Experiment VII
I have sometimes thought it worth while to take notice, whether or no the Colours of Opacous Bodies might not appear to the Eye somewhat Diversify’d, not only by the Disposition of the Superficial parts of the Bodyes themselves and by the Position of the Eye in Reference to the Object and the Light, (for these things are Notorious enough;) but according also to the Nature of the Lucid Body that shines upon them. And I remember that in Prosecution of this Curiosity, I observ’d a manifest Difference in some Kinds of Colour’d Bodyes look’d on by Day-light, and afterwards by the light of the Moon; either directly falling on them or Reflected upon them from a Concave Looking-glass. But not finding at present in my Collections about Colours any thing set down of this Kind, I shall, till I have opportunity to repeat them, content my self to add what I find Register’d concerning Colours look’d on by Candle-light, in regard that not only the Experiment is more easie to be repeated, but the Objects being the Same Sorts of Colour’d Paper lastly mention’d, the Collation of the two Experiments may help to make the Conjectures they will suggest somewhat the less uncertain.
Within a few dayes of the time above mention’d, divers Sheets of Colour’d Paper that had been look’d upon before in the Sunshine were look’d upon at night by the light of a pretty big Candle, (snuff’d) and the Changes that were observ’d were these.
The Yellow seem’d much fainter than in the Day, and inclinable to a pale Straw Colour.
The Red seem’d little Chang’d; but seem’d to Reflect Light more strongly than any other Colour (for White was none of them.)
A fair Deep Green look’d upon by it self seem’d to be a Dark Blew: But being look’d upon together with a Dark Blew, appear’d Greenish; and beheld together with a Yellow appear’d more Blew than at first.
The Blew look’d more like a Deep Purple or Murray than it had done in the Daylight.
The Purple seem’d very little alter’d.
The Red look’d upon with the Yellow made the Yellow look almost like Brown Cap-paper.
N. The Caution Subjoyned to the third Experiments is also Applicable to this.