And yet further to show
you, that White Bodies Reflect the Beams From them, and not Towards
themselves, Let me add, that Ordinary Burning-glasses, such as are wont to
be employ'd to light Tobacco, will not in a great while Burn, or so much as
Discolour a Sheet of White Paper. Insomuch that even when I was a Boy, and
Lov'd to make Tryals with Burning-glasses, I could not but wonder at this
Odd _Phaenomenon_, which set me very Early upon Guessing at the Nature of
Whiteness, especially because I took notice, that the Image of the Sun upon
a White Paper was not so well Defin'd (the Light seeming too Diffus'd) as
upon Black, and because I try'd, that Blacking over the Paper with Ink, not
only the Ink would be quickly Dry'd up, but the Paper that I could not Burn
before, would be quickly set on Fire. I have also try'd, that by exposing
my Hand with a Thin Black Glove over it to the Warm Sun, it was thereby
very quickly and considerably more Heated, than if I took off the Glove,
and held my Hand Naked, or put on it another Glove of Thin but White
Leather. And having thus shewn you, _Pyrophilus_, that White Bodies reflect
the most Light of any, let us now proceed, to consider what is further to
be taken notice of in them, in order to our present Enquiry.
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