MANUSCRIPT. Recollections of a Course of Lectures on Familiar Philosophy delivered by Dean Walker Esq. at Fulham in May and June 1815 by The Young Ladies at Miss Ball & Mrs Baird's School, Little Chelsea. [N.p.: circa 1815.] 150pp., manuscript, 8vo (220 x 182mm.) Calligraphic title, 135pp. of hand-written, unnumbered leaves in a legible hand relating a course of 12 lectures on scientific subjects, 15pp. of hand-drawn objects showing experiments relating to and referenced by the text. (Browning, occasional spotting.) Contemporary black morocco-backed boards (worn). Note: the lecture headings are 'On Matter and Magnetism', 'Mechanics', 'Chymistry', 'Pneumatics' x 2, 'Hydrostatics', 'Electricity', 'Galvanism', 'Optics', and 'Astronomy' x 3. The description of 'Galvanism' describes Luigi Galvini's experiments with dead frogs, reanimating their muscles with an electrical current- the experiment that influenced Mary Shelley in writing 'Frankenstein'. There are fairly detailed descriptions of experiments, such as the test for chalk in the water of the Thames, the diving bell sent to the bottom of the ocean, the changing effect of the light as seen from a balloon, plus a long description of the moon- 'our satellite'- its phases and the nature of an 'annular eclipse…caused by the moon passing so near the sun to obscure it's body except a ring of fire around it, and for this reason it is called annular'. Provenance: Edward Cleasby (name-plate to front pastedown).