References.—“Ency. Metrop.,” Vol. IV. p. 220; Highton’s “Elect. Tel.”; Fahie, “Hist. of Elec. Tel.,” pp. 175 and 176 and notes; Knight’s “Mech. Dict.,” Vol. II. p. 936; G. H. Browne, London, 1704, and in “Phil. Mag.,” Vol. XVIII. p. 285, also note p. 83 of Ronalds’ “Catalogue.”
A.D. 1701–1702.—Le Brun (Pierre), French theologian (1661–1729), publishes his “Histoire Critique des Pratiques Superstitieuses,” wherein he makes mention (Vol. I. p. 294) of the possibility of transmitting intelligence in the manner indicated by the Jesuit Leurechon.
He is also the author of “Lettres qui découvrent l’illusion des philosophes sur la baguette divinatoire,” Paris, 1693 (Larousse’s “Dictionnaire,” Tome X. p. 292).
A.D. 1702.—Bion (Nicolas), French engineer and manufacturer of mathematical and astronomical instruments (1652–1733), is the author of “Usage des Astrolabes,” which was shortly after followed by his well-known “Traité de la construction et des principaux usages des instruments de mathématique.” In the preparation of the last named, which was translated into German (Leipzig, 1713, Nuremberg, 1721) as well as into English (London, 1723, 1738), Bion admits the assistance afforded him by Lahire, Cassini and Delisle the younger.
The whole of Book VII (pp. 267–290) of the “Traité,” is devoted to the description of instruments employed in navigation, the compass and the astrolabe in particular, with instructions for ascertaining the declination and variation.
Bion is also the author of “L’Usage des Globes Célestes et Terrestres et des sphères suivant les differents systèmes du monde,” Amsterdam, 1700. Much of the matter, however, is said to have been copied by Bion from Pierre Polinière’s “Expériences de Phisique,” of which latter five editions were printed respectively in 1709, 1718, 1728, 1734 and 1741.
References.—“La Grande Encycl.,” Vol. VI. p. 897; Michaud, “Biog. Univ.,” Vol. IV. p. 354; Dr. J. Thomas, “Univ. Pr. Dict.,” 1886, p. 386.
A.D. 1702.—Marcel (Arnold), Commissioner of the Navy at Arles, publishes a pamphlet dedicated to the King, and entitled “The Art of Making Signals, both by Sea and by Land,” wherein he affirms that he has “communicated frequently at the distance of two leagues (in as short a space of time as a man could write down and form exactly the letters contained in the advice he would communicate), an unexpected piece of news that took up a page in writing.” The particulars of this invention are, however, wanting.
Marcel reports many well-authenticated instances where, as already mentioned by Mæstro Giulio Cæsare (A.D. 1590), iron bars have become temporarily magnetic by position alone.
References.—Snow Harris, “Rudim. Mag.,” I and II. pp. 91, 92; also “Emporium of Arts and Sciences,” 1812, Vol. I. p. 301; Phil. Trans., Vol. XXXVII. p. 294, also the following abridgments: Baddam, Vol. IX, 1745, p. 278; Eames and Martyn, Vol. VI. part. ii. p. 270; Hutton, Vol. VII. p. 540.