onely cost eight times as much, according to the Octuple quantity of Timber it contains, but shall cost 16 times 32l. And by the same Rule, a Mast of 40 inches through shall cost 16 times 32l. or 516l. Of which last Case there have been some instances. But whereas it may be objected, That there are no Masts of four times 70, or 280 feet long, I will say, that the Rule holds in common practice and Dealing. For, if a Mast of 10 inches thick, and 60 foot long, be worth 30s; a Mast of 20 inches throughout, and 80 foot long, shall be worth 15l. And a Mast of 40 inches through, and 100 foot long (not 280 foot) shall be worth near 100l.
Moreover, suppose Diamonds or Pearls be equal and like in their Figures, Waters, Colours, and Evenness, and differ onely in their Weights and Magnitudes; I say the Weights are but the Roots of their Prices, as in the Case aforgoing. So a Diamond of Decuple weight, is of Centuple value. The same may be said of Looking-glass-Plates. I might add, that the Loadstone A, if it take up 10 times more than the Loadstone B, may be also of Centuple value.
Lastly, A Tun of extreme large Timber may be worth two Tuns of ordinary dimensions; which is the cause of the dearness of great shipping above small; for the Hull of a Vessel of 40 Tuns may be worth but 3l., per Tun, whereas the Hull of a Vessel of 1000 Tuns may be worth near 15l., per Tun. From whence arises a Rule, how by any Ships Burthen to know her worth by the Tun, with the Number and Size of her Ordinance, &c.
II.
[The Dialogue of Diamonds[1].]
A. You have a fine ring there on your finger, what did it cost you?
B. I am ashamed to tell you for I am afrayd I gave too
- ↑ The "Dialogue of Diamonds" is found among the Philosophical Papers collected by Abraham Hill. Brit Mus. Sloane MS. 2903, f. 44 seq. Dr Hill (1635-1721) was resident in Gresham College in 1660 and was one of the
