Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
OF _Dull, Dead Fires_, some sorts seem to be of a mixt sort: as
for example, Vitriol, and the like, seem to be Exteriorly, of the
Figurative Motions of Fire; and Interiorly, of the Figurative Motions
of Water, or of Watry Liquors: And Oyl is of Fiery Figurative Motions,
Interiorly; and of Liquid Figurative Motions, Exteriorly; which is
the cause that the Fiery Properties of Oyl cannot be altered, without
a Total Dissolution of their Natures. But, such sorts whose Fiery
Figurative Motions are Exterior, as being not their Innate Nature, may
be divided from those other Natural
Parts they were joyned to, without altering their Innate Nature.
CHAP. XI. Of the Occasional Actions of Fire.
All Creatures have not only Innate figurative Motions that cause
them to be such or such a sort of Creature; but, they have such and
such actions, that cause such and such Effects: also, every Creature
is occasioned to particular Actions, by forrein Objects; many times
to improper actions, and sometimes to ruinous actions, even to the
dissolution of their Nature: And, of all Creatures, Fire is the most
ready to occasion the most Mischief; at least, Disorders: for, where
it can get entrance, it seldom fails of causing such a Disturbance,
as occasions a Ruine. The reason is, that most Creatures are porous:
for, all Creatures, subsisting by each other, must of necessity have
_Egress_ and _Regress_, being composed of Interior and Exterior
Corporeal Motions. And Fire, being the sharpest figurative Motion, is
apt to enter into the smallest Pores.
But some may ask, _Whether Fire is porous it self?_
I answer: That having Respiration, it is a sufficient proof that it is
Porous: for, Fire dyes if it hath not Air.
But some may say, _How can a Point be porous?_
I answer, That a Point is composed of Parts, and therefore may very
well be porous: for, there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature,
and therefore, not a Single Point.
Also, some may say, _If there be Pores in Nature, there may be Vacuum_.
I answer, That, in my opinion, there is not; because there is no empty
Pores in Nature: Pores signifying only an _Egress_ and _Regress_ of
Parts.
CHAP. XII. Fire hath not the Property to Change and Rechange.
Of all the Elemental Creatures, _Fire_ is the least subject to change:
for, though it be apt to occasion other Creatures to alter; yet it
keeps close to its own Properties, and proper Actions: for, it cannot
change, and rechange, as Water can. Also, Natural Air is not apt to
change and rechange, as Water: for, though it can (as all the Elements)
divide and join its Parts, without altering the Property of its Nature:
yet, it cannot readily alter, and alter again, its Natural Properties,
as Water can. The truth is, Water and Fire, are opposite in all their
Properties: but, as Fire is, of all the Elements, the furthest from
altering: so Water is, of all the Elements, the most subject to alter:
for, all Circular Figures are apt to variety.
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