Freezing, astonishing expansive force of, Heinecken, Christian Henry, account of, 114 Gipsies, 732 Glaciers, 529 Glass; ductility of, 720 Glass, to cut, without a diamond, 833 Glass, to write on, by the sun's rays, 858 Graham, the celebrated Dr. 909 Gravity, experiments respecting the, 838 Great events from little causes, 746 Growth,extraordinary instances of rapid, 37 Hagamore, Rev. Mr. a most singular cha- racter, 896 Hail, surprising showers of, 518 Hair of the bead, account of, 28 Hell, opinions respecting, 812 Hobnails, origin of the sheriff's counting, 622 Holland, North, curious practice in, 630 Honour, extraordinary instances of, 80 Horse, remarkable instances of sagacity in Human heart, structure of the, 24 Huntingdon, William, eccentric character Hurricane, curious particulars respecting Improvement of the learned, 765 Indulgences, Romish, 636 Ingratitude, shocking instances of, 78 the common fly, the grey-coated gnat, Island, new, starting from the sea, 491 L Lambert, Daniel, account of, 887 Laocoon, monument of, 556 Leaves, to take an impression of them, 866 Miners, curious effects of, 833 Mite, the cheese, curiosities respecting, 358 Lightning, extraordinary properties and Montague, Edward Wortley, 110 eflects of, 651 Lightning, to pro uce artificial, 844 Liquids, to produce changeable-coloured, 858 Mont Blanc, in Switzerland, 427 Moon, account of three volcanoes in the, 682 Liquids, to exchange two in different bot- Mosquitoes, and their uses, 355 Mammoth, or Fossil Elephant, found in Needle's eye, 459 Siberia, 170 Marriage custom of the Japanese, 604 New studies in old age, instances of, 763 New year's gifts, origin of, 633 Nicholas Pesce, 117 Nitre caves of Missouri, 457 Numbers, remarkable instance of skill in, 86 Nuns, particulars respecting, 811 Nuovo, Monte, 419 Okey Hole, 458. Metcalf, John, alias Blind Jack of Knares- Orang-Outang, 178 Peg, to make a, to fit three differently shaped Salutation, various modes of, 598 Praying machines of Kalmuck, 642 Price, Charles, the renowned swindler, Prince Rupert's drops, 853 Prolificness, extraordinary instances of, 37 Pyramids of Egypt, 544 Sheep, extraordinary adventures of one, Shelton oak, description of, 382 Ship at sea, to find the burden of a, 829 Shoes, curiosities respecting, 724 INTRODUCTION. "Ye curious minds, who roam abroad, It was well observed by Lord Bacon, that "It would much conduce to the magnanimity and honour of man, if a collection were made of the extraordinaries of human nature, principally out of the reports of history; that is, what is the last and highest pitch to which man's nature, of itself, hath ever reached, in all the perfection of mind and body. If the wonders of human nature, and virtues as well of mind as of body, were collected into a volume, they might serve as a calendar of human triumphs." The present work not only embraces the Curiosities of human nature, but of Nature and Art in general, as well as Science and Literature. Surrounded with wonders, and lost in admiration, the inquisitive mind of man is ever anxious to know the hidden springs that put these wonders in motion; he eagerly inquires for some one to take him by the hand, and explain to him the curiosities of the universe. And though the works of the Lord, like his nature and attributes, are great, and past finding out, and we cannot arrive at the perfection of science, nor discover the secret impulses which nature obeys, yet can we by reading, study, and investigation, dissipate much of the darkness in which we are enveloped, and dive far beyond the surface of this multifarious scene on things --The noblest employment of the human understand |