Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 1: Containing a collection of some of the principal phaenomena in nature, accounted for by the greatest philosophers of this age
History
Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 1: Containing a collection of some of the principal phaenomena in nature, accounted for by the greatest philosophers of this age
Natural history; Science -- Early works to 1800; Voyages and travels -- Early works to 1800
Lastly, To explain yet farther what I mean, I have adventur'd to adjoin
the following Scheme, (_Tab. 1. Fig. 3_) wherein the Earth is
represented by the outward Circle, and the three inward Circles are made
nearly proportionable to the Magnitudes of the Planets _Venus_, _Mars_
and _Mercury_, all which may be included within the Globe of Earth, and
all the Arches more than sufficiently strong to bear their weight. The
Concave of each Arch, which is shaded differently from the rest, I
suppose to be made up of Magnetical Matter; and the whole to turn about
the same common Axis _pp_, only with this difference, that the Outer
Sphere still moves somewhat faster than the Inner. Thus the Diameter of
the Earth being about eight thousand _English_ Miles, I allow five
hundred Miles for the thickness of its Shell, and another space of five
hundred Miles for a Medium between, capable of an immense Atmosphere for
the use of the Globe of _Venus_: _Venus_ again I give a Shell of the
same thickness, and leave as great a space between her Concave and
_Mars_; so likewise from _Mars_ to _Mercury_, which latter Ball we will
suppose solid, and about two thousand Miles Diameter. Thus I have shew'd
a possibility of a much more ample Creation, than has hitherto been
imagin'd; and if this seem strange to those that are unacquainted with
the Magnetical System, it is hop'd that all such will endeavour, first,
to inform themselves of the Matter of Fact, and then try if they can
find out a more simple Hypothesis, at least a less absurd, even in their
own Opinions. And whereas I have adventur'd to make these Subterraneous
Orbs capable of being Inhabited, 'twas done designedly for the sake of
those who will be apt to ask _cui bono_, and with whom Arguments drawn
from _Final Causes_ prevail much. If this short Essay shall find a kind
Acceptance, I shall be encourag'd to enquire farther, and to Polish this
rough Draft of a Notion till hitherto not so much as started in the
World, and of which we could have no Intimation from any other of the
_Phænomena_ of Nature.
Since this was written, a Discovery I have made in the Cœlestial
Motions, seems to render a farther Account of the Use of the Cavity of
the Earth, _viz._ To diminish the Specifick Gravity thereof, in respect
of the Moon; for I think I can demonstrate that the Opposition of the
Æther to the Motions of the Planets in long time becomes sensible; and
consequently the greater Body must receive a less Opposition than the
smaller, unless the Specifick Gravity of the smaller do proportionably
exceed that of the greater, in which case only they can move together;
so that the Cavity I assign in the Earth, may well serve to adjust its
weight to that of the Moon, for otherwise the Earth would leave the Moon
behind it, and she become another Primary Planet.
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