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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Copy of a letter, from Francis Jessop to Martin Lister

Reference number: EL/I1/170

Date: 01 January 1674

Description

Concerns whether 'crooked lines, which have been straightened, could be described geometrically, at least by points, and whether my laws were such as have been taken notice of by others...' ; believes that the white substance (mentioned in EL/I1/170) sent to the Royal Society was bitumen and that if Robert Boyle wished to carry out experiments with it or the 'fungus' (mentioned in EL/I1/170) then he could send some samples; discussing 'ignes fatuus' (fire flies); details about a man who rode into a bog and was surrounded by a blue flame

Original letter was dated 3 February 1674

Reference number
EL/I1/170
Earliest possible date
01 January 1674
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript
Also available on Early Modern Letters Online
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Creator name

Francis Jessop

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Citation

Francis Jessop, Copy of a letter, from Francis Jessop to Martin Lister, 01 January 1674, EL/I1/170, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/el_i1_170/copy-of-a-letter-from-francis-jessop-to-martin-lister, accessed on 12 July 2025

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  • Early Letters

    The archival collection known as 'Early Letters' is composed of original manuscript letters sent to, or collected by, the Royal Society from English and foreign correspondents.

    Dates: 1613 - 1740

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