ([1].) Next of his preſent manner of Handling it, and why he partly declines a Methodical way ([2].) and why he has partly made uſe of it in the Hiſtory of Whiteneſs and Blackneſs. ([3].)
Chap. 2. Some general Conſiderations are premis'd, firſt of the Inſignificancy of the Obſervaſion of Colours in many Bodies ([4], [5].) and the Importance of it in others ([5].) as particularly in the Tempering of Steel ([6], [7], [8].) The reaſon why other particular Inſtances are in that place omitted ([9]) A neceſſary diſtinction about Colour premis'd ([10], [11].) That Colour is not Inherent in the Object ([11].) prov'd firſt by the Phantaſms of Colours to Dreaming men, and Lunaticks; Secondly by the ſenſation or apparition of Light upon a Blow given the Eye or the Diſtemper of the Brain from internal Vapours ([12].) The Author recites a particular Instance in himſelf; another that hapn'd to an Excellent Perſon related to him ([13].) and a third told him by an Ingenious Phyſician ([14], [15].) Thirdly, from the change of Colours made by the Senſory Diſaffected ([15], [16].) Some Inſtances of this are related by the Author, obſerv'd in himſelf ([16], [17].) others told him by a Lady of known Veracity ([18].) And others told him by a very Eminent Man ([19].) But the ſtrange Inſtances afforded by ſuch as are Bit by the Tarantula are omitted, as more properly deliver'd in another place. ([20].)
Chap. 3. That the Colour of Bodies depends chiefly on the diſpoſition of the Superficial parts, and partly upon the Variety of the Texture of the Object ([21].) The former of theſe are confirm'd by ſeveral Perſons ([22].) and two Inſtances, the firſt of the Steel mention'd before, the ſecond of melted Lead ([23], [24].) of which laſt ſeveral Obſervables are noted ([25].) A third Inſtance is added of the Porouſneſs of the appearing ſmooth Surface of Cork ([26], [27].) And that the ſame kind of Porouſneſs may be alſo in the other Colour'd Bodies; And of what kind of Figures, the Superficial reflecting Particles of them may be ([28].) and of what Bulks, and cloſeneſs of Poſition ([29].) How much theſe may conduce to the Generation of Colour inſtanc'd in the Whiteneſs of Froth, and in the mixtures of Dry colour'd Powders ([30].) A further explication of the Variety that may be in the Superficial parts of Colour'd Bodies, that may cauſe that Effect, by an example drawn from the Surface of the Earth ([31].) An Apology for that groſs Compariſon ([32].) That the appearances of the Superficial aſperities may be Varied from the poſition of the Eye, and ſeveral Inſtances given of ſuch appearances ([33], [34], [35].) That the appearance of the Superficial particles may be Varied alſo by their Motion, confirm'd by an Inſtance of the ſmoaking Liquor ([35].) eſpecially if the Superficial parts be of ſuch a Nature as to appear divers in ſeveral Poſtures, explain'd by the variety of Colours exhibited by the ſhaken Leaves of ſome Plants ([36].) and by changeable Taffities ([37], [38], [39].) The Authors wiſh that the Variety of Colours in Mother of Pearl were examin'd with a Microſcope ([40].) And his Conjectures, that poſſibly good Microſcopes might diſcover thoſe Superficial inequalities to be Real, which we now only imagine with his reaſons drawn partly from the Diſcoveries of the Teleſcope, and Microſcope ([41].) And partly alſo from the Prodigiouſly ſtrange example of a Blind man that could feel Colours ([42].) whoſe Hiſtory is Related ([43], [44], [45].) The Authors conjecture and thoughts of it ([46], [47], [48], [49].) and ſeveral Concluſions and Corollaries drawn from it about the Nature of Blackneſs and Black Bodies ([50], [51], [52].) and about the Aſperities of ſeveral other Colour'd Bodies ([53].) And from theſe, and ſome premis'd Conſiderations, are propos'd ſome Conjectures; That the reaſon of the ſeveral Phænomena of Colours, afterwards to be met with, depends upon the Diſpoſition of the Seen parts of the Object ([54].) That Liquors may alter the Colours of each other, and of other Bodies, first by their Inſinuating themſelves into the Pores, and filling them, whence the Aſperity of the Surface of a Body becomes alter'd, explicated with ſome Inſtances ([55], [56].) Next by removing thoſe Bodies, which before hindred the appearance of the Genuine Colour, confirm'd by ſeveral examples ([57]) Thirdly, by making a Fiſſure or Separation either in the Contiguous or Continued Particles of a Body ([58].) Fourthly, by a Union or Conjunction of the formerly ſeparated Particles; Illuſtrated with divers Inſtances of precipitated Bodies ([59].) Fifthly, by Diſlocating the parts, and putting them both into other Orders and Poſtures, which is Illuſtrated with Inſtances ([60], [61].) Sixthly, by Motion, which is explain'd ([62].) And laſtly, and chiefly, by the Union of the Saline Bodies, with the Superficial parts of another Body, whereby both their Bigneſs and Shape muſt neceſſarily be alter'd ([63], [64].) Explain'd by Experiments ([65], [66].) That the Colour of Bodies may be Chang'd by the concurrence of two or more of theſe ways ([67].) And beſides all theſe, Eight Reflective cauſes of Colours, there may be in Tranſparent Bodies ſeveral Refractive ([68], [69]) Why the Author thinks the Nature of Colours deſerves yet a further Inquiry ([69].) Firſt for that the little Motes of Dust exhibited very lovely Colours in a darkned Room, whilſt in a convenient poſture to the Eye, which in other Poſtures and Lights they did not ([70].) And that though the ſmaller Parts of ſome Colour'd Bodies are Tranſparent, yet of others they are not, ſo that the firſt Doubt's, whether the Superficial parts create thoſe Colours, and the ſecond, whether there be any Refraction at all in the later ([71], [72], [73].) A famous Controverſie among Philoſophers, about the Nature of Colour decided. ([74]. [75].)
Chap. 4. The controverſie ſtated about Real and Emphatical Colours ([75], [76].) That the great Diſparity between them ſeems to be, partly their Duration in the ſame ſtate, and partly, that Genuine Colours are produc'd in Opacous Bodies by Reflection, and Emphatical in Tranſparent by Refraction ([78].) but that this is not to be taken in too large a Senſe, the Cautionary inſtance of Froth is alleged and inſiſted on ([78], [79].) That the Duration is not a ſufficient Characteristick, exemplify'd by the duration of Froth, and other Emphatical Colours, and the ſuddain fading of Flowers, and other Bodies of Real ones ([80].) That the poſition of the Eye is not neceſſary to the diſcerning Emphatical Colours, ſhew'd by the ſeeing white Froth, or an Iris caſt on the Wall by a Priſm, in what place of the Room ſoever the Eye be ([81].) which proceeds from the ſpecular Reflection of the Wall ([82].) that Emphatical Colours may be Compounded, and that the preſent Diſcourſe is not much concern'd, whether there be, or be not made a diſtinction between Real and Emphatical Colours. ([83].)
Chap. 5. Six Hypotheſes about Colour recited ([84], [85]) Why the Author cannot more fully Speak of any of theſe ([86].) nor Acquieſce in them ([87], [88].) What Pyrophilus is to expect in this Treatiſe ([88], [89].) What Hypotheſis of Light and Colour the Author most inclines too ([90].) Why he thinks neither that nor any other ſufficient; and what his Difficulties are, that make him decline all Hypotheſes, and to think it very difficult to ſtick to any. ([91], [92].)
Part the Second.
Of the Nature of Whiteneſs and Blackneſs.