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by the re-action of some animal or machine against the earth; and that, before it was raised, it had a tendency, so to speak, to fall lower, which is not destroyed by the temporary elevating force; but, by continually re-acting, contributes with the resistance of the air to destroy the temporary elevating force; and, when this is thereby dissipated, the original force acting as at first, carries the unsustained stone towards the centre of the mass of which it was, and still is, an integral part. Further, the common force which revolves the entire mass, is not competent to carry round a stone at that distance from the centre in equilibrium with the whole; and either the stone must move towards the centre into a circle of less velocity, or the centre must move towards the stone, and the earth itself become lop-sided, on account of the stone's elevation, which is absurd.

To render this clear, we will consider the concentric circles as representing strata of the earth.

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Consequently the arcs 1, 2, and 3, 4, and 5, 6, are performed in equal times; and the velocities are less and less as we approach the centre. But the whole earth is turned by a common force, or by one force common to all the parts; consequently, every part will present, or acquire, or endeavour to acquire, an equal re-action; or, in other words, the momenta of every part will be equal, or endeavour to become equal. The velocities, however, are as the distances from the centre; consequently, the densities of each circle, to be in equal momenta, must be inversely as

the distance, or endeavour to become so; and hence the fall of dense bodies towards such circles of rotation, as are in length inversely as their relative densities; that is, the density at 1, 2, must be to the density at 5, 6, as the length of the arc 5, 6, is to that of 1, 2.

To render this more obvious, we will suppose a mountain to be placed on the side of a globe.

B.

Now, previously to the addition of the mountain, the centre of motion was at A; but, as the centre of motion will be the centre of the entire mass, so the addition of the mountain carries the centre of motion to B, or nearer to the mountain.

The motion is now lop-sided, and an action and re-action takes place between the globular mass and the mountain, by which B is forced towards A, or the mountain is acted upon, as it were, so as to become absorbed in the mass.

All the parts of the mountain seek, therefore, the exterior circle of the mass, or tumble as fast as they can. But, if we suppose the top of the mountain to be only an unsustained stone, which, while partaking of the general motion, had been projected to that height; then such cause would not be competent to remove A to B, but the whole mass acting against the unsustained stone would bring it back towards A with a continuous force and accelerated velocity.

V.-Art. XXI.

The last figure will explain the cause of the

TIDES.

Suppose such a mountain to be placed on the earth, and the centre of gyration carried from A to B; then, as the mobile waters would respect the centre of gyration, so they would rise around the mountain and render the entire mass elliptical.

But, if we now suppose the mountain to be elevated above and out of the mass, like the Moon, and the mechanical action to be still continued, B being raised to the centre of the momenta of both, like the fulcrum of the earth and moon; then the mobile waters would arise towards that fulcrum, just as they would towards the mountain.

The seas rise, therefore, towards the fulcrum of the earth and moon-the mechanical action of the distant moon being like that of a mountain on the earth-and towards the moon itself, because the fulcrum is in the right line which joins the centres of the earth and moon; while the mutual actions of the masses are connected by the gas of space, with a law of force which, in gas, is inversely as the squares of the distances, and directly as the masses.

VI.-Art. XXIV.

The re-action of the medium of space turns the planets from west to east, with a force which is governed by the variable action on their eastern sides, and which variation is as the square of the distance of their near and remote hemispheres; and a calculation of the variable forces corresponds to the 1000th part of a mile.

The hypothesis of gravitation is wholly inapplicable to this phenomenon. Action and re-action are necessarily co-equal and opposed, and a calculation of one is that of the other, for the rotation is not caused by the direct action or impulse, but by the re-action on the opposite side, which re-action turns the earth the contrary way; like a bowl projected on the ground, which, by the re-action, is turned or rotated backward as it were.

VII. Art. XXVI.

Comets sometimes move in consequentia, and sometimes in antecedentia, proving thereby that their motions are independent of the solar vortex, though influenced by it in passing through it.

VIII.-Art. XXVIII.

We live within space essentially full, and this fulness or continuity of force uniting to force, constitutes the means of diffusing phenomena from one part to another. The atoms which fill space are not quiescent or united, but in constant relative motions, and this motion constitutes a perfect fluidity, or a facility of moving through the space so filled. The fixing or taking off of the motions of the atoms, generates animal energy and heat, and also the heat of flame. The propulsion of the atoms one by one in trains constitutes light; and the vibrations, or waves in mass, create what we call sound. Different sizes of atoms produce colours and tones. Our senses are immersed within this plenitude of atoms, and appropriately affected by their different modes of excitement: for every excitement extends around, and every termination, as at the eye, or ear, or skin, is like the action of one end of a stick when pushed at the other end; merely with this difference, that it is a radiation, and the energy at any distant point is inversely as the square of the distance; but the fulness joins us and connects us with every distant object within the space so filled. Hence the universe is one united and connected whole, and the varieties arise from the two laws and modes of connexion, one by unbroken continuity, as in solids, and the other by radiation, as in fluids and gasses; while, in these, other varieties are created by viscidity and density. In regard to these subjects, the errors of men have arisen from their considering every space as void in which they could not see matter and connexion, and in the silly notion that rarity and density are

occasioned by repulsive powers in the atoms, instead of such motions or rotations, as necessarily include the conditions of varied expansibility, excitement, and substantial continuity.

IX.-Art. XXXVIII.

The assumption made by the Author of the new Philosophy, that Gas consists of atoms performing circular rotations, or filling orbits proportioned to the excitement, startles many persons; but, on consideration, it will be found to be accordant with all the circumstances and phenomena.

This seems certain, that space, or space filled with gas, is, in some mode, filled with atoms; and there are only three ways in which they can exist.

1. In quiescence, at equal or different distances, exerting repulsion, while the principle of repulsion is absurd; and then qualities per se must be assigned to the atoms, which are again as absurd as repulsion itself.

2. In rectilinear motions, crossing each other, and filling the space as the common result of the presence of all, and the preponderance of particulars. But this would be a chaos of atoms without system or harmony; though even these obstructions would generate localized, circular action, in clouds of obstructed

atoms.

3. In curvilinear orbits, resulting from rectilinear projections in the first instance, and then from obstructions, deflections, and reflections, from surfaces and atoms, which fill every known space; for, in due time, however great may be the impulsive force, or velocity of a projected atom, and however distant the obstruction may commence from the points of projection; yet, when it does commence, then the intervening space must be ultimately filled with deflected, and deflecting atoms, at first in confusion, but ultimately in regular motions, and circular, because this would be the necessary result of an infi