Natural history -- England -- Wiltshire; Wiltshire (England) -- History
Why may I not take the libertie to subject to this discourse of echos
some remarks of SOUNDS? The top of one of the niches in the grot in
Wilton gardens, as one sings there, doth return the note A “re”,
lowder, and clearer, but it doth not the like to the eighth of it. The
diameter is 22 inches. But the first time I happened on this kind of
experiment was when I was a scholar in Oxford, walking and singing
under Merton-Colledge gate, which is a Gothique irregular vaulting, I
perceived that one certain note could be returned with a lowd humme,
which was C. “fa”, “ut”, or D. “sol”, “re”; I doe not now well remember
which. I have often observed in quires that at certain notes of the
organ the deske would have a tremulation under my hand. So will timber;
so will one’s hat, though a spongie thing, as one holds it under one’s
arm at a musique meeting. These accidents doe make me reflect on the
brazen or copper Tympana, mentioned by Vitruvius, for the clearer and
farther conveying the sound of the recitatores and musicians to the
auditors. I am from hence induc’t to be of opinion that these tympana
were made according to such and such proportions, suitable to such and
such notes.
Mersennus, or Kircher, sayes, that one may know what quantity of liquor
is in the vessel by the sound of it, knowing before the empty note. I
have severall times heard great brasse pannes ring by the barking of a
hound; and also by the loud voice of a strong man.-(The voice, if very
strong and sharp, will crack a drinking glass.—J. EVELYN.)
[I have been favoured with a confirmation of this note of Evelyn from
the personal experience of my old friend. Mr. Brayley, who was present
at a party on Ludgate Hill, London, many years ago, when Mr.
Broadhurst, the famed public vocalist, by singing a high note, caused a
wine glass on the table to break, the bowl being separated from the
stem.—J. B.]
After the echos I would have the draught of the house of John Hall, at
Bradford, Esq., which is the best built house for the quality of a
gentleman in Wilts. It was of the best architecture that was commonly
used in King James the First’s raigne. It is built all of freestone,
full of windowes, hath two wings: the top of the house adorned with
railes and baristers. There are two if not three elevations or ascents
to it: the uppermost is adorned with terrasses, on which are railes and
baristers of freestone. It faceth the river Avon, which lies south of
it, about two furlongs distant: on the north side is a high hill. Now,
a priori, I doe conclude that if one were on the south side of the
river opposite to this elegant house, that there must of necessity be a
good echo returned from the house; and probably if one stand east or
west from the house at a due distance, the wings will afford a double
echo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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