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HOW superficially soever the Local Motion of Bodies is wont to be treated of by the Schools, who admit of divers other Motions, and ascribe almost all strange things in Physicks to Substantial Forms and Real Qualities; yet it will be∣come Us, who endeavour to resolve the Phaenomena of Nature into Matter
and Local motion, (guided, at the be∣ginning of things, immediately, and since regulated, according to settled Laws, by the Great and Wise Author of the Universe,) to take a heedfull notice of its kinds and operations, as the true Causes of many abstruse Ef∣fects. And though the industry of divers late Mathematicians and Phi∣losophers have been very laudably and happily exercised on the nature and general Laws of this Motion; yet I look upon the Subject in its full ex∣tent to be of such importance, and so comprehensive, that it can never be too much cultivated, and that it com∣prises some parts that are yet scarce cultivated at all. And therefore I am not sorry to find my self obliged, by the design of these Notes, (writ∣ten, as you know, to facilitate the ex∣plicating of Occult Qualities) to en∣deavour to improve some neglected Corners of this vast field, and to consi∣der, Whether, besides those effects of Local motion which are more con∣spicuous, as being produced by the
manifest striking of one body against another, where the bulk, &c. of the Agent, together with its Celerity, have the chief Interest; there may not be divers effects, wont to be at∣tributed to Occult Qualities, that yet are really produced by faint or un∣heeded Local motions of bodies a∣gainst one another, and that often∣times at a distance.
But, before I enter upon particulars, this I must premise in general, (which I have elsewhere had occasion to note to other purposes,) that we are not to look upon the bodies we are con∣versant with, as so many Lumps of Matter, that differ onely in bulk and shape, or that act upon one another merely by their own distinct and par∣ticular powers; but rather as bodies of peculiar and differing internal Tex∣tures, as well as external Figures: on the account of which structures, many of them must be considered as a kind of Engines, that are both so framed and so placed among other bodies, that sometimes Agents, otherwise in∣valid,
may have notable operations upon them, because those operations being furthered by the Mechanism of the body wrought on, and the rela∣tion which other bodies and Physi∣sical Causes have to it, a great part of the effect is due, not precisely to the external Agent, that 'tis wont to be ascribed to, but in great measure to the action of one part of the body it self (that is wrought on) upon ano∣ther, and assisted by the concurring action of the neighbouring bodies, and perhaps of some of the more Ca∣tholick Agents of Nature. This No∣tion or Consideration being in other Papers particularly confirmed, I shall not now insist upon it, trusting that you will not forget it, when there shall be occasion to apply it in the following Notes.
There may be more Accounts than we have yet thought of, upon which Local motions may perform conside∣rable things, either without being much heeded, or without seeming o∣ther then faint, at least in relation to
the considerableness of the Effects produced by them. And therefore I would not be understood in an ex∣clusive sense, when in the following Discourse I take notice but of a few of the above-mentioned Accounts; these seeming sufficient, whereto, as to Heads, may be conveniently enough referred the Instances I allot to this Tract.
And concerning each of these Ac∣counts, I hold it requisite to intimate in this place, that I mention it onely, as that whereon such effects of Local motion, as I refer to it, do principally depend: for, otherwise, I am so far from denying, that I assert, that in di∣vers cases there are more Causes than one, or perhaps than two of those here treated of apart, that may notably concur to Phaenomena directly referred to but one or other of them.
To come then closer to our subject; I shall take notice, That among the severall things, upon whose account men are wont to overlook or under∣value
the efficacy of Local motions, that are either Unheeded or thought Languid, the chief, or at least those that seem to me fittest to be treated of in this Paper, are those that are re∣ferable to the following Observations.