Samuel Morland, Magister Mechanicorum

II saw this link on Reddit and was interested because I already knew a little bit about Morland.

He was an inventor. He designed some mechanical calculators in the 1600s.

https://history-computer.com/MechanicalCalculators/Pioneers/Morland.html

https://history-computer.com/People/MorlandBio.html

He's also involved in early mass surveillance. On of the reasons Britain set up a state postal service was to spy on communications.

https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/today-in-londons-surveillance-history-secret-apparatus-for-tampering-with-copying-forging-letters-in-the-interests-of-the-state-burned-in-the-great-fire-1666/

I'm struck by this quote:

Morland also recorded what he saw as the basic function of his devices and of surveillance in general: “a skilful prince ought to make a watch tower of his general post office… and there place such careful sentinels as that, by their care and diligence, he may have a constant view of all that passes.”

I haven't found much information about his machines (but I haven't looked particularly hard), so I have no idea how they worked. The articles mention "sealing letters in the Spanish Fashion", but don't go into any detail about what that means. The reddit AskHistory post has this answer: https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/sealing-wax/

It was then that the superior qualities of the new "Spanish" wax came to be highly valued. The basic formula of this new sealing compound was a blend of shellac, mastic, turpentine, chalk or gypsum, and a coloring agent, to which essential oils and/or fragrant balsams might be added to facilitate melting and impart a pleasant fragrance. This "sealing wax" could be melted to a thick viscous fluid which would readily and firmly adhere to the parchment or paper on which it was placed. While warm, it would take a clear impression of any seal that was pressed in to it. It would remain solid, even in the heat of summer, and was flexible enough to remain intact while affixed to the document on which it had been placed. However, it was extremely difficult to remove a seal made of this material and replace it after the contents of the sealed document had been read. This compound was more brittle than beeswax so it could be easily broken, thus providing clear evidence of tampering. Even if the seal could be removed unbroken, any attempt to re-affix a seal was nearly impossible, since, with such a low melting point, the image which had been impressed into it would loose its crispness, if not melt completely, if additional hot wax was used to re-attach it, yet another sign of tampering.

(As always, I suck at tagging and any help or modifications are welcome and gratefully received.)