Remarks on the new philosophy of Des-Cartes in four parts ... / done by a gentleman.

REMARKS On the Fourth Part of the New PHILOSOPHY OF DES-CARTES. Of the Principles of the EARTH. PART. IV. (Book 4)

WITH no small Labour and Diligence, according to the best of my Understanding, I have thoroughly Inspected, and carefully Contracted my Remarks, to such Particulars as I judg'd of most familiar Con∣sideration, to whomsoever should peruse what I have Written. And as in my precedent Tractaets I omitted such Maxims, Arguments, Premisses, Conclusions, Schemes and Dia∣grams,

of this Authos, which I conceiv'd rather obscure Repetitions, or posingly Com∣pos'd, than obviously perspicuous to the Ap∣prehension of the Reader; an Oversight that ought to be highly avoided by a judicious Writer. The same rational Method, or sepa∣rating of divers complicated Tenents, Asser∣tions, and pretended Proofs of this, otherwise, Learned Frenchman, from what I have more Compendiously, and I presume, usefully In∣serted; I shall continue in this Fourth Part of my Observations on his Philosophical Prin∣ciples.

The Works of his Composing, that I have to do with, being so frequently intermix'd with divers Modalities by him Propos'd and Invented, that neither concenter with Old, or New Probabilities; that should the ablest Pen∣man undertake to Paraphrase, or Comment on them, 'twere much the same as the at∣tempting to explicate one Solecism by al∣ledging another.

'Tis said of Lucretius, That he was the first of Philosophical Poets; and it may be as per∣tinently Affirm'd, of this Author, that he is the first of Fictitious Philosophers: The main Bulk of whose Treatises, for the most part,

are rather thicken'd by his affected Imaginati∣ons, than rational Conjectures deducible from Rules of Science; which in divers Places of his Writings, however indulgent to his Devi∣sings, he is so ingenuous as to acknowledge; but with this confident manner of excuse, That he supposes his Inventions ought to be more allow∣able than whatsoever can be urg'd against them; which I have, as I believe, and shall endeavour farther to disprove. And thus I proceed to consider his Hypothesis of the Being and Pro∣duction of the Earth.

In the first Page and entrance, he makes into his Fourth Part of his Philosophical Trea∣tise, he transfers the Principles which he had ap∣ply'd to the Constituting of Superior Beings, in his Third Part, to the original Forming and Ex∣istence of the Earth we Inhabit: Which, in his First Paragraph, according to his design'd Imagination, in Substance is thus: Let us feign (saies he) That the Earth was primarily Constituted solely of the Matter of the first Element, (which has been mention'd by me, in the Third Part of his Philosophy) as was the Sun, tho' much less; as likewise to have a vast Vortex, or whirling Substance, about her; the Center of which Vortex was the Center of the Earth:

But as some Particulars, or Globuli, as he calls them, were channell'd, or hollow'd, and some, but not all, very diminutive, of that First Ele∣ment, they adher'd, and so were converted into the Matter of the Third Element; (which I likewise noted in the foreg-oing Tractate,) and from thence, first of all, were the opacous Spots en∣gender'd on the Superficies of the Earth, resem∣bling those we behold continually to generate and dissolve about the Sun. And next tells, how such Particulars were Thinn'd, or Condens'd, Ascending, and Descending, some to Etherial Parts; some to the Higher, others to the Lower Region of the Air: As also, how the thicker of their opacous Spots cover'd, and darken'd the whole Surface of the Earth.

Thus I have briefly summ'd his Sense; the doing of which, has caus'd such a won∣derful Confusion in the utmost extent of my Intellect, that I cannot there find room for the whirling of his Vortices and Globuli: Or were the Brain of Man as big as the Earth, it might prove too small for the comprehensive Understanding of his Hypothesis: By which he displays his Scene of Chaos, together with the diffusion from its Womb of such Particles, or Seeds of Nature, That by their Motions and

continu'd Involutions, and Revolutions, Thin, or Thicken, without the operative concurrence of Heat, Cold, or any other Elementary Quality; untill a sufficient quantity of them meet in a Lump, that might produce the Figure and Magni∣tude of the Earth.

But from what shadow of Reason, or Philosophical Authority could Des-Cartes fan∣cy, That either the Universe, or Earth, part of the whole, might be Constituted, or any ways generated by Motion unless of Bodies Com∣pos'd of such Elements that are common to our Apprehensions? Because nothing if not so temper'd, is capable of Motion, or compu∣table by Time, the natural Propriety of Moti∣on; and therefore not of such Chimerical Ma∣aterials, or unqualified Particles of Nature, as he numbers in the actings of his devis'd Triplicity of Elements: Which if granted, 'twere, in ef∣fect, to Assert, That Motion, Time, and the Elements we usually understand, and by which we subsist, were operative and original Causes of the World's Existence: So that the Earth, together with Mankind, and whatsoever it con∣tains, might have had, in the Opinion of this Author, a capacity of subsisting, or wonder∣fully forming it self, without a miraculous Creation.

Nor can his Supposition be excus'd, by al∣ledging, That the Almighty might Ordain the Fabrick and Structure of the Earth, by any Mo∣tion of Substances that were not Elementary: Be∣cause impossible to conceive any other tempe∣rature of Things, that could be motionally capacitated to produce other Beings. But of what Composition, or how establish'd, the Heavens above; are Thoughts too remote and spiritual, as I have prov'd, by Learned Au∣thority, in the precedent Treatise, to be defi∣nitively reach'd by the Humane Intellect: Notwithstanding which sublime Considerati∣on, the Earth is plac'd by Des-Cartes above; and instead of the Sun, as a Planet, according to the Copernican System, in as lofty a Room as is the Orbite betwixt Mars and Venus.

In answer to which, enough I believe has been objected in the former Third Part: But now, having suppos'd the Matter of the Earth before intermingled with that of the Hea∣vens; he tells us, how the Materials of the Earth delaps'd, or slipt from above, towards the Inferior Place, according to his Phaenomena, of the Sun; and next distinguishes the Earth into three Regions.

The First of these which he calls the most In∣ward, he supposes to contain so much of the Matter of the First Elements, not otherwise there Mo∣ving, or of other Nature, than as it was in the Sun; except that its Substance was less pure: But thinks that the Earth in passing from the Sun; and surely, in his Sense upwards, be∣cause by his Hypothesis he has preferr'd the ministerial Situation of the Terrene compositi∣on, much Superior to Phoebus the King of Il∣luminating Beings, as also that it continually became spotted, and could not be purg'd or clear'd of them: From whence saies he, I am easily persuaded, That the Earth was then full of the Third Element, did not it follow, that she could not, if at that time so solid, be so near the Sun, (he means downwards) as now she is. To which purpose, he has devis'd a Right-worshipful Scheme; but left by me, to the Inspection of such as have no other Imployment for their Eyes.

The Second Element of the Earth, he de∣termines opacous and thickly Substantiated, as consisting of divers Minute Particles that apper∣tain'd to the first Element: And this, in his judg∣ment, Experience assures by the Spots in the Face of the Sun, which excepting their refin'dness and

subtility, are the same with those of the Earth: Yet notwithstanding hinder the Light that would else more appear in the Sun.

But concludes, after some offer'd Reasons, which I do not mention, because I think 'em Irrational, That these two Elements have little to do with us; because no living Man ever ascend∣ed to their Stations.

But by what Authority does he present us with a Theory of Things that he confesses no Body could ever be assur'd of: And for that Reason, I might pass from them with no less neglect than the Man, who reading an Inscription at Athens that was Dedicated to the unknown God, thought it had little to do with his Contemplation: And no more my concern what this Author delivers here; these Elements having been sufficiently, I doubt not, Remark'd by me, in the Third fore-going Part of his Philosophy.

Notwithstanding I will briefly add some∣thing, avoiding, if possible, Reiteration of Words, on the same Subject already written: Or only by way of Interrogation, were Des-Cartes present, desire to be inform'd in what Mint of Nature, he Coin'd these Elements, and as her Bank-stock Pay's them off, in Par∣cels,

to his Reader? In doing of which, he introduces, and a while continues, the ori∣ginal Empire of Nature, in Power and Credit, numerously attended by very inconsiderable Subjects, which he calls petty Globuli, surround∣ing her Throne, and immediately committed to the Government, and disposal of revolving Vor∣tices that whirl'd them, without any orderly Me∣thod, or Proportion, either East, West, South, or North; or sometimes only upward, to the height of Heaven, and as soon precipitately downward; by which medly of Motion he conceives abundance of their Fluid Substances exceedingly thinn'd; whilst others were as nimbly thicken'd. As if the Hands of Nature had been busily imploy'd in kneading of their Clusters till thoroughly condens'd.

Yet grants them so insipidly temper'd, that by no proper Term, Naturally, or Philoso∣phically Intelligible, he determines them ei∣ther light or heavy; as he distinguishes their Ele∣ments from whatsoever is Elementarily Compos'd: And thus, according to his Method, he ima∣gines, That Nature made her first Entrance out of the Closet of Chaos; and having not thoroughly wash'd her Face, he supposes some of her Spots might afterwards visibly remain

in the Figure and Substance of both Sun, Moon and Earth.

If next he had been ask'd, on what account he attributes Spots to the Luminary of Day, or Night, together with the Terrene Sphere of our Being; that are within no compass of reasona∣ble Apprehension, he must have return'd a motly Answer. Since undeniable, That what∣soever is capable of Spots, as its propriety, must be naturally colour'd, and therefore of a mixt, Elementary Composition; by reason that nothing can be observably spotted, but is also colour'd by mixt Ingredients, and con∣sequently the Object of Sight.

But the Sun and Moon, were never held, by found Opinion, Elementarily Constituted; wherefore not of any of his suppos'd Ele∣ments, no more than 'tis possible to conceive, how Air could be alterative, or operate on Air, or Water on Water; without partaking of Elementary Mixtures: A Truth confirm'd by Experience in every Thing that is Thinn'd, Thicken'd, Ascends, or Descends; as sure as Earth is more ponderous than any of the o∣ther Three Elements ordain'd by Providence to exert all such Operations of Nature, as are with clearest Evidence understood by us.

From whence may be concluded, that the seeming Spots in the Sun, or Moon, are no other than meteorous Exhalations or Vapours that interpose betwixt the Luminaries and the Eye of the Beholder; as surely as we fre∣quently discern more or less clear, in Ap∣pearance, the Sun and Moon, and therefore no Spots Inherent in their Substance.

As for the Spots that he annexes to the out∣ward Complexion of the Earth, what Man ever heard of any of their Colours, except of such Things as have Being and Growth on her Sur∣face; as Trees, Plants, Men, Women, Beasts, Grain, and such other Things, as might from Causes, be produc'd? How to Reply, had he been thus Interrogated, I dare Answer for him, he could not have told.

And thus I come to the farther Examination of his Third Element, by which he undertakes to Exspand the Original of all Things within the Compass of the Earth.

To which purpose, I will briefly Summ the Order and Materials, by which he forms his Phaenomena's of the Earth's Production.

All which he supposes, were produc'd of the Fragments of a certain Thinn and Fluid Compo∣sition, which he Entitles, The primary Element

of Nature: These Imaginary or Globuli-Frag∣ments, proceeding, (as he derives them) from Spots in the First Element, and descensively ope∣rating on the next, term'd by him a Second Ele∣ment, they confus'dly, and exceedingly disorder'd in Motion and Figure, tended downward, from their first sublime Height, till at last they became more congeriously Thick, suitable to the grossness of the Earth's Composure, and Settlement; where it now remains.

So very intricately obscure, or vainly per∣plex'd, does this conceited Monsieur debase the original Wisdome and Conduct of Nature, both as to her own Establishment, and the Pro∣duction of her Works; which could never be so disproportionably and irregularly ef∣fected by the prudent Diligence and Intend∣ment of her Operations: Which, as this Au∣thor commits them to her peculiar Conduct, I do not see why they should not have been, by her Management, as highly refin'd and continu'd, as he delivers the Materials of her first purest Celestial Element: And conse∣quently of them, so sublimately ordain'd, have produc'd the Substance of Man and Wo∣man, that being exalted to a Superior Room in the Etherial Heaven, the Eyes of Beauty

might have there shin'd instead of Stars, now beheld, of the first Magnitude: And next to these, why should she not have gradually Il∣luminated the Substance of Animals, with all other Materials and Plants, that being naturally cleans'd from such Terrestrial Ingre∣dients, Alterations and Mixtures, that are now in them, they might have remain'd splendent Parts above, instead of being Re∣volv'd and whirl'd in globuli's, or dispers'd Fragments of Nature, downwards, untill they clos'd in a Lump that compleated the Earth, in Figure, disposition of Parts, and Situation, suitable to the Opinion of this Author?

Such Queries may not be unfitly urg'd a∣gainst his total Hypothesis, with all its Appur∣tenances; to which I add these palpable Ob∣jections.

First, that it is egregiously preposterous, if not an Impeachment or lessening of the Di∣gnity of Nature, supposing that by her volun∣tary Actings she debas'd the superiority of her Existence, by crumbling of her Materials into innumerable Bits, or Particles, in all kinds, of impurer Substance, and next dispose them, by a rambling, or giddy Progression, so gross∣ly to meet as they might constitutively finish

and sustain the small inferior Bulk of the Uni∣verse call'd Earth; or rather denominated the spurious Daughter of Nature, if so engender'd by her actual consent.

Whereas contrarily, 'tis the inseparable At∣tribute of Nature, intentionally to Conserve, whatsoever depends on her Regalia's, in its proper and utmost Perfection. And although, that by such Elementary Compositions and Mixtures, as are understood by us, she is ne∣cessitated to vary her Conduct, as Things are, in course, Generated, or Corrupted, in order to produce such Existencies that could not be continu'd in themselves; and therefore Pro∣videntially convertible into other Beings: Yet she constantly preserves her most genuine Progression, which is, that nothing shall so alter as not to have Matter and Form incident to their Corporeal Proprieties: Not unlike a Sovereign Ruler, within whose Dominions there is no period of his numerous Subjects by Death, because enough are begotten that succeed them.

But no such Procreation could be consistent, or produc'd, as an Elementary Triplicity is de∣vis'd by Des-Cartes; and not at allaccomplish'd or season'd with such natural Ingredients as

are the Elementary Adjunct to Bodily Ex∣istences: But rather of such a simplicity and incommunicable Qualification, that 'tis as reasonable to imagine, That Earth should pro∣ceed from meer Air, or Water from Fier, as that his imperfect, and uncompounded Ele∣ments, should, by their Vortices, and Globuli, arrive to any Corporeal Production: Because the Principles of all Things could be no other than Contarrieties, and therefore Elementary: Insomuch, that had not Providence other∣wise dispos'd natural Operations than are con∣triv'd by this Author; neither the Heavens a∣bove, however excellent and refin'd their Es∣sence, or the Earth we possess, with all its Appurtenances, could have been effected.

The next Objection, is briefly thus,—Suppose, it were conceded. That his Hypo∣thesis, relating to the Constituting of the Earth's Existence, were allowable; could it be conceiv'd, that the diversities of Being and Motion which he annexes to his Particles of Nature, should be either operative or motional before the Sun, Stars, World, or any Ele∣mentary Composition, a main Cause of Mo∣tion, Version and Alteration of Bodies, as naturally they ought to be understood, did

really Exist? Because nothing can Move up∣wards or downwards, but what is Corporeally mixt; and therefore consisting of Commen∣surable Parts, whose Movements must be gra∣dually computed by Time, Nature's unerra∣ble Accountant: But by the Incomprehensi∣ble Phaenomena's of this Author, the World was fill'd with temporary Motions, before it or Time was, or could be summ'd by computable Progression of any Thing, that could be its porportionable Measure; according to his Suppositions: Which Impossibility is so disregarded by this Writer, that Time, were his Notions true, might have continu'd, some thousands of Ages, before it could be understood to have Being, or his small Globuli, Circumvolv'd by their Vortices, could have constituted and fill'd the local Situation of one Mile of Earth, with all its Materials, from top to bottom, with their diminutive Particulars.

Which Absurdities, if well consider'd, might have deterr'd, as Learned a Person as Des-Cartes, from posing his Intellect, with so many unexplicable Imaginations, whereby he would assimulate, however far above Thought, the stupendious Consistence of the World to miraculous Systems invented by his Brain.

As for the Elements that he undertakes to deliver as the first Principles whereby the Earth was Constituted, which, as I have already prov'd, are neither Philosophical, or Natural; he tells us in his 13th Particular, That the more Solid, or thicker of them, are not always Inferior, in Place or Motion, to those that are thinner; the Reason he gives is, That notwihstanding they are uniformly Revolv'd, they so adhere to one another, by the Irregularities of their Figures, that the Globuli of one Element cannot extricate them∣selves from the Compulsions upwards, or down∣wards, of another.

This Gentleman, who had no otherwise differenc'd his principal Materials, by which he would Constitute the Structure of the Earth, than as the Parcels of his small Globuli, were more or less extended, begins now, in ef∣fect, to grant them Elementarily mix'd, as e∣very Thing must be that is Thinner or Thicker than another, or different in Weight and Measure: But so as by his turbulent Vortices, the lighter were mingled with the heavier, in such a complicated manner, that they could neither Ascend or Descend, as they ought to have done by their Qualifications. But gives no certain reason, why they might not always have continu'd

so Intermingled, and Confus'd; and there∣fore never have separated from one another? Since he determines no Cessation of the impetuous Movement of them caus'd by his whirling Vorti∣ces: How then could the Earth be Compos'd, or Constituted, by such Irregular Particles of Nature, that neither by their Motion, or dif∣ferent Temperatures, could be disincumber'd from one another, and consequently so ex∣actly Embodied as might compleat the total Substance of the Earth?

In his 14th and 15th Particulars, he under∣takes to Describe what he means by diversities of Bodies, which he supposes form'd in that, which he denominates his Third Region of the Earth; and these, he believes might be pro∣duc'd as the Globe of the Earth, distinguish'd into three Regions, having been devolv'd towards the Sun, and the Vortex, in which it was before, taken from it, variety of Bodies were distinguish'd in it: Whose Productions he designs to explain afterwards; but first, he delivers three or four Axioms, on which they depend.

• The First is the general Motion of his Celestial Globuli.
• The Second is their Gravity.
• The Third Light.
• The Fourth Colour.

His First Position I am oblig'd to reflect on, and more severely, could it be avoided, than I am willing to do; out of the respect that I have to this Learned Author. But ha∣ving Geometrically prov'd, by what I have Written on the Third Part of his Philosophy, That there can be no Motion, either Diurnal, or Annual, to be Attributed to the Earth, the Copernican way, instead of the Sun: I cannot but add, That it is far more egregiously Suppo∣sititious, that the imperfect Agitation of his Globuli, which he Inserts, in the Page I write of, should perform their Annual or Diurnal Motion about the Sun, correspondent to his Imaginary System: It being highly improba∣ble, that such different Particles, which he defines Globuli, both in Substance, Bigness, Quantity and Measure; as also, irregularly Moving, by his Concession, should compleat∣ly finish the Diurnal or yearly Motion of the

Sun; because not to be thought, that they could Revolve suitable to any Figure Geome∣trically computable: And therefore impossi∣ble, even to Absurdity, the fictitious Circum∣volution that he appropriates to his Region of Globuli, than if without them, he directly had Asserted the Motion of the Earth: Because the Earth, allow'd by the Learned, to be Circu∣larly Form'd, is more capable of Revolution, than that such diminutive Substances, as are disagreeably Compos'd, both in Quantity and Figure; should so perfectly unite their Move∣ments as exactly to Represent, or Conspire with the Earth's Motion, in the room of the Sun, either Hourly, Dayly, or Yearly, ap∣pertaining to Ecliptical Circulation.

In order to which performance of his de∣vis'd Globuli, he makes yet more gross their Incomprehensible Phaenomena's; by Affirming, That they incline to Move in a streight Line, tho' he grants them not figuratively such; as if Things could be propense to Move directly, if naturally oblique in Proportion and Figure: Notwithstanding that 'tis impossible, that what∣soever Moves, should describe any other Su∣perficies, or Figure, than is suitable to its Corporeal Parts. Nor can any Thing be said

in a proper Sense, to incline to Move in a streight Line, but as it must be either upwards, or downwards; according to the Nature of its Gravity, or Levity.

To be plain, the most favourable Salvo that can be apply'd to this Broken Head of his Hypothesis, is, that he judges it safer, for his manner of Copernicanism, to substitute his whirl'd Globuli as Assistants, by their Move∣ments, to the Motion he allows the Earth: Because, as I conceive, he might apprehend, that Objections to be made against the Earth's Revolution; as also, that by such an Hypothesis, the Situation of Countries and the Elevation of the Pole must infallibly alter, as has been already demonstrated, might be rebated, or not so unanswerably Alledg'd. Tho' to Men of competent Apprehension, the Absurdities are the same, whether the Earth alone, or his Glo∣buli and the Earth, in any Kind, Intrigue, or conjoyn their Circulations.

Can a Man that has season'd his Intellect with the least Relish of Mathematical Princi∣ples, conceive it possible for the confus'd Phaenomena's of Vortices and Globuli, menti∣on'd by Des-Cartes, to absolve the mean or equal Motion, which, Astronomy assures, is

annually consummated in the Ecliptick? Or, that the ponderous Structure of the Earth, should be so regularly elevated from her Cen∣ter, as that any Point of its Superficies, or its Vortices, and Globuli, in the Sense of this Author, might at one time have an Apogaeon height, or utmost Distance from the Center of her Orb, and at another a Perigaeon-near∣ness unto it: Which were much the same, as to think it feasible for clusters of Flies, no bigger than Gnats, when they numerously seem to Circulate in Sun-shine, to remove the weighty firmness of the terrene World; or perform, instead of the Sun, the Ecliptical Revolution of the Day, or Year.

Yet on this preposterous and feeble Con∣duct, is erected the main Hypothesis of this French Writer, both as to the Composition, Be∣ing and Motion of the Earth, with all her Cir∣cumjacent Particulars: Which shews, that he takes to himself an unpresidented Dictator∣ship in Science, whereby he would celebrate the Fictions of his Brain, without any requisite or probable assurance, that they ought to be Conceded.

To which purpose, he Inserts the various Actings of his several Elements, tho' by no

Body, but himself, so nam'd; and by these, so Invented by him, together with Vortices and Globuli form'd from them, he judges, That the Earth, with whatsoever it Comprehends, might be totally Constituted; as he their prime Artificer has contriv'dly set them at work.

The first Action tending to the compleating of the most refin'd Substance, or Parts of the Earth, he considers, as produc'd by the Motion of the most tenuous Matter of what he Terms a Third Element; which he supposes so very pure, that, even to Transparency, it may cause Bodies, tho' appertaining to Earthly Composition, very clearly to Shine.

And thus we have the Earth, according to the Doctrine of Des-Cartes, both a motional and illuminating Planet. But should I ac∣count the numerous diversities of the fictiti∣ous Motions, and shifted Inventions by which this Author confers a shining Capacity on some Particulars of the Earth's Substance, I might more than fire, if not abuse, the Pati∣ence of an indefatigable Reader. Neither could I do other than impertinently load my Pen with repeated Objections, and manifest Confutations of his Theories of Motion, as

they have been diversly apply'd by him on this, or other Subjects: The Movements of Things, in his Method, as he annexes their Qua∣lities and Motions, being neither exactly agree∣able, to streight Lines, or their proper Ten∣dencies, or to such Curv's, as might be of Ma∣thematical Construction; and therefore in∣consistent with the Geometry of Nature: Which, as to her Works, must proceed from a regular Process; to which purpose, enough has been already written by me.

I will therefore, in this place, briefly In∣spect the Fond of the shining Attributes that he confers on some Particulars of the Earth, as they are stated by him.

The principal Reason that he offers, is, That 'tis experimentally found, that pure Liquor in the Earth, of tenuous Consistence, is also pelluci∣dous, or shining.

Which cannot be true, if by clearness he means an Illuminating Quality: No more than the purest Water that can be Imagin'd, may be said to Shine, because it is clear. And who ever beheld any shining Part of the Earth otherwise than by diffus'd Beams of the Sun' Moon, or Stars, it might be enlightned; tho' without any Illumination as to its own Capa∣city?

Where are the Eyes that in a gloomy Day or Night, ever observ'd the shining of a Mole-Hill on the Surface of the Earth: Or such little Morsels of the Ground as Worms deject; which might be compos'd of such Materials, as he describes his diminutive Globuli to consist of, for any reason given, by him, to the contrary?

To confirm these Objections, this one, that includes many, may pertinently be added.

If, as he imagines, the diaphanous Parts of any of his Celestial Elements, as they are de∣fin'd by him, should by any intelligible Move∣ment so operate, as they might be so qualita∣tively Constituted, as to embue any particular Substance, or Places of the Earth with a shining Capacity; since he has undertook to Meta∣morphose our terrene Habitation into a Pla∣netary Composition: How can it be probably apprehended, that his Fluid Globuli, by their feeble Commotions, should be conjoyn'd to the Surface of the Earth, notwithstanding that the condense, or crusty Parts of her Sur∣face are thickly harden'd and nourish'd by the Roots of Grass, Trees, Minerals, Stones of all kinds, diversly temper'd, and not possibly penetrable by any compulsive Motion of his

diminutive, and impotent Globuli; unless so much of the gaping Superficies of the Earth could be suppos'd to receive their Fluid De∣scents, to no other purpose, than she does Rain when distill'd by the Dissolution of Clouds? Which being done, there could but a dewy gloss appear on the Ground, that might not more imbrighten any Part of the Earth's Figure, than when, in some moist Seasons, the Glow-worm, with her Light, is engender'd.

So that whosoever would persuade himself, that the terrene World, or any Part of it, was ever primarily compleated or motionally dispos'd by the Globuli and Vortices compre∣hended in the Diagrams and Theories of Des-Cartes, may as readily believe, that the Globe of the Moon was originally produc'd by the efficacious Seeds of a Carret-Bed.

Nor does he deny, in some respects, the in∣congruity of his Principles, as in his 18th Particulars, he confesses, The Materials, by which he moulds the Frame of the Earth's Com∣posure, and first Existence, to be confusedly ope∣rative; by granting, that the liquid Parts, which he Attributes to the prime Formation of the Earth, were disorderly complicated with his Celestial Globuli. Yet might by their Operations, in his

judgment, upwards, downwards, or transversly, be separately distinguish'd by the Similitude he Porduces of a Glass of Wine in the Must, having Dregs not only on the top, and bottom, correspon∣dent to Gravity and Levity, but also on the sides of the Glass: When afterwards the Wine being clear, notwithstanding that it before consisted of various Particulars, it becomes pellucidous, or shining: and not more gross or thicker in any one Part than in another.

Here he presents his Reader with a Philoso∣phical Weather Glass; by which he would determine the temper of the Season, when the Earth was forming by his diversified Globuli, and whirling assistance of his Vortices: Which petty Operators, as he states the Metaphor of their Condition and Conduct, might be as drunk (as Flies may be suppos'd) when some of them are, as it were, giddy on the top of a Glass of strong Liquor, or lean to its Sides, for supportance, whilst others more ebrietously replenish'd, heavily sink to the bottom: All which may be assimulated, without any wrong to the Brain of this Author, unto the giddiness of his Phaenomena's: It being im∣possible to conceive, from what rational Course of Nature he could produce the Substances,

together with the Movements of his de∣bauch'd Globuli, by which he constitutes the Being of the Earth: Considering, that he de∣duces their original Descent from what he Terms his first pure Element.

In his 19th Head, he positively assures us, That the Third, and main effect of his Celestial Globuli are so perfectly operative, that they con∣vert liquorous Drops residing in Air into rotund Figures, the reason as he States it is, because those Celestial Globuli find more Passages into a watry Drop than into the Circumjacent Air: And by that means, as near as may be, Move in right Lines, or in such as most approximate unto direct lineaments; whence it is manifest, in his Opi∣nion, That such Globuli, that are in the Air, are less motionally hinder'd, as they meet with a watry Drop, according to the continuance of their Moti∣ons in a streight Line, or nearest unto it, if that Drop of Liquor be exactly spherical, than if it had taken any other Figure. But if any Part of the Superficies of that Drop, be extended be∣yond a spherical Figure, the Celestial Globuli by their more forcible discursions, made in the Air, more strenuously assault the watry Drop, than were it other Substance, and immediately thrust it downwards towards the Center.

The Reader, I presume, will excuse me, if in this Place, and some others of his Writings, I deliver the Notions, of this Author, in more uncouth Accents than I would willingly com∣mit to his Perusal: It having been my care, no less than necessary Diligence, to render as genuinely, as might be, his Latin Expressi∣ons into English.

If my Remarks on his precedent Praticu∣lar had any sharp Allusion, dress'd in a plain and familiar Application; I cannot rebate, on this occasion, the point of their tendencies: Wherefore, if prov'd by me, in the forego∣ing Head, tho', by a comical Similitude, that his Hypothesis had inebriated his Globuli: I may as judiciously Assert, That his Sense, in the Particular, I now Treat of, may be, by no extravagant Similitude, term'd unnatural, or Philosophically, and Mathematically In∣toxicated; unless I could Affirm, in his be∣half, that his Globuli, which, as he supposes, might by the force of their whirling Vortices, so dispose their Materials to the Constituting of the Earth, that the very Grapes that caus'd drunkenness in the Head of the Patriarch Noah, were engender'd by some of their giddy Compositions.

And as sure, as the Earth is now in Being, Nature might be deem'd out of her Wits, if according to his disorderly Process, she could be thought to Design the Production of the earthly World.

Or what can be more improbable, than the Tale he tells, of his Celestial Globuli converting of liquorous Drops, hanging in the Air, into round Figures?

And what Reason does he give; why, no better than as he supposes, That his Globuli may find more passage in watery Drops than in the circumjacent Air?

But does not common Experience confute this Imagination? Let a strenuous Hand fling a smooth Peeble-Stone into the Air, and after∣wards into Water, will it as soon pass any Part of the Superficies of Water as of the Air? Or will it not, the Water being of a more condense Substance than Air, have, pro∣portionably, a longer Motion and Passage, by the ressistance of its thicker Body, than might be given by the Tenuity of the Air? A Truth so practically evident, that it could not be unknown to many of the young Contempo∣raries at School with Des-Cartes; wherefore I wonder to find him of a contrary Opinion here.

As little concentring, in any kind, with sound Principles, are the Proprieties that he annexes to his Globuli; which, if, in their Motion, engaging with any Part of a watry Drop that is extended beyond a spherical Figure, they immediately, with greater force, assail it, and by compulsion enforce it towards its Center.

But if any Part of it be nearer its Center than another, his Celestial Globuli, contain'd in that watry Drop, forthwith imploy their utmost Force to expell it from its Center; and next altogether concur to make one spherical Drop.

Here by a perverse Contradiction he noto∣riously thwarts the surest Maxims of Philo∣sophy, as they pertinently Relate to the Na∣ture and Motion of Corporeal Beings. Nor is there any Thing more irrational, if not Philosophically absurd, than to define, as he does, globulous Materials, and debar them of Motion natural to their Figures: It being not possible to imagine, that whatsoever is rotund should be more propense to Move in a streight Line, or the nearest unto it, than in a circular Revolution. If a Ball be let fall from the Hand, will it it not rotundly Move suitable to its Figure? And could this Author imagine, That a Demonstration so experimen∣tally

obvious would be wav'd by any Princi∣ple of his Geometrically Inconsistent; or that the exactness of Things circularly Mov'd, of all others most perfect, should incline to deviate from their Centers? Or if that were granted, is it at all probable, that they could have freer migrations, according to this Au∣thor, through any one of his suppos'd watry Drops, than in the tenuous Substance of the Ambient Air? Which being done, they are, in his Sense, sometimes compulsively enforc'd towards their Centers, if their Figures be not absolutely spherical; but if exactly round, as forcibly remov'd from their Centers. And thus he Implicates, if not so, crosly Involves Contradictions, that he determines the ope∣rations of Nature, more consonant to the exerting of a Step-dame's Arbitrary Conduct, than suitable to the comely Effects, by which she regularly produces the Motion and Be∣ing of Things.

All which must be conceded as Principles of Nature, incident to her Rule and regular Intention; as surely as some of her Materials are more substantially heavy, or lighter than others; and will therefore have a natural Re∣course, upwards or downwards, to their Cen∣ters accordingly.

Wherefore it may be admir'd in what Fit, or Heat of Fancy, the Brain of this Monsieur was Inveigled when by so many perplex'd Words, as also opposite Terms and Methods, he did, in a manner, angrily Impose the Li∣mitations of his Measures, on the stupendi∣ous Productions of the Works of Nature: Insomuch, that his Maxims, if soberly con∣sider'd, signifie, little other, than a design'd Rape committed on the Grandeur of her Fi∣gure and Beauty, together with the provi∣dential Facility, by which she compleats and preserves her Legitimate Conduct and Opera∣tions. So that his Invented Elements, with all his Diagrams of Vortices and Globuli, seem fictitiously devis'd, or appertaining to the Imaginary System of some other World; since not at all probable, that they could belong to the Composure of this.

But enough has been in this Place, and oc∣casionally before, I believe, satisfactorily In∣serted, on this Subject, that it were imperti∣nently tedious if more be added.

There remains one Particular, that ere I conclude on this Head, requisitely deserves a considerable Remark; because it Includes a very curious and subtil Mathematical Problem:

Which he thus expresses; the Angle of Con∣tact by which the Tangent Line touches a Circle, and by which only it is distant from a right Line, is less than any Rectilineal Angle whatsoever, and in no Curve Line, besides the Circle, is every where equal: Wherefore he Affirms, That a streight Line cannot more equally, and less every where inflect, or bend, from its Points, than when it degenerates into a Circular.

I have read in the History of Algebra, writ∣ten by Dr. Wallis, who mentions the contro∣verted Question, concerning the Angle of Contact made by a streight Line where it touches the Circle; but in his Opinion, thinks it nothing, if not a right Angle, in being perpendicular to the peripherial Point of the Circle; because not otherwise, numerically Computable: He also Inserts his Disceptation, as I remember, by Letters that pass'd betwixt him and a certain Learned Person, who un∣dertook to defend, against him, the Determi∣nation of the famous Mathematician Clavius, in whose Judgment, the Angle of Contact was properly something, tho' not Commen∣surable; and therefore not otherwise defina∣ble, than as being less than any acute Angle whatsoever; which I take to be the more

probable Opinion: By reason that it could not be denominated Angular without it ap∣pertain'd to something, tho' but of general or tacit Application. And thus, in the Judg∣ment of Euclid, the Angle of Contact has a singular Attribute, where it touches the peri∣phery of the Circle, but not otherwise ac∣countable or to be summ'd by Number: The Reason is, that in every Circle, whether equal, or unequal, the Point in the Circumference touch'd by a right Line will be the same in all of them; because no other Line can fall between the Point of Contact, in any of their Peripheries: And could it be Commensurable, it would be of one Equality: Whereas, con∣trarily, in every direct Figure, or where two right Lines touch one another, the Angle they make may be Geometrically lessen'd by any intervening Line, or Lines, that meet in the Angular Point: But not so to be under∣stood of the Angle of Contact, which has no proportion in its self, if compar'd with any other figurative Angle.

To which purpose, the Learned Proclus si∣gnally Determines, That the Point in the Cir∣cle, where the Angle of Contact meets with a streight Line, is mixtly Compos'd of a direct

Line, and the Curviture of the Circle; and therefore not Commensurable by any distinct Line, that can be numerically computed. So that the Angle of Contact may be well Term'd singular, by reason it has no propor∣tional Similitude, or Quantitative Propriety, correspondent to any other Angular Delinca∣ment. And the more Admirable, because the wonderful Extent, and Power of Geome∣try, computatively Explains by the vastness of its Science, all other Angles, Mathematically qualified, except that which is lineally annex'd to the touch of the Circle. And what is yet more wonderful, the tangent Line that In∣cludes, and makes the Angle of Contact, is perfectly Commensurable, tho' not the An∣gle where it touches the Circle; a Geome∣metrical Secret that has not a little perplex'd, if not pos'd the Pens of famous Mathema∣ticians.

Wherefore I think it not improper in this Place, to present the Reader, so far as it Re∣lates to the Proof I offer, with this familiar Diagram. That E C the tangent Line, where it touches the Semidiameter A C, is a right Angle, is ocularly Demonstrative; because

it is Perpendicular to the Diameter; notwith∣standing that it makes no certain provable

[illustration]

Angle, where it touches the Circle; by reason that the Curviture of the Circle is betwixt it and the Semidiameter; and that it is a proportional Line, is prov'd by the 4th Proportion of the Sixth Book of Euclid: For as A B, is to D B, so is A C, to E C; which is also the Tan∣gent of the Angle E A C: Whence it is ma∣nifest, that E C the Line of Contact is Com∣mensurable, but not the Angle made by its touching of the Circle.

Or this Proposition may be thus demon∣strated; the Angle at D, made by the prickt Line D C, in the Triangle A, D, C, is a right Angle, as is always the Angle in the Semicircle; therefore the Angle; A, C, D, is less than a right Angle, tho' it may be allow'd greater than any acute Angle, and the Angle at C made by the tangent Line, less than any acute Angle that can be given: Otherwise, the Point where the tangent Line touches the Circle, could not be, in that Point, singular; as before demonstrated. So that in the Triangle A, C, D, if D be a right Angle, the Angle at C must be less than a right Angle; because in every plain Triangle, the three Angles are but equal unto two Right▪ Which confirms the former Demonstration.

And from which may be concluded, that of what demonstrative Quantity, the Angle of Contact does actually consist, is, as yet conceal'd from Geometrical Inquisition: Or not to be discover'd, untill a certain Proportion can be found betwixt a streight and a curve Line; which perhaps may never be Demonstrated: If not as impossible, as to prove, a Curve com∣mensurately distinguish'd from a Curve.

I confess, I am not a little beholding to this Learned Monsieur, for the occasion he has

given me to discuss, I conceive not unsatis∣factorily to the Judicious, the Question con∣cerning the Angle of Contact so much con∣troverted by Celebrated Geometricians: And which, by a certain fineness in Science, is more pertinently apply'd to the purpose, he would intend it, than any Mathematical Pro∣position, Theorem, or Diagram of his that I have met with.

But I cannot thank him for the Conclusion he deduces from thence; or because he takes it for granted, That a streight Line by reason of the near approximation that it has to the Circle, in the Point of Contact, never less inflects from every of its Points, than when it degenerates into a circular Figure.

By which Inference he does highly dispa∣rage the Contexture and Theory which he devises for the Motions of his Vortices and Glo∣buli, in order to their material compleating of the Universal World: If their Motions, in any kind, tending to a direct Line, be allow'd to degenerate; when from that manner of Move∣ment they convert to circular Revolution. Which were all one as to charge the motional Exactness and Conduct of Nature, providen∣tially dispos'd, with Mistake, or Imperfection,

relating to her Operation and Works: Be∣cause no figurative Motion can be imagin'd so absolutely compleat, excellent, and of certain continuance, as is circular Movement: By reason that no Part of a Circle can be Term'd its Beginning or End. Whereas con∣trarily, no Motion can be made in a streight Line, but must have separate, intervall'd and terminated Parts: Which enough disproves the Allegation of this Author; as sure as that by Geometrical Dignity and Proof, the Cir∣cle has a superlative perfection above all other Figures. And were it not to be so acknow∣ledg'd, there is little reason, why the Wisdom of Providence should annex the admirable Computation of Days and Years to circular Revolution. But so much has been said, by way of Confutation, in my former Remarks, on this Subject, that I need not renew them here.

Nor is it requisite, that I should farther re∣flect on his elaborate Expressions, Draughts, Schemes and Delineations, by which he un∣dertakes to confirm the Motion of Things, in order to the Constructure of the Universe, together with the Being of the Earth; since, I doubt not, I have refell'd his total Hypothesis

on which his Principles are grounded. Where∣fore I shall pass from all of them, to the En∣tertaining of my Reader with some especial Thoughts, relating to the Original of the World, and Earth, we inhabit, as are Ancient or Modern, of most erudite Reputation.

I. Concerning the Magnitude of the Universal World, the Questions are; Whether it be Infi∣nite, or Finite, materially replenish'd or not?

II. As to its Duration, or Continuance; Whe∣ther it had any temporary Beginning, or eter∣nally Constituted?

III. As to Number; Whether it be one, or nu∣merously Existing? Tho' as to Number, there can be no Controversie, if the World be granted Infinite; because there can be but one Infinite.

IV. Another grand Querie is, From what Cause, or Matter, was the World Originally Compos'd?

V. And next, From whence, or in what manner that Cause and Matter did proceed? Of these, Disputes have been rais'd, till ceas'd by Con∣ceding of One, or more Eternity of Causes.

All which Particulars have been exquisitely Treated of, by great Philosophers; if the la∣bour of their Search, could have been as satis∣factorily

repaid, by discerning of what they so earnestly sought: But they soon found that Infinite Science is inconsistent with Finite Un∣derstanding: It being impossible, that in the most exquisite Imagination of Mankind, there should be an Idea, or Phantasm, of any Thing of Infinite Denomination, or Being, either as to Magnitude or Time: Because neither Magnitude, or Time can be Infinite∣ly Computed: Insomuch, that nothing, but what is Infinite, can have an Infinite Con∣ception.

So that should a Man, of the most subtil and refin'd Reason, undertake to argue from one Effect of an immediate Cause, and next to a Remoter; and by that manner of Rea∣soning continually Ascend; he would find, That his Imagination could have no eternal Progression, but would fail, as if tir'd, by its stupendious Journey; or how to proceed far∣ther, not at all impower'd to direct it self.

Nor is it consequently absurd, in the Judg∣ment of Learned Philosophers, if the Structure of the Universe be thought either Finite, or Infinite; by reason that both, or either of those ways, of its Constituting, are alike pos∣sible to the Conduct and Operation of the

Almighty; as the World now is, or might so have been, formerly beheld, with whatsoever it contains.

If nothing can properly be said to Move, but as it is Mov'd by some Cause of Motion, which must be granted Supreme and Eternal: A main Querie depends on that Concession; which is, Whether Matter, the subject of Mo∣tion, must not be also allow'd Eternal; in which Sense, the World might be held perpe∣tually and motionally Existing: Contrary to the Opinion of Some; who determine, That the Omnipotent Cause, or Deity, was eter∣nally Immoveable, or not at all Operative, untill the World's total Creation was miracu∣lously compleated: But the Objection, against that Opinion, will be more difficultly An∣swer'd; if urg'd, That whatsoever may be thought eternally Immoveable, cannot be probably conceded the primary Cause of Mo∣tion; which Imply's a temporary, or Finite Beginning, as applicable to any Date of the World's Creation: A Consequence, in the Judgment of some, that Confirms the per∣petuity of the World's material Consistence; as also, That, by Omnipotent Power it was al∣ways in Motion till gradually perfected as it

now Exists: It being, not at all, Inconsistent with Divine Power, if so ordain'd, That Matter should be unaccountably motional, in order to the stated Disposure, and exact Con∣summation of whatsoever has Being, within the vast Circumference of Heaven and Earth: Yet no such Thing as Infinite Matter, in any consideration, rationally to be suppos'd the Original, out of which proceeded the World's Existence, with all its Particulars: By reason that it were a Geometrical Contradiction, should Matter be defin'd Infinitely subsisting: Since absolutely certain, that whatsoever may be Term'd Matter, Substance, or Body, must also be quantitively Commensurable: Wherefore, in this Case, the World might be, before Time was, materially Consistent; if duely distinguish'd betwixt Infinite, and eternal Duration; which by Omnipotent Will and Power might be effected, by determining a perpetual continuance of Matter, tho' not Infinitely Existing.

The great Philosopher Aristotle not a little concenter'd with the same Opinion, as he thought it more probable to appropriate Eter∣nity to the material Being of the World; in opposition to the Sentiments of some Philo∣sophers,

who thought it was generated, accor∣ding to the Opinion of Plato, by a certain Mutation from what it had been, to what it afterwards was, or now is.

But although, in the Judgment of Aristotle, the substantial Existence of the World was deem'd Everlasting; he could not believe, that its Matter was actually Infinite; because whatsoever is material must be quantitive, and therefore Mathematically computable, as before Instanc'd: So that if Aristotle be re∣concil'd to Aristotle, he may be understood, to deny the Being of the World from any precedent Alteration, or Change that could proceed from its natural Composure, or any generative Faculty, that could be suppos'd in it, at all produc'd: But in this Belief▪ he does not absolutely oppose its total Crea∣tion.

If he firmly conceiv'd, That it was never effected by any generative Method; he does not, by that Tenent peremptorily dissent from the possibility of its Existence, by a miraculous Creation: To which purpose, in his Second Book of the World, he Affirms, That the World, is the Ordainment of God: And in his Twelfth Book of Metaphysicks, he positively Asserts,

That the World, and whatsoever it contains▪ de∣pends on God as its Original Cause. Which duely apprehended, is more contiguous to Divine Allowance, than the Universal Principels of Catholick Des-Cartes; who having fill'd the World with one pure Element, and by that deter∣mination left no Space or Room, whereby there may be imagin'd any natural Operation, by which the different Qualifications and Proprieties that he confers on his Vortices and Globuli, could be possibly deduc'd.

Insomuch, that it may be Affirm'd, That his petty Phaenomena's, together with his Hypo∣thesis of the World's Production, are more Ir∣rationally fabulous, than the little imperfect Notions of Atoms, expos'd in the Writings of Epicurus; who teaches, That the World, be∣fore it had Beginning, did consist of most diminutive Places, that were not replenish'd with Bodies; his Reason is, That had such Pla∣ces been fill'd with any Corporeal Beings, there could not have been Room for the Motion of his Atoms; because one Body might oppose, in the Space it possess'd, the Movement of another; and so frustrate in every kind, the progression of his Atoms, in order to the Constituting of Heaven and Earth: The Modalities of which Parti∣cles

of Nature, by Epicurus denominated A∣toms, together with their motional Attributes, may methodically be read in the Writings of the Philosophical Poet Lucretius, to which I refer the Reader.

And next to proceed with Monsieur Des-Cartes, I find that he has not only elaborately Intrigu'd, if not unsuccessfully perplex'd his Brain, as I have precedently prov'd, by form∣ing of such Materialities, and their Move∣ments, whereby he would Embody the Fond, Situation and Existence of the Terrene World; but also, as he Imploys his farther Speculations on the Elements of Air and Wa∣ter, as being of nearest vicinity to the Earth we Inhabit.

The Air, by his Definition, is of a tenuous and fluid Substance, congeriously compos'd of his Third Element, already mention'd; and there∣fore declares it thin, and pellucidous. That the Air consists of a Fluid tenuity is undeniable; but not to be allow'd glist'ring or shining of it self; which is very evident, as we ocularly discern the capacious Complex of the ambi∣ent Air, more, or less, Enlightned; and con∣sequently Warmer, or Colder its Tempera∣ture and Effects as it proportionably re∣ceives,

and is qualified, by Illuminations from Above.

And therefore not true, as inferr'd by this Author, that because the Air is of a liquid and tenuous Consistence, that it is therefore naturally, and not accidentally Lucid: If otherwise, why might not this opiniative Mon∣sieur as well Attribute Inherent transparency, or shining, unto Water; that is so nearly ally'd to Air, in being of a fluid and thin Sub∣stance? But who ever observ'd any shining in either of these Elements in a cloudy Day, or Night? So that Experience assures, That nei∣ther Air, or Water have, in themselves, any Illuminating Propriety; unless he could con∣vincs us, That a congeries of his Globuli, of which he Asserts the vast quantity of Air and Water is Compos'd, were glisteringly par∣cell'd, like studded Diamonds: But allowing, neither them, nor their Vortices, and Elements from whence he derives them, any such Ca∣pacity, or so much as a Being, in rerum natura, I cannot but totally reject them, wheresoever I find them, as formerly I have done.

My next remarkable Consideration shall refer to his 48th Particular, where he delivers

the two main specifical Qualities that he an∣nexes to the Nature of Water; some of which he determines flexible, others inflexible; and if separated one from another, some of them compose, or produce Salt Water, whilst o∣thers sweet, or fresh.

This Principle of his can never be so per∣fectly Season'd, as that it shall not taste of a Paradox, in the very Sense of the Word; as it is apply'd by common Understanding: For what is more distastful to obvious Intelli∣gence, than to Attribute to the Fluidity of Water, a flexible, or inflexible Qualification? Whereas Water, by its appropriated Inclina∣tion may be properly said to flow, but not to bend, or consider'd as absolutely Inflexible: A Stick, or Cane may be bow'd by the Hand; but can a Man so grasp a quantity of Water, as he may be thought to Inflect, or bend the liquid Material; or feel, in any of its fluid Substance, such an Inflexible Part; that he could not squeez, or if he did, im∣mediately observe it stiffen'd into a Salt Com∣position? Could this be readily perform'd by Manual Operation, it would doubtless ad∣vantageously facilitate the Salt-Manufacture, and gratifie the Inventer with a Pension and

thanks from the Publick, for his beneficial Project.

But I cannot perceive any such assurance in the Writings of this French Gentleman; if not rather, an Imaginary Perfection con∣ferr'd by him on the Actings of his Globuli; as he supposes them sometimes to thin Water into Air, or thicken Air into Wa∣ter: Much like the pretended Experiments of Empiricks, who boastingly teach, That their Operations consist of such a quintessence of Things, as were never understood before: Whereas indeed, 'tis a devis'd Tale of so ma∣ny Non-Entities, as to any Use, or Effect, that could be actually perform'd by any real process of such Authors.

The next Exterior and Contiguous Ele∣ment to Air is Water, as it is, by Philoso∣phers, Elementarily understood; of which, In his 49th Particular he offers a very confide∣rable Account, as he applys it to the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea: The external Superficies of the Earth being, in some sort, surround∣ed by the Ocean, whereby the Globulous Form of the Earth is more exactly com∣pleated.

There is no Speculation, within the Pre∣cincts of Nature, that has more perplex'd Learned Authors, than the Discovery they would attain, of the Causes that effect the Flux and Reflux of the Sea, every six Hours of Day and Night; as it is variously observ'd in different Climes, and Situations of the Earth.

But as to the Ocean in general, the same Compass of Time, relating to its Floating and Refloating is usually expended: Where∣as in the Baltick, as also, in some other Seas, there are no such Egressions and Regressions of the Waves of the Sea; which failure is by some thought to proceed from the nar∣rowness or streightness of the Shores, and the adjoyning Caverns of the Earth, not large enough to receive, or be fill'd with the huge Billows of the rolling Water: Or because the coldness of those Parts of the World, obstruct the Rarifying of Exhalations requi∣sitely conducing to the sufficient Tumefying, or Swelling of the Waves that flow to their Shores.

Whether these Reasons, or more that might be added, have an effectual tendency in or∣der to the various Fluxions, and Refluxions

of the Ocean, observable in many Places of the Earth, I will not dispute; being more inclinable to believe, that it is a Secret more deeply absconded by Nature, than can be pe∣netrated by the most accurate Inquisition of Humane Science.

Notwithstanding it may be Affirm'd, That the remote Cause may probably be deriv'd from the Etherial vigour of divers Stars; but most especially from the Moon, when gradually arising above the Horizon she di∣sperses her Beams obliquely on the Ocean, and by that means warmes, as also exhales from the bottom of the Sea, such Exhalati∣ons, that being Dilated, Tumefy'd, and con∣sequently so weightily Increas'd, as, in a man∣ner, they Revolve to Shores.

The next Diversity may be apprehended from the Degrees of Motion made by the Moon, as she departs from the Meridian, to∣wards the West Part of the Horizon; by which Movement, she disperses her Raies and Light, less obliquely, and therefore not so efficaciously transmitted to the Sea, or gene∣rative of Vapors; whence follows such a remission of the Tumidity of the Ocean, that it seems to Reside, and by so doing

causes an Ebb or with-drawing from the Land.

Other Varieties of the Flowing and Eb∣bing of the Ocean, as they depend on the Motion of the Moon by Day, or Night, might be mention'd here: But I conceive the Instances I have given are enough, and which I thought conveniently interpos'd; be∣cause the most Remarkable Opinion amongst Philosophers, before I came to the Judgment of Des-Cartes, on this profound Subject.

To which purpose, he rely's on the Phae∣nomena of his Vortices and Globuli, together with the Motion of the Earth and Sea, con∣tiguous unto it, and a Scheme delineated to that end. On all which, I am oblig'd to In∣sert no other Remark; than by insisting on my absolute denial of the total Hypothesis of his Vortices and Globuli, as also of the Earth's Motion, either Diurnal, or Annual; which by the Diagram that I have given, in the Third Part, I doubt not, is Geometrically demonstrated: So that it were a needless Repetition should I reiterate the same Con∣futation.

In his 51st Particular, I confess, he has a Conceit, which, as to the Flux and Reflux

of the Ocean, could I Correspond with the dependence it has on his other Systems, ap∣pears to be Mathematically acceptable; by the Instance he gives, and seeming probation, why in Equinoctial Times, or when the Moon is either at Full, or at New; the Flowing of the Sea is greater than at other Seasons: Which he thinks he Confirms, by alledging, That the Moon, at such Times, and condition of her Light, has always a Vicinity to the Plane of the Ecliptick, and that the Earth, which he supposes motional, makes its Diurnal Progression, according to the Plane of the Equator: From whence, saies he, it comes to pass, that those two Planes Intersect one another, but in Solstitial Times are remotely distant: Concluding from thence, that the greatest Tides and Floatings of the Sea are in the Spring, and Autumn of the Year.

This Theorem, howsoever it may appear to have some fineness, suitable to the Coper∣nican Dialect, much endear'd by this Author, does undeniably Subvert that whole Hypothe∣sis: For were it granted true, That the Earth, by its Diurnal Motion, did vicinely Revolve, (as he Asserts) at the Time of the Equinocti∣al, to the Plane of the Equator; the Point,

or Zenith over our Heads, must in that In∣stant be remov'd, or under the Equinoctial, and consequently some other Point, in that great Circle of the Sphere, be made our Ze∣nith: The like may be Affirm'd, if the Earth were Imagin'd to be, by her Annual and Diurnal Motion in any Parallel to the Equa∣tor: In all of which diversities, both the Zenith, as also the Elevation of the Pole, must more, or less, vary or alter, in every Minute and Day of the Year throughout the World; contrary to Astronomical Proof and Observation: By which, it is very manifest, that both the Zenith and Elevation of the Pole are constantly the same, suitable to the Situation of Climes, to which they apper∣tain: All which, in the former Treatise, is lineally prov'd by me; as certainly as that there is such a Figure as a spherical Tri∣angle.

If wav'd the improbable conjecture of the Motion of the Earth, by allowing the long receiv'd Hypothesis of the Sun's Diurnal and Annual Revolution in the Ecliptick: 'Tis not to be doubted, that when the Sun is in ei∣ther of the Equinoctial Points, that the Moon is more approximately and directly impower'd

by the vicine Illuminations that she then re∣ceives from the Sun; by reason that the Ecliptick, only in those Seasons, meets the Equator in one and the same Point: And tho' when in opposition to the Sun, that is to say, at her Full, or greatest plenitude of Light, she has a greater horizantal Distance, visible to the Eye, at that instant of Time, than at an other: Yet receiving, in that remote Aspect, a more direct Illumination than she does in other positions of her Orb, she ope∣rates more powerfully on the Ocean; because the Sun has, at that time, no declination from the Equator.

The like effect may be attributed to the newness of her Light, the Sun being in the Equator, when, in Conjunction with him there, she is Illuminated nearest to a direct or perpendicular Line, wherefore her Beams must necessarily operate more vigourously on the Sea; and thus, by the observable, Propriety that she has to dilate, and encrease Moisture, the Waves and Tides of the Ocean may well be granted more Impetuously high and swell'd, at Equinoctial Times, than at other Seasons: As also, that the Earth, allow'd the Center of the Equator, as it is

contiguously surrounded by the Ocean, can∣not but more efficaciously receive in that Estate and Position of the Luminaries, and especially of the Moon, a transcendent flow∣ing of the Waters of the Main, that are nearest to the Verge of the Earth's Circum∣ference.

In a word, when all is said that can be thought, on this Subject, there is no such Cause, to be prov'd, that in all Parts, in every National Being and Situation of the Earth, can be certainly applicable to the Flux and Reflux of the Sea, which is Experimen∣tally found so variously different, both as to Time and Continuance, in all Parts of the Habitable World. Which cannot proceed from any uncertain Operation descending from above; but rather caus'd by interve∣ning Obstructions arising from the diversities of the Temper of the Air, and Wind that alter and compell, more or less, the Motions of the Watery Element.

Other Reasons and Discussions of Authors tending to the Resolution of the fathomless difficulty appertaining to the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, might be here added: But finding them to be rather disputative

than clearly demonstrative: I shall not bur∣den the Ingenuity of a Reader, by Inscribing their perplexities with my Pen: Having, I conceive, deliver'd what is of greatest proba∣bility on this wonderful Subject.

Of what Extent or Compass the Sea is I find not, in this, or other Writers. But that it is larger than the Earth, is evident; because it surrounds the Terrene World: And 'tis not to be doubted, that whatsoever con∣tains is greater than any Thing contained by it.

But as to the Depth of the Ocean, 'tis Computed, by some accurate Navigators, not to be more than two and a half of En∣glish Miles: Which is very strange, if the Depth of the Sea be taken for its Diame∣ter. Considering that the Sea, for the rea∣son here mention'd, is bigger than the Earth; but much less, if by its Depth be accounted its Diameter: As may be seen by the Com∣putation, of the Diameter of the Earth, that I have formerly Inserted.

Thus far of the Earth, and its Exterior Parts.

As to the Inferior, I observe divers Par∣ticulars mention'd by Des-Cartes; and which he supposes might be caus'd and produc'd by Ma∣terials, according as he imagines their Ope∣rations and Effects: But these being Things of small Consideration, or Improvement to Knowledge; as also that their Nature and Uses are, for the most part, as familiarly un∣derstood, as that there are Plants and Mine∣rals of several Tempers, and natural Pro∣prieties: I shall therefore pass from them, to Things of more Moment; and next, as ve∣ry commodious Interials of the Earth, re∣lating to the necessary supportance of Hu∣mane Life, examine the Philosophy of this Author, where he Inserts his Reasons, why Fountains and Springs that Emerge from within the Earth, should taste liquidly fresh; notwithstanding that in some Depths, or Wells, the Water is Salt.

To be sure he continues the Phaenomena's of his imaginary Elements, Vortices and Glo∣buli, in order to the producing of Things, as well under as above the Surface of the Earth: And thus we have, from him, Fountains and Rivers replenish'd with Water. To which pur∣pose, he has expos'd to the Eye, some impress'd

Diagrams, by which he undertakes to explain such liquid Emanations underground, in the Cranie's of the Earth, in Similitude to the Circu∣lation of Bloud in the Veins and Arteries of Men and Animals.

But this fanciful Monsieur, having not been able, as I have frequently observ'd, to De∣monstrate either the necessary Being, Moti∣on, or Capacity of such Materials, as he ve∣ry confidently Introduces: I am apt to con∣clude, That if the Earth had not been natu∣rally Impower'd by other means, than such as are tender'd by Des-Cartes, whereby to sustain, and engender her liquid Existencies, in all the necessary Parts and Compositions of her Bo∣dy: She had been endu'd with no more Moisture, than is to be found in the Sun∣burnt Sands of Africa.

Real Causes there are, that may be defin'd perfectly Elementary, and therefore not ally'd to any Impotent Existencies, or such as may be term'd procreative Fathers and Mothers, on whose Mixtures depend all Terrestrial Mat∣ter or Substances deliver'd with a simple Ele∣mentary Name, by this Author.

And thus, in the Sense of approv'd Phi∣losophy, Springs and Fountains, together

with the sweetness of their Waters, may be deriv'd from Exhalations, which being Con∣dens'd in the hollow Passages of the Earth, are converted into Water; as may be ob∣serv'd of a kind of Breathings evaporated from a Pot of Liquor, that by the frigidity of its Cover are thicken'd into small Drops of a liquid Nature.

From whence it ensues, that great quan∣tities of Sea-Water flowing in many Caverns of the Earth, such tenuous Parts are exhal'd from them that being moistly Condens'd are turn'd into Fountains.

He bids us not wonder, as indeed we need not, if in the bottom of some Wells, there may be found Salt-Water: Which he thinks might there remain, because the brinish liquidity is not strain'd or clear'd from the Water of the Seas as it passes to such Profundities.

That Water in some Wells is Salt, not∣withstanding they are far distant from the Sea, is not to be doubted; but the reason he gives for their being so, is not certain: Because it is very likely, that the Sea-Water might not pass to any remote Parts within the Earth, and not be alter'd or purified from their saltness, by meeting, as also mixt, with abun∣dance

of fresh Water that passes and repas∣ses within the Earth.

Nor is it impossible, that divers hot Sub∣stances, as Minerals, and the like, contain'd in profound Places of the Earth; might not so efficaciously rarifie such quantities of Wa∣ter, that the residue would remain thicken'd, and therefore more aptly inclin'd to saltness.

But as the Supremer and not less Impor∣tant Cause of the saltness of Water in Wells, especially of some that are farthest distant from the Sea, may be reasonably thought to proceed from the powerful Exhalations effected by the Sun and Stars; by whose Influence and Heat, the tenuous Parts of Wa∣ter are Extracted, tho' from deepest Wells, leaving such a crassitudeness, in the residue as gives to it a Salt Qualification. Nothing be∣ing more certain, than that whatsoever is thicken'd, and thereby render'd more dryly adust, especially where Earth has any Com∣mixture with it; saltness, as its concomi∣tant Quality, will be there found.

The same Reason may be given for Salt, discover'd in Mountains, mention'd by this Author.

Nor is the Cause at all different, if not more obviously expos'd, from whence pro∣ceeds the briny Relish of the Superficies of the Ocean: Which openly Revolving under the Celestial Luminaries, has its tenuous Parts supremely Exhaled, and consequently the Regions replenish'd with Clouds; which be∣ing dissolv'd into Drops of Rain, there is no Salt Acerbity to be perceiv'd in them; which proves, That the Moisture exhal'd from the Sea is of a more tenuous Substance than that which is left behind, and therefore of a fresher Taste.

To which may be added experimental as∣surance, that the Sea is less brackish at bot∣tom than on its superficial Parts: Which sufficiently confirms, that the Saltness of Sea-Water is produc'd by the Motion and Heat that is Influenc'd by the Sun and Stars.

That the Waters of the Ocean are rather accidentally than naturally Salt; as also, that they purge themselves in their passage to Shores, may be signally noted from the Ex∣periment made by Julius Caesar; who when Besieg'd in Alexandria, caus'd Pits to be digg'd in the Shore of the Sea, which reliev'd his Army with Water potably fresh; by reason

that the Sea-Water had its Saltness, in a manner strain'd, as it pass'd thorough the Sands on the Shore.

That the Southern Ocean is salter than the Northern, can be effected from no other Cause, than that the Sea, in that Part of the World is Warmer than the other; correspon∣dent to the Air and Winds, that coming from the South are Hotter, to Sense, than those which are blown from the North.

There is no Question more Controverted by Philosophers, then the Causes that limit and confine the Ocean, tho' by its Elemen∣tary Propriety higher than the Superficies of the Earth, and perpetually supply'd with innumerable Springs, Fountains, Rivers and Flouds, that vastly Unite their Currents, as they elapse from the inward and outward Parts of the Earth: Yet do not so replenish the Sea, however by Nature elevated above the Terrene World, that it executes that Pre∣rogative by a general Inundation: Or by par∣ticular Exorbitancy, gain more on any Part of the Earth's Surface than it loses in another.

The Reason of which, as it is render'd by some of erudite Proficiency, is, because great quantities of the Water of the Sea, are re∣ceiv'd

by Caverns within the Earth; as like∣wise, that the Ocean is much commixt with Terrene Materials, which depress, in divers Places of the Sea, the outragious height and swelling of its Waves, before they arrive to Shores: As also, that the hard Composition and Dryness of the Earth, contiguously resist the Attacks made by the Water.

These Instances, I doubt not, are sounder Probabilities, tending to the Decision of the Grand Question, (before mention'd) than any to be deduc'd from the Reasons given by Des-Cartes: Which are so complicated, if not intricately perplex'd, that he might have spar'd his endeavour to explain them by any Draughts, or Schemes; which, if duely In∣spected, would rather expose their Obscu∣rity, than Intelligibly clear them to the Sense of the Peruser.

And thus I pass to what he Writes of Things contain'd in the Internal Parts of the Earth, together with their Causes: The most prin∣cipal of which relate to Earth-quakes, the Eruption of Flames out of Mountains, such as are observ'd of Aetna in Sicily, and Vesu∣vius, in Campania. Of these, proceeding from subterraneous Effects, Operations and

Causes; I cannot find, if granted his Prin∣ciples, That a more accurate Discovery is explicated by his Pen, than what has been Written of their wonderful Productions and Consequences by others.

Much he Inscribes of Stones, Minerals, and in Summ, without enumerating of their several Denominations, of the principal Things that are contain'd in the Bowels of the Earth. But most especially, he Treats of the Magnet, or Load-stone, together with its admired Proprieties.

This precious Stone, above all value for its commodious and extraordinary Use; whose transcendent Excellencies untill disco∣ver'd, in some few Ages past, was wanted to the Conduct of most Approv'd Naviga∣tors: Who, before understood the Sympa∣thetick Virtues and wonderful Attraction of the Magnet, as by its affectionate Touch, the Points of a Needle are directive on the Ocean; were too frequently, without a Guide, be∣nighted, and wanderingly toss'd on the wa∣tery World; or necessitated to Furl their Sails, and fix Anchors in the bottom of the Main, untill discern'd the Munificent appea∣rance of some noted Star, whose Motion, being Calculated, directed their Journey on the Waves of the Sea.

Whereas now, the Pilot more certainly Sails by the Compass that contains his Ma∣gnetical Needle, than, he could, before its Invention, by any other Computation. By what means, or happy Accident, this admi∣rable Benefit, whose secret Cause and Effica∣cy is so occultly reserv'd by Nature, from the eruditest Search of the Learned, was first Discover'd; seems rather the beneficial Act of Providence, than concentring with Humane Invention.

Notwithstanding all which, Des-Cartes is so fondly confident of his supposs'd Phaenomena's, in every consideration, that he doubts not to promulge, as he would be taken for a para∣mount Minister to the Counsels of Nature, such Secrets, that being enclos'd in her Cabinet, could only be Reveal'd by him. To which purpose, he presents his Reader with no less than Thirty Four Particulars, whereby he would explain the mysterious Sympathy of the Load-stone and Iron.

On which I am oblig'd to bestow no other Remark, than by taxing of their dependan∣cies on the Construction and Management he gives to his fabulous Elements, Vortices and Globuli; by which he attempts to Con∣stitute

the World, and all its Individuals, together with their occultest Qualifications, and manner of Existence: As surely as he Imagines, that in this Place, he has Decipher'd every Syllable relating to the obscurest Contex∣ture, Being, and Nature of the Magnet; the most useful Jewel of Stones, with all its Ex∣cellencies.

Had it not been as easie for this Author, having furnish'd his Brain with so many Noti∣ons, Theories and Systems, by which he under∣takes to penetrate and display the total Recesses of Nature, to have given a Philosophical Rea∣son, Why the Remora, tho' one of the least of Fishes, adhering to the Stern or Rudder of a great Ship, should stop her Course, when under Sail, in a Tempestuous Sea? Or, Why the Eyes of a Crab-Fish should burst the Stone engender'd in the Bladder of Man? Yet these Experiments are related by un∣doubted Authors; but so as they are referr'd to ocult Causes, or such as are impossible to be extricated by Humane Comprehension: On which account Pliny, the great Natu∣ralist, acknowledges, that there are many Things, wholly absconded, by the Majesty of Nature.

From whence I conclude, That had this Learned Monsieur been as modest, in his Opinion, he had never propo'sd any Maxims of his, in order to Frame the miraculous Con∣sistence of the Universal World, by Materials and Operations of his devising: For doing of which, however the labour of his Pen, and pregnancy of his Fancy, might in those re∣spects, acquire Applause: Yet, in a Judicious construction, they cannot be allow'd any other Encomium, than may be given to Ovid, for the first Line, or Introduction, to his fictiti∣ous Poem; where he tells his Reader, that In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas Corpora—To be plain: I would as soon rely on the Metamorphosis of that Poet, by which he fabulously produces the Universe, with all its Appurtenances; as confide, on that account, on the Principles engender'd by the Brain of Des-Cartes. Not but I grant, that the most accurate Thinker, even where Causes of Things are obscurely Envelop'd, will signally attain the nearest room to Phi∣losophical Reputation.

Notwithstanding, the endeavours of Men are so far unfortunately obstructed; that where Knowledge is most desir'd, and would

requisitely be embrac'd, the greatest difficul∣ties not seldom Interpose: Insomuch that the Faith we assign to the Zenith of our Sal∣vation above; Encounters, too often, the Soul with dubious Sentiments, that in a na∣tural Conception are more remote from our Apprehension; than the absconded Cause that guides the Magnetical Needle to Epitomize a Line that would direct its Points towards the vastly distant Poles of the World.

The main Supposition of this Author, and on which chiefly his before-mention'd Thirty Four Particulars, relating to the especial Incli∣nation of the Magnet, or the Needle touch'd by it, to regard the Nothern and Southern Points of Heaven; is, That he supposes two Poles in the Magnet that respect those Parts, or Poles on which he imagines the Earth to Move. But how the Load-Stone should be accomplish'd with two such Poles, that Sympathetically affect those Points of the World, he offers no natural Reason for their Consistence or Operation.

Some of the Learned have thought, that by a secret Sympathy Influenc'd by Nothern and Southern Stars, the Magnetical Needle points towards them.

Others have more naturally, appropriated the Cause to vast quantities of Iron situated, as some think, under the North, or South Pole of the World: From which Opinion, perhaps as probable as any other, may be in∣ferr'd, That if one end of the Needle does steadily Point Northward, the other will as certainly Point Southward; because the Nee∣dle will be then demonstratively in the same Plane, with the Meridian Line, if not acci∣dentally hinder'd:

As may be Geometrically prov'd by the fol∣lowing Diagram: Let the Point of the Ma∣gnetical

[illustration]

Needle be in M, in the Line A B;

to which Point the Line N M falls per∣pendicularly, from the North Pole N, on the Point M: It is manifest, that the Point in M, if continued to S, as it is here signi∣fied by the prickt Line M S; shall be in the Plane of the Meridian Line extended from N M to S: Because the Lines C D E F, and A B are perpendicular to the Line N M, in the Point of their common Interfections at M: So that the other end of the Magne∣tical Needle will respect in the same direct Line, the South Point of the Meridian: But if it had directed its Point obliquely to that, or any other Point in the Line A B, the Variation would have been equal to the di∣stance of that Point, or Angle made by it, from the Plane of the Meridian Line N M.

But notwithstanding the strong Inclinati∣on, or sympathetical Affection, that the Magne∣tick Needle has directly to represent the two Polar Points of the World: 'Tis frequently observ'd, that in some Places of the Earth, 'tho not far distant from one another, it con∣siderably differ'd, if compar'd with what it does in other Situations.

And what is more admirable, if plac'd, as near as could be judg'd, on the same foot of Ground, it has at one time more or less vary'd, than at another: And thus it is fre∣quently observ'd that very near the same Place, higher, or lower, or on the contrary Sides of a Wall or Window, that the Magnetical Needle hath pointed on contrary sides of the Meridian: Which might be from different Azimuths, as the Compass was plac'd; much like to the Sub∣stile of a declining Dyal on several Plaines.

Whether caus'd by some Aspects and Motions of Stars, Alterations of the Air, Water, Earth, and Seasons of the Year, or Metals conceal'd within the Surface of the Earth: If not, as some have Imagin'd, di∣verted, or variously drawn aside by quan∣tities of Iron that in Towns and Cities, were more, or less, when Observation has been made, near their Precincts: As was the Opi∣nion of Learned Gilbert, who is said to have spent 50000 Crowns on his endeavour to find out the Secret. But whatever were the Cause; I think it not improper to mention the signal Observation made by practical Mr. Gunter, in the 279 Page of his Book, where he Writes, that being inform'd in

what place Mr. Bourough, in the Year 1580, had observ'd the Variation of the Compass at Limehouse near London, compar'd with the Azimuth of the Sun, to be 11 dig. 15 m. That he on the 13th of June, 1622, made Observations on several Parts of the Ground in that Place; and could find the greatest Variation of the Needle to be but 6 deg. 10 m. Which differs from the Observation made by Mr. Bourough 5 deg. 5 m. And tho' betwixt these Observations there was 42 Years difference; it may be demonstratively concluded from them, that if the Earth be suppos'd to Move, as Des-Cartes Imagines, it could not vary its Poles, nor the Magne∣tical Needle, if granted, with him, to have Poles also, by the Virtue it receives from the Touch of the Magnet; because both these Learned Authors made their Experi∣ment in the same Place.

Having consider'd these Observations, and not knowing whether, or not, the Variation of the Compass had been observ'd at Wind∣sor, where I now Reside, I made, from a high and convenient Place, these following Obser∣vations, by comparing the Magnetical Azi∣muth

of a Needle six Inches long, and I believe exactly touched, with the Azimuth of the Sun, from the Meridian Eastward; or all one, as to Calculation, if number'd from the Meridian Westward, and found the several Variations of the Compass in this present Year, September the 9th, 1699, betwixt the Hours of Four and Five in the Afternoon, according to the several Altitudes of the Sun, as in this Table Inserted.

If the mean pro∣portional

Alt. ☉	Azm.	Azm	Variat.
gr. m.	gr. m.	gr. m	gr. m.
19 11	57	66 32	9 32
17 1	57	69 40	12 40
14 48	57	72 49	15 49
12 33	57	75 54	18 54
10 17	57	80 24	23 24

Number be computed be∣twixt the first Va∣riation and the last, as they are Inscrib'd in this Table, it will be found 14 deg. 51 m. which differs but 3 deg. 37 m. from Mr. Bourough's Observation: Which might be his Method, as he might observe betwixt Hours: Or else, from a suitable Altitude of the Sun, made his Observation; which is more probable, the Needle standing at one and the same Point, as it will do for some time, at least, if it be exact; than that his Ob∣servation, at one and the same Place at Lime∣house,

should differ so many Degrees, as are above noted, from the Variation of the Com∣pass found there by Mr. Gunter: In Summ, I found that Mr. Gunter's Observation of the Variation of the Compass, at the first place he observ'd when the Sun was at 19 deg. of Altitude, for he mentions several; differ'd but 3 deg. 20 m. from the first of mine, as his Needle might Point Westward from the Meridian, and mine Eastward, which was at 19 deg. 11 m. of the Sun's Al∣titude: From whence I conclude, That had he made his Observation at the same Al∣titude and Declination of the Sun, as was done by me, there had been proportiona∣bly the same difference, if compar'd with my Table; supposing his Magnetical Azi∣muth to have continu'd at 82 deg. 2 m. as it was first in his; and his Observations, at his first Station, at Limehouse, as many as mine.

In a Word, having duely ponder'd the Calculations made by my self and o∣thers, whereby to attain the exact Determi∣nation of this Great, and as yet unresolv'd Secret of the Variation of the Compass: I consider'd, that as the Magnetical Needle did Point, for the most part certainly, at

so many Degrees of Variation, as it will do for a considerable space of Time, if the Needle be as perfect as it ought to be; that there could be no surer Method, than to find such a Theorem, as should, as near as possible, demonstrate the Annual Varia∣tion of the Compass: To which purpose, I devis'd this Process:

If betwixt the Sun's Declination of 30 m. from the Equator, as also his Altitude, sup∣pose 30 m. or less, if thought necessary, be taken the mean proportional Sine, betwixt his Azi∣muth at 30 m. of Declination and Altitude, and the Complement in Degrees, of the most constant standing of the Magnetical Azimuth; and next that the same be done from his greatest Declination, wanting 30 m. and 30 m. of Altitude, and the difference taken be∣twixt both the Mean Proportionals so found; it is probably, the most certain way to find the Variation of the Compass, in any one Place, throughout the Year.

Example.

By my Observation at Windsor, Sept. 9th, 1699: I found the most constant and fix'd

Point of the Magnetical Needle to be 33 deg. Eastward from the Meridian, or the same if ac∣counted Westward from the Miridian, whose Complement to 90, is 57 deg. The Mean proportional Sine betwixt the Sun's greatest Azimuth at 30 m. Of Altitude and Decli∣nation and the Magnetical Azimuth was 66 deg. 19 m.: And the Mean proportional Sine betwixt the Magnetical Azimuth, and his Azimuth of greatest Declination wanting 30 m. and Altitude 30 m. was 51 deg. 21 m.: The difference betwixt which Mean Pro∣portionals is 11 deg. 58 m.: Which I take to be the most approximate Variation of the the Compass at Windsor, in the Place where I observ'd, that can be given throughout the Year.

After these Observations, I continu'd the Needle for several Weeks in the same Place, and found the difference of its Pointing very inconsiderable, or not varying a Degree from whence it had stood before; as also, that it sometimes return'd to the very De∣gree, to which it had precedently pointed: Which as I discern'd was upon Change of Weather; and inclin'd me to conclude, That as Clocks and Watches go truest in a se∣rene

Season, and temperature of the Air, that the Magnetical Needle might likewise somewhat vary: It being not less probable, that it might be so affected, considering its Elementary Temper, as well as other mix'd Bodies. And I am very apt to impute its temporary Variation, chiefly to that Cause, rather than to any other: Tho' I well know, that not a few pretend to other Reasons; or such as I have already Instanc'd.

As also how they infer, That in Places re∣mote from Towns and Cities, the Magnetical Needle does more, or less vary: Which Ob∣servations were they Judiciously made, and Methodically collected and compar'd, might doubtless be a performance that would be gratefully receiv'd; and in some respects for∣ward the Curiosities of Men to a more re∣quisite Reasoning, or useful discovery of the Causes and Effects, that are admirably Im∣ply'd in the Proprieties of the Load-stone.

But if Des-Cartes had been ask'd the Cause of these Diversities, or Variations in the Magnetical Needle, however impossible as he grounds his Opinion, by reason of the Ob∣servations I have Inserted; he would confi∣dently

have referr'd them to the Consistence and Qualifications that the Magnet, in his Sense, receives from some one or more of his Invented Elements; by which he supposes that particular Parts of the Load-stone are chan∣nell'd, or craggy, more or less, suitable to such striated, or hollow Particles of the Earth that respect its two Poles North and South.

But how comes the Earth to have two such Poles, if by Poles be understood, as in an Astronomical Sense they ought, Points in the Axis of a Sphere, or Planetary Orb? I may conclude, that if the Earth be Im∣movable, as I presume has been egregiously prov'd in the Third Part of my Remarks, then the Earth has no such Poles, as he would pro∣vide for her.

Or were I a Cartesian Proselyte, and should grant, according to his Hypothesis, That the Earth is Imbu'd with a Diurnal and Annual Motion suitable to the Vortex, by which, in the Opinion of this Author, she does Revolve: Must I not also Affirm, That if the Magnet has correspondent Poles with the Earth, that it also Concenters, in all respects, with the same Motion? But where is the Man that ever observ'd, or can reasonably Infer, That

any such Movement is Incident to the Load-stone, more than to a Flint, or Peeble?

The most probable Reason that is gi∣ven for the diversified Variation, at seve∣ral times and places, observ'd, of the Ma∣gnetical Needle, as it experimentally relates, to different Points of the Compass, may, in Summ, be referr'd to what this Author cites from our Country-man the Learned Gilbert; who chiefly imputes the Cause of the diversities to some Inequalities or altera∣ble Tempers in the Superficies of the Earth: Or because there are more Load-stones in some Parts of the terrene World than in other: To which may be added, agreeable to the Opinion of Des-Cartes, that in some Seasons, more Iron is digg'd out of the Earth, and convey'd to distant Places, or Regions for publick and private Uses: Which might contribute much to the changeable Variati∣ons of the Magnetical Needle; as they have been by Learned Observators, at several times, differently Computed.

Upon the whole Matter, tending to the great Secret of the Needle touch'd by the Magnet, I find not, that the Inferences, above menti∣on'd, are more passable with me, than any

Allowance of mine, correspondent to the Opinion, of this Author of Poles in the Earth, or Affinity with them in the Load-stone, or Virtue, on that account, conferr'd by him on the Needle.

Wherefore I judge, that I may with found∣er confidence adhere to the Reasons and Ob∣servations, precedently offer'd by me, than on any determination of the Magnetical Secret, tender'd by this Writer: The Max∣ims and Principles of Des-Cartes being so entirely deduc'd and connected by him, that if one of his Particulars be Answer'd, he gives no labour to his Opposer to have to do with more. Which I confess I take for a favour, tho' possibly against his Intention. And should I have been more Elaborate in my pursuit, or Conviction of his Tenents, as I perceive them perplex'dly deliver'd, and entangled both in the Sense, Method, Fi∣gures and Schemes, by which he does, in a manner, no less pose himself than his Reader; my Replications would have been no less ungrateful to a Judicious Peruser, than if I had elaborately undertaken by one obscurity to manifest another: So that I may safely conclude, that the occult Quality,

in reference to the Magnet, with all its Pro∣prieties, is not more darkly reserv'd by Na∣ture, than 'tis envelop'd in the Writings of Des-Cartes. Nor need I repeat, that if I have render'd Invalid his First main Particular; by proving, as I have done, neither the Earth, or Magnet has any such Poles, or Motion, Incident to his Hypothesis; I may undoubtedly alledge, that his other Positions are totally Ineffectual.

And thus I pass to his 184th Particular, where he mentions some other Things, as Jet, Rosin, Wax, Vitriol and the like; to which he annexes, in resemblance of the Magnet, a Propriety where∣by they Attract other diminutive Bodies: But of these not having made such perfect Experi∣ments, as might render them clearly Intelligible, or grounded no less evidently, in his Judgment, than he has signified by the Composition, and Motions of Things, deducible from his supposed Elements, already disprov'd by me: He does, to as little purpose, Instance their Names and Natures. And therefore require no farther Discussion: It being my essential Design to limit, chiefly my Remarks to such Heads and Places of his Tractates, that I judge usefully conducing to the Improvement of Science, or

whatsoever by the Humane Mind would be most desirably understood: To which pur∣pose, I will take occasion from the hint he de∣livers of his Intention to compleat this Fourth Part of his Philosophy, wherein he has given, (after his manner) the Earth a Formation and Being, together with divers Things relating to its external, and internal Comprehension; by ad∣ding his Treatments of the Original Production of Animals, Plants and Mankind.

The last of which I shall principally insist on; tho' wav'd, or deferr'd by him, in his 188th Particular, to some future Treatises, of which he was not fully resolv'd, or, at that time, furnish'd with leisure, or thoughts proper for his design'd Enterprise on those Subjects: Yet I find, that the Substance, of what he omits here, and especially that of the Original of Humane Production, is to be read in the 29th Page of his Distertatio de Methodo, or the right use of Reason, in order to the Investigation of the Truth of Science: Which I conceive was written before the Principles of his Phi∣losophy; or indeed an Epitome, for the most part, of what is to be found in them.

Wherefore, I shall briefly select from thence, so much of his Method, tending to the primitive Existence of Mankind; as also by what Cause, or operation, individual Man was originally Constituted in his admirable Form, and, more than wonderful Intellectu∣al Capacity.

The Summ of all which he comprehends in these Words: viz. That God did form the first Being of the Humane Body in all things correspondent to what it is now; both in the External structure of Members, as also in the Internal and Organical Parts, produc'd out of the same matter, by which is meant by Des-Cartes, his first Element, as before remark'd by me. The method by which he supposes that God compleated the primary formation of Man, he takes to be no other than a corporeal substance, without either Sensitive, or Animated Proprieties, or, such as are observable in Plants, or Beasts, but only endu'd in the Heart with a kind of Fire without light, which he compares to a Hay-rick, distemperately warm before it is thoroughly dry; or the calefaction that is in new Wine, be∣fore separated from its Dregs.

But how he comes to give an Existence to Fire, in the original production that he confers

on the Humane Body; is no less contradictory to Sense, than if he had Affirm'd, that Flame could be infus'd into any Corporeal Thing without its Illuminating Capacity.

True it is, that Hay ill-digested will smoak in the Stack, or Mow; and if not prevented set the whole on Fire: And likewise experimen∣tally certain, that New Wine will ferment, un∣till cleans'd by its Operation; the latter, by reason of its predominant Quantity of Moi∣sture, not capable of being inflam'd, as will the former; that by prevalent dryness, op∣posing of its Moisture, smoaks and burns, by degrees, unless hinder'd, the Hay's distemper'd Substance.

And is it not a mean conceited Similitude of∣fer'd by Des-Cartes, by which he would render the Corporeal Figure of Original Man, as di∣stemperately Consistent, tho' the immediate Manu∣facture, as he dilivers it, of the Omnipotent? Yet being so far effected, could have no o∣ther Representation, than as the Material Composition might be Imagin'd to fumigate, or Smoak at the Nose and Mouth, in re∣semblance to the distemperatures of Hay and Wine, mention'd by him, yet not potentially operative, either by Rarifaction or Condensation;

tho' impossible to be suppos'd where any Thing is capacitated to Evaporate, Thicken, or Harden, that it should not be naturally endu'd with suitable Qualifications: Which is grosly deny'd by this Author, as he conceives, That Fire might be so diffus'd, by the Act of God, into the Substance and Composition of Ori∣ginal Man, that it might be destitute of its proper Effects; either as to Alteration, or Di∣minution of the Matter that contain'd it: And if so, he must be very obscurely conceited, that would imagine a blind Fire uselessly Con∣stituted in the first Humane Body by Omni∣potent Power.

The Material Substance out of which he con∣cludes the primary Being of Man's Corporeal Shape and Proportion, is doubtless abstracted by him from his primary invented Element, and which he denominates the sole Materiality of whatso∣ever the World contains.

But that Element, according to his Defini∣tion, being exceedingly Fluid and Tenuous, and no room left, by reason of its plenary Existing for any other Thing, or Substance through∣out the Universe, as I have precedently men∣tion'd; 'tis very Incompatible with common Understanding, that this simple Matter, and

therefore incapable to produce any other Substance different from its own; should by Des-Cartes be presum'd, if pardon'd the Ex∣pression, to fill the Hands of the Almighty in or∣der to Constitute the total World withall its admir'd Particulars, in a natural Method: Which seems no less Improbable, than if a Man should undertake, by grasping of Air, to make it of as solid a Substance, as is the Flesh and Bones of Man.

But waving that Absurdity, as also, that Fire without Light, was originally convey'd by God, according to his Supposition, into the then, unliving Heart of Man, only to warm that prin∣cipal Part; If Fire could be thought so to reside, contrary to its elementary Nature and consuming Propriety, untill this Author ima∣gin'd the whole Humane Body first Animated, by the infusing of the Soul by the Act of the Almighty: What could be imply'd by it, more than, that Fire was Ineffectually dispos'd into the lifeless Heart of Man by Divine Appoint∣ment; yet not at all operative, otherwise than by impertinently warming of the Part with∣out either vegetative, or sensitive Heat, as he defines it? Which were all one as to conceive, That the Omnipotent seem'd to do something,

by an extraordinary Method, tho' nothing farther Excellent, in reference to the Original Figure of Man's Corporeal Being, than if a skillful Statuary had Compos'd the likeness of the Humane Body in any Material Sub∣stance.

Wherefore the Fable of Prometheus tending to his forming of Man out of Elementary Ingredients, not a little resembles the devis'd Part of the Almighty, as it is deliver'd by this French Philosopher; with this difference, that Prometheus is said at once to compleat, by a Celestial Expedient, his Artificial Man; where∣as several Operations are allow'd by Des-Cartes, even to the Work of the Omnipotent; tending to the primary Production of the Humane Body and Soul.

Nor do I preceive, That this Author, if allow'd the fineness of his Invention, does more sublimely Celebrate the introducing of the Soul of Man into his imaginary Ma∣terial Machine, than is Divinely Attributed to the Fable of Prometheus, the Son of Iapetus, in the Metamorphosis of Ovid; where 'tis thus Express'd,—

Natus Homo est: sive hunc divino semine fecit Ille opifex rerum, mundi melioris origo: Sive recens tellus, seductaque nuper ab alto Aethere, cognati retinebat semina coeli: Quam satus Iapeto mistam fluvialibus undis Finxit in effigiem moderantum cuncta deorum.

This Fable may be taken as an Imitation of Providence, by the Artifice of Prometheus: Who, having moulded the Statue of Man, could not perfect his Work, untill he had stole Celestial Fire; and by conveying it into the Material Figure, which he had Compos'd, the Life and Soul of Man was at once pro∣duc'd: Which was very agreeable to the Religion of the Ancients, which Celebrated their Gods, and Goddesses, in the Form of Men and Women; and Ensoul'd them wth no greater difference, compar'd with Man∣kind; than as they allow'd to their Deities Immortal Reason and Life. To which Ovid seems refin'dly to allude in one of his Elegies, where as a sublime Encomium of the excellency of the Faculties and Gifts, incident to the Hu∣mane Soul, he derives its Descent from above, by Affirming, That—Sedibus aethereis spiritus ille venit.

This Expression of the Poet is not more Poetical, than Admirable, as he intends the Soul to the Perfection, Reason and Conduct, evidently discernable in Stars, the shining Or∣naments of Heaven: But should the Soul be suppos'd originally Infus'd by God, as a think∣ing Substance into the Body of Man, suitable to the Imagination of Des-Cartes, and not abso∣lutely capacitated to discharge it self from the innate Depravations and prone Allurements of the Senses, 'twere some disparagement to its Accession to the Body by the Gift and Ordain∣ment of Divine Providence.

Yet such an uncertain and complicated Soul is, by this French Writer, appropriated to the Body of Man, where, in some Actions, he makes it a meer thinking Substance; but in the sensible execution of Thought, he allows it Co-operative and inseparable from the Senses: And this, to the utmost force of his Brain, he Asserts in the 187th Particular of this Part I Treat of, where he delivers these Words—The nature of the Mind is such, that by it alone may be apprehended divers Corporeal Motions, as also Sensations in many respects. The Example he gives, is of Words spoken, or written, which may affect us with Troubles, Griefs, Perils, Sadness, or the

like; as also, how their contrary Accents in refe∣rence to Content, Pleasure, and Satisfaction, are verbally understood by us.

Which signifies no more, however he strains his Inferences, than, that there is an Inseparable Concomitancy of the Contemplations of the Mind, and their applications to the Senses. If I open a Book, and view in it a whole Page of Letters; by a meer superficial Inspection of what is there Written, or Printed, I can understand nothing; but if I Conster those Words, as their tendency and meaning Imply, I am soon Intelligent, whether they relate to Sorrow, Gladness, Pain, or Grief; either as to my self, or any other Person: Because I am perfectly apprehensive of their Motives, Cau∣ses and Effects; as they sensibly Incite my Conception of them. The Reason is plain, if consider'd the reciprocal Allowance and Re∣ference, that any one of our Senses has to ano∣ther; it being as easie for me to determine, by seeing a Bone, or Lump of Flesh at distance, that they are really such as if they had been touch'd, or handled by me. If I hear of an Arm or Leg, by any means, sever'd from the Body of Man; the Connexion that the Senses have with the Imagination, as undoubtedly

assure me of the manner of the Wound, Grief, and Part cut off, as if I had occularly beheld it. Not that I can directly judge the Quality, or full extent of the Pain that is not distinctly felt by my self: Yet as the Part is an Object of Sense, and in which I, as well as another Man, may be in the same kind, grie∣vously Afflicted; 'tis very possible, that by a natural Sympathy, which is reciprocally Con∣ferr'd on the sensitive Parts of the Bodies of Men; I may, in effect, be as sensibly Intelli∣gent of the Pain, or Grief, in any Member of another Person; as if with the Point of a Wea∣pon, I should wound the same Part of my own Body.

And did not the Soul and Senses thus ap∣prehensively Conspire; there would not be that Reluctancy, Defence, and Prevention, us'd by us, for the safety of our Corporeal Parts; nor should we be so actually sensible that Mortality is the inevitable consequence of unsupportable Violence, Wounds, and Maladies, that surrender our Bodies to Death. And this clearly invalidates the Allegations and Instances, that he gives, on this Head, to∣gether with the Example he mentions of a Sword that may so hurt, or dismember any Part of the

Body, that we may in Mind, be grievously appre∣hensive of the local Motion of the Force, or Blow, as it wounds the Part; tho' the Motion of the Sword and Body hurt, be very different: From whence he concludes, That the Humane Mind by a bare speculation of local Motion, together with its forcible onset made on the Body, may judge of all Corporeal Afflictions and Sensations whatsoever.

And is not this a pretty kind of Quibble in Des-Cartes, by not considering, That it was not the Motion of the Blow, or the wounded Part that represented to the Intellect, or Mind, the hurt receiv'd; but as the Pain of the Member, or Part, assur'd the Imagination un∣to which it was inseparably united? It being very possible, for a Man to be sensibly appre∣hensive of a Wound, or Blow, tho' he does not conceive, or see the Motion of the Wea∣pon that gave it: But as he is sensible of the Pain, he could not doubt, that it was effected by forcible means, tho' no otherwise relating to the Wound; or more diversified from sen∣sible Conception, than, on this occasion, this Author does render the Mind, or what he calls a Thinking Substance, by a modality of Thinking without Sense.

Nor is it Imaginable, how any Thing, that is not Elementarily Compos'd, can operate on the Humane Body that is so constituted: Wherefore the Word Substance, applied to the Soul, cannot be understood Incorporeal, by the determination of Des-Cartes, who, where∣soever he treats of Substance, appropriates unto it quantitative and dimensive Parts, both in a Plilosophical and Mathematical Consideration: And particularly, in the last Page of this Fourth Part of his Philosophy, condemns the Doctrine of Atoms, deliver'd by Democritus; because he allows them no Commensurable Quantity.

Had it been demanded of this French Phi∣losopher, What kind of Substance must be the Essence of the Soul, when separated by Death, from the Body, in whose Elementary Composition it did precedently Exist? He could not define it otherwise than quantitative, as every Thing, call'd Substance, is by his Opi∣nion allow'd to be; and therefore the same after the period of the Body's Life. And consequently, no less agreeable to his Doctrine, if Affirm'd, That the thinking Substance, call'd by him the Humane Soul, must have, when separated from the Body, a Circumscrib'd, or Elementary Being, suitable to the Nature

of Substance, as it may be conceiv'd quanti∣tatively Dimensive. Which Objection should a Cartesian endeavour to evade by Affirming, That the Soul separated from the Body is progressive to the Sphere of Spirits, or Things superlatively refin'd and stripp'd from Mat∣ter; and unto which some allow Definitive, not Circumscrib'd Beings; he must next grant, That the Soul cannot have Existence there, otherwise than in a Material Superficies proportionable to its Substance, and there eternally Circumscrib'd, where Spirits and Immaterial Beings are without such Limits; which were all one as to reside temporally amongst spiritual Existencies. To avoid which Absurdity, he cannot be thought to mean otherwise, than that the Soul, upon its imme∣diate departure from the Body, is Metamorphos'd into a Spirit: And next, that it has a spiritu∣al Passage through all Elementary Bodies that intervene betwixt it and its immaterial Residence appointed by God.

But here may arise a Querie, Whether Motion can be Attributed to any Thing without Body? Or in what manner it can Move, where Bodies are, or be in Motion, with∣out removing of them? Which, in that Cir∣cumstance,

would render a Soul, however deem'd spiritual, Commensurably Moving; as by Parts of Time it might have an inter∣mixt Progression, with other Substances, as its temporary Measure.

Certain it is, that Stars, the Luminaries of Heaven, if duely consider'd their wonderful Motion, unalterable Essence, and continuati∣on, may be allow'd our most visible and perpetual miraculous Objects; or somewhat more than, in Nature, can be properly worded. But should those Etherial Beings be suppos'd, in any Place, where Elementary Substances might Exist; it were impossible they could move uncommixt with Things of different Nature from theirs: Wherefore it must be granted, That the Orbs above, toge∣ther with the Stars and Planets, are of one simple Essence, or Manner of Existence; and therefore cannot Mingle, or Move with other Matter distinct from their own: Tho' by Divine Appointment, as Parts of the same miraculous Substance, they are only Illumi∣nated.

But should the Soul of Man be Assimilated, by any refin'd Contemplation to the Nature to the Etherial Luminaries, for want of a

more obvious, or excellent Comparison; 'tis not easie to conceive, how in its Passage from the Body, when Life departs, it should remove to its appointed Residence, separated from In∣tervening Substances, which in their Tempera∣tures and Parts are of the same Elementary Composition with the Humane Body that had been actuated by it.

Which Objection was doubtless consider'd as causing some Hesitation in the Thoughts of Des-Cartes; who, notwithstanding the pretended cu∣riosity of his Imagination, in reference to the Soul dispos'd, according to his Method, into the Ori∣ginal Formation, by God, as he delivers the Ope∣ration of the Humane Body: He does not at all express the Manner of its departure, from its Corporeal Station, at the period of Life: Or by what means transferr'd, or remov'd to its Immortal Residence; which was to be ex∣pected from the process he delivers: Who ha∣ving determin'd, that the Humane Soul is a think∣ing Substance, and notionally Active in the Con∣duct of the Living Body, he might as well have Inserted the Method of its Progression after Death, from its Bodily Habitation; and how, being a Substance it arriv'd to its Immortal Abode, with∣out being Complicated, Mov'd, or Moving, in its

Passage, with any material Thing by any re∣semblance to what it perform'd, when acting in the Inclosure of the Body of Man.

All which, according to the liberty he gives to his Invention, might have been as success∣fully deliver'd by him, as the dispatch he gives to his Globuli and Vortices by variety of Schemes, and Diagrams, that have no better proof than the Suppositions of Des-Cartes: But it seems, he thought it safer for his Pen to Inscribe his Imagination of the Soul, primarily convey'd, by the Act of the Almighty into the Humane Body, than by what subsequent Means, or Pasport from above, its Substance arriv'd, after the Death of the Body, to its determin'd Existence. Of which I find no mention in any of his Works; other, than that he leaves the Manner of the Soul's passing from the lifeless Body, together with its Journey to its Immortal Residence, to the miraculous Conduct of the Almighty.

And I think it devoutly Judicious, if, ac∣cording to his Example, I silence my Querie, on this Incomprehensible Subject: Since by the Will of the Omnipotent Disposer and Conservator of the Universal World, together with the Being of Mankind in Soul and Body,

our rational Abilities more aptly tend to ad∣mire, than determine the Manner by which we are Ensoul'd to live, or after Death to remain Immortal.

A Contemplation sublimely incumbent on the Humane Mind, that is enough Capacita∣ted to understand its Intellectual Dignity; however its Essence and Operations, within us, are superlative to our Apprehensions, or ex∣act Definitions to be given of them.

Wherefore I doubt not that my Discussions, on this great Particular, are no less valid, where I differ from him, than what I have Remark'd on not a few of his main Principles, Maxims, Notions, Hypotheses, and Schemes; or demonstratively wav'd, or rejected the Insuf∣ficiency of others, on whatsoever account: So that I dare Affirm, that I have not omitted any significant or useful Animadversion.

And had I more particularly insisted on any Speculations, or Matter seemingly varied and Instanc'd by him; I had, in effect, but encreas'd Words to one and the same tenden∣cy: And therefore, where, in Substance, my Observations, on some Things include other, I desire that my Reader would ingenuously con∣sider them, as they ought to be understood.

And tho' this Author is very inclinable to Celebrate his own Esteem by frequently Affirming, That his Assertions and Tenents, are Philosophically and Mathematically cer∣tain: I will boast of no Success of mine, to the contrary, farther than is Equivalent with the Proofs I have made, and to which I refer the Judicious Peruser.

And thus I conclude the Fourth and last Part of my Remarks on the Plilosophy of Des-Cartes.

FINIS.