Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN 
 
 ^^^''•'
 
 LETTERS 
 
 O N 
 
 PHILOSOPHICAL SUBJECTS; 
 
 PARTICULARLY 
 
 THE CREATION, 
 THE DELUGE, VEGETATION, &c. 
 
 THE POWERS PRODUCING THESE OPERATIONS ARE HlftX tHIW 
 TO BE 
 
 HEAT, COLD, AIR AND WATER. 
 
 Since the Edition of thefe Letters printed at Plymouth, 
 the late Experiments in the new Chymiftry, have con- 
 firmed the above Theory. Thefe Experiments prove, 
 that Heat and Light, together with Oxygen or Cold, arc 
 the Powers which carry on both Animal and Vegetable 
 Life: Light, Heat, Vital Air, and inflammable Gas, are 
 thereby proved to be fubfhances of the firfl clafs, and 
 approach nearefh to fimplicity. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED POR J. DEIGHTON, OPPOSITE GRAYS-INN, HOLBORK. 
 1794.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 1 HE firft Edition of thefe Letters were 
 printed at Plymouth, under the Title of 
 Letters Philofophical and Aftronomical; but 
 being informed, by fome of my Friends, that 
 the Title Page had prevented many Per- 
 fons from reading them, fuppofing that none 
 but Adepts in thofe Sciences could under- 
 Iland them, the contrary is the fad. The 
 greater Part of thefe Letters may be fully 
 comprehended by any Perfon of common 
 underflanding. 
 
 Thefe Letters were reviewed by the Cri' 
 tical Reviewers in December 1788, who give 
 the following Account of them: they say, 
 " That the Mofaic Account of the Creation 
 " is explained and defended, as well as the 
 "Deluge; and Gravity accounted for by hot 
 
 *' and
 
 ADVERTISEMENT- 
 
 ** and cold Ether; and that every ingenious 
 
 *' man, and our Author's Ingenuity, we do 
 
 " not queflion, when he fteps out of the com- 
 
 " mon way, will neceflarily expert atten- 
 
 "tion." 
 
 The Analytical Reviewers noticed them 
 in April, 1789: they obferve, " That the Au- 
 *' thor (when difl'erting on vegetation) ex- 
 *• hibits a confiderable Degree of Ingenuity." 
 And the very great improvements in the new 
 Chymiftry have proved the Author's fenti- 
 ments to be right. 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 Stonehouse, 
 Plymouth, Jan. 1794.
 
 To Sir Jojeph Banks^ Prcfident, 
 
 A :c D TO THE 
 
 Fellows cf the Royal Society,^ 
 London^ 
 
 S I R S, 
 
 T^HE following Letters contaia 
 A many nev/ Obiervations- ia 
 Aftronomy and Philofophy, which 
 appear to be of fufficient Import- 
 ance to be inquired into, in Order 
 to afcertain whether they be FafLs 
 or not. — On that Perfuafion, I have 
 taken the Liberty to addrefs them 
 to you, and hope they will meet 
 with an impartial Examdnation; and 
 that they will not be difcardcd be- 
 caufe they contain fome Things 
 which differ from Ooinions oener- 
 
 i. o 
 
 ally received and taught. — Was tliis 
 alwajs to be the Cafe, there v/ould 
 
 be
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 be an End to Improvements in the 
 Sciences; for every Thing nezv miift 
 diff'cT from what was before known. 
 
 It would have ^iven me great 
 Satisfaction, could I have obtained 
 tlie Honour for fome of the mod im- 
 portant Matters in them, to be read 
 at a Meeting of your Society ; I 
 fhould then have been properly in- 
 formed whether they were of faf- 
 ficient Importance to trouble the 
 Publick v/ith or not; but, as I had 
 not Intereft enough to get that done, 
 I take this Method to crave your 
 liberal Decifion on them. 
 
 / am. 
 
 With great Deference and Re/peul, 
 Tour moft obedient, humble Servant^ 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONE HOUSE, ^ 
 
 Fl^inouih, j^urii '^o, 1788.. '
 
 o 
 
 ^•V ^oj^AR Diagram 
 
 For ^i.Z}r
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 OJ the SOLAR D 1 A GRAM 
 
 Month, according to the j-iilian Calendar , 'ujhen 
 the Sun a?id Moon are in ConjiinBion^ 
 
 O. — Full Moons ; pointing out the Day of 
 the Month when Jhe is in Cppofition to the Sun, 
 in her Pafjage through the Ecliptic k, 
 
 S. — Sunday, or every Seventh cr Sabbath- 
 Day throughout the Tear, 
 
 %. — The Earth, in the Meridian of the 
 twelve Signs, in her Orbit, or Path through 
 the Ecliptic k, viz. when fie has the Sun and 
 thefe Stars in ConjimBion, in her annual Orbit. 
 Afironomers tell us that the Ecliptick is equally 
 divided into twelve Signs of ^o Degrees each-. 
 But it is not fo. — It is the EquinoBial which is 
 divided equally by thefe twelve Signs. — Sojue of 
 thefe Signs are offucb a Length, as to require 
 the Earth to make more than 3 1 Rotations while 
 fie is pafjing through them, while others require 
 little more than 29 ; and the fx Northern Signs 
 are Jo much longer than the fx Southern, that 
 
 B the
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Oj the SOLAR DIAGRAM. 
 
 the Earth takes more than a Week longer in 
 traverfmg them, than Jhe docs in traverjing the 
 others, — See Introdu5liony P. i6, 19. 
 
 ,E E — The Equinodtial, divided into twelve 
 equal Parts, by the twelve fixed Stars, which 
 are called Signs, each Sign into 30 Degrees -, 
 the whole EqidnoBial containing 360 Degrees, 
 anjwering to the fame "Number of Degrees on 
 the Equator. 
 
 D D. — The Anticipation of Time. — ^ 
 This is not in Nature, but occafioned from the 
 fulian Tear not anfwering exadfly in Length of 
 ^ime, to the Length of Motion the Earth takes 
 to perform her annual Orbit round the Sun, 
 viz, the Julian Tear contains 365 J Days, 
 whereas the Earth compleats her Revolution 
 round tbe Sun, in 365 Days, 5 Hours, 49 
 Minutes, — Hence, as we calculate according to 
 the Julian Reckoning, the Earth will finijh her 
 annual Orbit eleven Minutes of Time before the 
 Julian Reckoning ends, IntroduB. P. 3, 97, 105. 
 
 Thus
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of tht SOLAR DIAGRAM. 
 
 Thus the Motto?! of the Earth anticipates Timey 
 according to the 'Julian Calejidar, eleven Mi- 
 nutes every Tear, and throws it back. — See P. 
 98. — Let us pojlulate that Motion and Time, 
 began, according to the Julian Period, at the 
 auturmial Equinox, 706, (which is the Time 
 the bejl Interpreters of Mofes's Hijlory, fay he 
 placed it) from that Tear to this, 1786, (which 
 is the 649 9 /'/y, according to that Period,) the 
 Earth will have made 5793 amiual Revolutions ; 
 by which Means, Motion will have anticipated 
 Time 44 Days, 6 Hours, 3 Minutes, accord- 
 ing to O. S. viz. from 05i. 25, to Sept, 11, 
 or according to the N. S.from OB. 2^, to Sept.. 
 22. 
 
 p, p, — The Preceflion of the Equinoxes. 
 According to the laji Article, the folar or true 
 Time, has fallen jho7't of the Time, (as reckoned 
 according to the Julian Calendar,) 1 1 Minutes 
 every Tear. — Hence, the Sun will appear eleven 
 Minutes jnore forward in the Ec lip tick, every 
 Tear, than Jhe ought to do^ — Thus, in 5793 
 
 Revolutionsy
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the SOLAR DIAGRAM. 
 
 Revolutions, fie will not appear to he in the Be- 
 ginning of Aries, as fi:e was obferved to he 
 A. I. F. 706, but in the third Degree of 
 Taurus, fif we reckon by the N. S.J and in 
 the ij\.th according to O. S. See Introduction, 
 P. 98. 
 
 Hence it may be obferved, that the fixed Stars 
 and Equinoxes, arejufi in the fatne Places in the 
 Heavens, they were 5793 Tears ago, and that 
 the Anticipation of Time, and Precefjion of the 
 Rquinoxes, are ?iot in Nature, but occajioned by 
 an errojieous Calculatioji of the exaSt Length of 
 the folar Year and the lunar Cycle. See P. 97, 
 1 05. — This may be obferved by G. G. — The 
 Difference between O. S. and N. S. made 
 
 A. D. 1752. 
 
 EXPLANATION
 
 All Explanation of the LUNAR DIAGRAM, 
 for A. D. 1786, (anfwering to the Year 
 of the World, 5793, and to the Year of 
 the Julian Period, 6499,) Shewing the 
 Place of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, every 
 Day in the Year, according to the Julian 
 Calendar. 
 
 A. — The Sun in the Centre of the Syjiefn. 
 
 B. B. — The Equinodial Circle, divided by 
 the twelve Stars cr Signs, into twelve equal 
 Farts, of n^o Degrees each. — -The Whole into 
 360 Degrees. 
 
 /^\ /p\ The Earth, /;/ her Place in the 
 -- — -— ^ Ecliptick, when the Moon is at 
 Full, or in Oppoftion. 
 
 C. C. — The annual Path of the Farth round 
 the Sun, which is divided into Days, Weeks, 
 and Months, according to the fulian Calendar. 
 It is an Ellipfe, within the EquinoBial, and 
 
 forms an Angle of 2^, Days, 28 Minutes, with 
 it ',—ajid is divided into 365 1: of Parts or De- 
 grees
 
 EXPLANATION 
 OJ the LUNAR D lA G RA M, 
 
 grees, anfwering to the Number of Rotatidns 
 the Earth makes during her Revolution round 
 the Sun,— -Was the Earth, throughout her an- 
 nual Revolution, to keep at the fame Dijiance 
 from the Sun, which Jhe is at the Equinoxes, fie 
 niDOuld then go round that Luminary in a Circle, 
 and perform and meafure it in 360 Days or Ro- 
 tations, — But now, as it is performed by Na- 
 ture, Jhe goes fo far beyond the Periphery of the 
 Circle, at the Summer Soljlice, as to require 
 5|- more Rotations to do it, 
 
 m, m. — Meridians, which pafs from the Sun 
 in the Cejitre, to the flrjl Point of each Sign, in 
 the EqidnoBial. — As the Circle of the Equi- 
 noclial and the Elliptical Path of the Earth, 
 anfwer each other geometrically , fo thefe Me-- 
 ridians cut the fidian Calendar at the true 
 Day, and Month, when the Sun will be found 
 to enter them ; a?2d thereby Jhew the Places of 
 ihe Sun and Moon every Day throughout the 
 Tear. 
 
 D. D.— .'Z^(7t' Moon's Orbit round the Earth, 
 
 E. going
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 CJ the LUNAR D lA C RA 14, 
 
 E going forward through the Ecliptic k. This 
 
 Plew is as it may be feen from a Planet or Star^ 
 without that Orbit ^ and perpendicular to the 
 Plane of the Ec lip tick. — By this Side View may 
 he obferved the Loops the Moon makes, in her 
 Orbit round the Earth, in her Pafage through 
 the Eclipfick, (in the fame Mariner as other 
 Satellites do round their Planets,) being fomc" 
 times a Semi^diameter of her Orbit before the 
 Earth, and fometimes the fame Dijlance behind 
 her, always keeping about 240,000 cf 
 Miles from her, and going round the Ec lip tick 
 with her. — She is kept in her Orbit by two 
 Forces, viz. the Light proceeding from the Sun, 
 
 and the Light refieSiing from the Earth. 
 
 'This is the Power, (Light) which expands and 
 projeSfs her towards the Extremities ',—the other 
 is the Ether proceeding from the Extremities, 
 which Sir Ifaac Newton calls Spirit. — He of- 
 ten makes ufe c/'Attra61:ion, to exprefs the firjl, 
 and Gravitation the lafl, without enquiring into 
 the Caufes of thefe Phenomena ', therefore, to be 
 fhort, clear, and better iinderftood, I fliall do 
 the fame. -See Let. IV. P. 165, XIV. P. 283,
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the LUNAR D I A G RA M. 
 
 In her Orbit round the Earth, (which is a- 
 bout 240,000 Miles, from her,) thefe two 
 Powers or Forces hallance each other. — Thus, 
 here all is fiill, calm, and neither prevails. — 
 Here alfo the projeBile Force, which carries the 
 Earth from Weji to Eajl, through the Eclip- 
 iick, meets the gravitating Power, which car- 
 ries the Moon from North to South, round the 
 Earth. See Let. XVII. — As thefe two Powers 
 a5i perpendicularly to each other neither pre- 
 vails ', but they aB jointly, and they force the 
 Moon round the Earth in a Diagonal between 
 them. — Tihus, at her Change,^ fie goes N. W, 
 till fie co?nes to i , (her firfi garter,) at which 
 Place fide is Half the Diameter of her Orbit be- 
 hind the Earth. — Here, infead of going on N. 
 W. fi:c changes her Courfe, and goes nearly 
 E.N.E. till fie comes to her Oppoftion or Full, 
 when fie is due North of the Earth.— She con- 
 tinues fiill to go Eajiward, but changes from 
 E.N.E.toN.N.E. till fie arrives at ^,(the 
 End of her third garter, J where fije is at the 
 Eafi Point of her Orbit, and a Semi-diameter
 
 p 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 "/::lJ.///u//\ ^■^'///f/ra///. 
 
 m 
 
 Ir Jiwrm^.
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the LUNAR D I A G RA M. 
 
 of her Or hit before the Earth. — From hence Jle 
 goes If^efward at S. IV. till foe comes to her 
 Change, njohere foe is due South of the Earth. 
 fe Let. XXIL 
 
 Befides the above defer ibed Forces, there is 
 another which goes from IVeJl to Eajiy—tht ethe- ' 
 real Current of the Eclipfes. — This Current 
 goes from Weft to Eafo, and round the Eclip- 
 ticky in a pragrefjive Circle, but fo fow as to 
 require i8 fuTian Tears, \o Days, 19 Ho'irs, 
 46 Minutes, o Seconds, 15 Thirds, to com- 
 pleat it, and to meet the Moon again, exatViy 
 in the fame Point of the Ecliptick from which 
 they parted, when the Cycle began. — Hence, as 
 Obfervations prove, at the End of this Cycle, 
 there is a Return of all the Eclipfes which touch 
 the Earth. — Let. XXIL 
 
 Thus the Moon performs her Orbit, round 
 the Earth, in 29 Days, 12 IrLurs, 44 Mi- 
 nutes, I Second, 45 Thirds, (which is called a 
 Lunation,) in which Time the ethereal Current 
 of Eclipfes has moved forward and Eafiward^ 
 C I Day,
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of tht LUNAR D I A G RA M. 
 
 I Diiyt \^ Hours y 6 Minutes, ii. Seconds, 19 
 'Thirds. — By 'which Means the Moon cro/fes that 
 Current, bejore floe comes to the Star. — This 
 occajioned AJironomers to imagine that the Nodes 
 moved backward to the Wejhuard. — The Point 
 where the Moon crojjes the Current of Eclipfes 
 is called her Node. — At the End of every fix th 
 Node, or 172 Days, 12 Hours, 59 Minutes, 
 this Path of the Nodes crofj'es the ecliptick Path 
 of the Earth, and if that Point is then iviibin 
 1 7 Degrees of the Sun, it caufes itn Eclipfe, but 
 if farther frcm it, the Shadow of the Earth or 
 Moon will not reach each other- 
 
 F F. — The Moon's Path, as obferved from 
 the Earth. — At the End of the firfl garter, 
 fie is Haf illuminated. — At the End of her 
 Second, foe is wholly fo. — -At the End of her 
 Third foe is again Half illuminated ; and at her 
 lajl garter or Change, fie appears quite dark. 
 
 S %.—The Sabbath, or Seventh Day through^ 
 out the Calendar. 
 
 The following is a Defcription of the 
 
 Eclipfes
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 OJ tht LUNAR D I A G R A M. 
 
 Eclipfes for the Year 1786. — January 14, ai 
 Noon, the ajlronomical Day endsy and January 
 I ^ begins -, at this Foint the Moons Node was 
 in the Ecliftick ; and 44 Minutes after the 
 Moon was oppojite * the Sun, and caufcd an 
 Eclipfe oj^ the Moon. — To January 15, add fix 
 Nodes, or 172 Days, 12 Hours, 59 Minutes, 
 and it will ?nake 187 Days, 12 Hours, 59 Mi- 
 nutes ; from this fubJiraB the 181 Days from 
 the Calends of January, and it will leave July 
 6th Day, i^th Hour, ^gth Minute, the exatl 
 Place of the Node. ^— Six Nodes are fort of fx 
 Lunations, /\. Days, i^ Hours, 2^ Minutes-,— 
 this Node therefore will be in the Ecliptick fo 
 much before the Su?z -, and as the Nodes are 
 diametrically oppofte to each other, fo the other 
 will want jiijl as much, and therejore meet the 
 Moon in the Ecliptick, July nth Day, ^tb 
 Hour, 2\th Minute. — If we addjix Lunations, 
 or 177 Days, 4 Hours, 24 Minutes, to Jan, 
 i^th Day, o Hour, ' /\./\.th Minute, it will give 
 July II, 5, 8, for the Moons Oppofition, 
 which is 44 Minutes only from the Node, and 
 will caufe a total Eclipfe of the Moon, hut, as 
 
 it
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 (■If the LUNAR DIAGRAM. 
 
 it happens about five o' Clock in the Afternoon^ 
 viiijl be invijible to us, — In 14 Days, 9 Hours, 
 4 Mi?2utes, (Half the Length of a Node,) the 
 other Node will get round the Earth into the 
 EiCliptick, which added to fuly nth Day, ji^th 
 Hour, i\th Minute, brings it to July 2^th 
 Day, I'Xth Hour, T.^th Minute,-— In Order to 
 find when the Moon will be in ConjunBion, add 
 Haifa Lunation, 14 Days, 18 Hours, 22 Mi- 
 nutes to July nth Day, ^th Hour, Zth Mi- 
 nute, (the "Time when the Moon was in Op- 
 pofition,) it will caufe an Eclipfe, but not vif-< 
 ble to us. 
 
 In Order to find when the Node will again 
 crofs the Ecliptick, add 345 Days, i Hour, 58 
 Minutes, (the ^antity of twelve Nodes,) to 
 fan. 15. — •//■ will bring it to Dec. 26th Day, 
 if Hour, ^Sth Minute, when the Node will 
 again be in the Ecliptick ; but as neither Node 
 will then be within 20 Degrees of the Sun, no 
 Eclipfe can happen. 
 
 a, a, a. — The Path of the afcendifig Node, 
 d, d, d. — T^he Path of the defcending Node.
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the SOLAR DIAGRAM, 
 
 liquity of the Ecliptick, and Jince the Eclip' 
 tick and Equi?io5fial arc both great Circles, 
 they miijl bifedl each other ; as it is found they 
 do, in the Beginning of Aries and Libra ; fo 
 that fix of thefe Sig}is lye on the North Side of 
 the EqtiinoSlial, and are called the Northern 
 Signs ', and the other Six, o?i the South Side of 
 it, and are called the Southern Signs. — T^his 
 Ecliptick is divided into 3651- Farts, anfwer- 
 tng to the Number of Meridian Altitudes of the 
 Sun, during the Revolution of the F.arth thro* 
 it, cor ref ponding to the Number of folar Days 
 or Rotations the Earth makes during that Time. 
 As the elliptical Figure of the Ediptick i7iakes it 
 fve Degrees, and almojl a garter longer than 
 the EqMioBial, which is a Circle ; fo ive find 
 the Earth requires fo much longer Time to tra- 
 verfe it, than JJje would require, did foe go 
 round the Sun in a Circle, at the fame Dif- 
 tance from the Sun, /Zv is at the Equinoxes -, 
 as the F^arth makes equal Areas in equal Tunes. 
 See Ifitroduciion, P, 16, 
 
 3. — New Pv'Ioons ; Jbewi/7g the Day of the 
 
 MoTith^
 
 An Explanation of the SOLAR DIAGRAM, 
 for the Year of our Lord, 1786, (an- 
 fwering to the Year of the World, 5797, 
 and to the Year of the Julian Period, 6499) 
 ihewing the Place of the Sun, Moon, and 
 Earth, every Day in the Year, according 
 to the Julian Calendar, 
 
 S. — 'T'he Sun in the Cejitre of the Syfiem.-— 
 a, a — Meridians, going from the Equator, 
 through the Ecliptick, to the twelve Signs, or 
 fixed Stars in the Equinodiial ; Jhewing the 
 Day of the fuUan Month, when the Sun comes 
 into thefe Meridians, or enters thefe twelve 
 Signs, 
 
 B. B. — The Equatorial Circle divided into 
 ^60 Degrees. — If the Plane of the Equator be 
 produced' to the 'Heavens, it will there mark' out 
 a Circle, called the Equinodlial, marked E . E * 
 which will divide the Earth and Heavens i?2to 
 two Halves or Hemifpheres, 
 
 G. C^^The Ecliptick, an Ellipfe, which 
 is found to be inclined to the Equinotlial, at an 
 
 Angle of 2^ 28, which Angle is called the Oh- 
 
 liquity
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I N r R D U C T I N, 
 
 QOME Notions in thefe Letters cojitrary to 
 general received Opinions. Page 2. 
 
 Equinoctial equally divided by the twelve Sigfis, 
 hut the annual Orbit of the Earth unequally^ 
 and meafured by the Nwnber of Rotations the 
 Earth makes during that Time. ^ 
 
 RetroceJJion of Time, how occafwned -, fl:ewing 
 the Caufe of the Difference between Calendar 
 Meafure and true Time: — Chronology of Tinie 
 when began : 4, 98 — Style altered. 5 
 
 Tifne when it began ; that Point defcribed by 
 Mofes. 6 
 
 Certain Points from which Aftronomers be- 
 gin their Computations , as defcribed by Dr. 
 Keil. 7 
 
 Creation when it happened. 6, 8 
 
 Obfervations of fame etninent Aftronomers on 
 the Diagrams^ with their Remarks thereon. 
 
 10, 342
 
 C O N' T E N T S. 
 
 I N r R D U C T I N. 
 
 Page 
 Remarks on the AJironomers Remarks. 1 3 
 
 'The Reafon why the Seafons of the Tear have 
 
 not been pointed out, exaBly, by any Nation be- 
 
 fides the Ifraelites and Jews 1 4 
 
 Olympiads defcribed. 1 5 
 
 The Revolution of the Equator, the only true 
 Meafure of Time. 1 6 
 
 Annual Orbit of the Earth round the Sun, an 
 Ellipfe, and divided unequally . 16 
 
 Time and Motion anfwering exaBly to each 
 other ; both meafured by the Rotations of the 
 Equator, and anfwering each other precifely, fo 
 that they may be turned into each other reci- 
 procally. ' 1 7 
 
 The §luantity of Time the Earth goes for- 
 ward in the EcUptick, during one Rotatio?i of 
 the Earth, or a 7iatiiral 'Day, 42 
 
 All
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Page 
 
 All Nature meafured by the Rotations of the 
 
 Equator, I g 
 
 The Dhijion of the Ecliptick exatninedy and 
 the Length of the Solar Tear. 19, 20 
 
 Obfervation thereon, only one Tear apart, 
 precarious. 2 1 
 
 Dr. Keil's Method of afcertaining the Length 
 of the folar tropical Tear. 22 
 
 The Length of it examined and proved, by 
 
 Mr. Kennedy, according to Dr. Keil'j- Method, 
 
 from Obfervations made 168 Tears Dijiance 
 
 from each other. 23 
 
 Solar Period, or Cycle of the Sun defer ihed. 
 
 Dr. Bradley 'j Obfervation, A.D. 1753, ^f- 
 certained the firji Meridian. 25 
 
 Calendar of the Ifraelites defer ibed, and the 
 
 Method
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 Page 
 Method they iifed to jneafure and record 'Times ^ 
 viz. by Days and Tears. 26 
 
 Though the Ifraelites appear to meajure Times 
 ^nd Seafo7is mechanically, yet they do it at the 
 Jame Time^ ajironomicaliy, according to. the Ope- 
 rations of Nature. 30 
 
 The Method of calculating Times and Seafons 
 by the Ifraelites. 31 
 
 The Tear of the ^adriennium at the Crea-^ 
 tlon, 34 
 
 The Method of adjujling the lunar with the 
 
 folar Tear, by the Epacl, and both meafured by 
 
 integral Days . 3 6 
 
 The folar Months of the Ifraelites, agreeing 
 'with the twelve Signs, beginning and ending on 
 the fame Point with them, 38 
 
 The Ufe the Ifraelites 7nnde of their folar 
 
 Months, and the Courfs of their Friefis de- 
 
 fcriheds 39
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Bcynning of the Tear, the Month, and 
 the Week altered by the Coinmand of God, as a 
 Memorial of their Deliver a?ice fro??! the Egyp- 
 tian Bondage. Page 41 
 
 'The fews, in celebrating their Feaji, for 
 their Deliverance fro?n the Egyptian Bondage, 
 celebrate the Birth of Chrijl alfo. 41 
 
 The true Time of the Birth oj the Mefjiah ex- 
 afnined, and found to be at the Feaji of Inga- 
 thering and Tabernacles. . 42 
 
 How it happened that Chriftians kept the 
 Birth of Chrifi at the Winter Soljiice, infead 
 of the autu?nnal Equinox. 4j 
 
 The fulian Tear, when it began. — The Caufe 
 •why fulius Ccefar altered it, and the Method of 
 that Alteration. 50 
 
 The Names and Animals, denominating the 
 
 twelve Signs, ideal, and defcriptive of the Sea^ 
 
 fonSf — whence derived. 53 
 
 X) Agcficjf
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Agency of Nature believed by the ancient 
 Philojophersy to be in Heat and Cold. Page 60 
 
 The Death of the MtKizh. foretold by T>aniely 
 this Prophefy examined. ^ 6^ 
 
 The iffidng of the Decree for the Return of 
 the Jews to Jerufalcmi and the Ejid of the Pro- 
 phefy compleatedj by the cutting ^7/6e' Meffiah . 
 
 67 
 
 When the Pafchal Lamb was to be fain. 70 
 
 The old feventh Day Sabbath rejiored 5 — 
 the Birth of Chrif, how kept. yi 
 
 The aforefaid Obfervations proved by the Cal- 
 culations of Equinoxes f new and full Moons y and 
 Eclipfes. — Deifts and Skepticks called on to 
 point an Equinox y new or full Moon, or an 
 Eclipfcy which contradict it. 74 
 
 The Point where thefe Calculations were be- 
 gan. 74 
 
 Why
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Why the IntroduBion was dated Sept. 22, 
 1787. Page 76 
 
 T^he Age of the World, and Day of the Week, 
 proved mathematically and ajlronomically, by the 
 Number of T) ays. Tears, and Lunatmis. 78 
 
 A Calculation of the Kclipfe which happened 
 during Herod's laji Illnefs. 79 
 
 Calculation of the Birth of Chrijl, 82 
 
 Prophefy of Chriji's Death foretold ajid cal^ 
 culated, 85 
 
 A Calculation of the Eclipfe, A.D. 1787, 
 alfo of the next Full Moon after it. 92 
 
 Explanation of the aforefaid Calculations ; — 
 their Method defcribed, with Injlrudlions how 
 they were performed. 97 
 
 Difference -between Calendar Meafure and 
 tr e Time, explained by Dr. KeiL 98 
 
 Lunar
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 L -Mr ANTICIPATIONS explained and 
 proi'.d to have no Foundation in Nature. P. 104 
 
 The 19 Tears Cycle of the Moon proved to he 
 lo7iger than the 19 Tears Cycle of the Suny 
 which is contrary to the general received Opinio?! 
 of Afronomers. 105 
 
 Ifiie joijied with the Skeptick, to try whether 
 what is a[jcrtedy ( viz. that Mofes gives us 
 the Place of the Sun and Moon at the Creation) 
 be true or not. 
 
 What gave Occafion to the following Letters. 
 
 118 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 On the DELUGE. 
 
 An Anfwer to fome ^eries propofed by Mr. 
 Heavifide ',-r^whether Ore, Metal, or Coal were 
 ever found under Chalk ? — Obfervations where 
 Ore and Metals are found, with Re?narks on 
 the Formation of this terraqueous Globe. — How 
 Metals, Salts, ^c. were difjblved, and reformed 
 
 at
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 at the "Deluge ; together with the Method by 
 which the different Strata were formed. — T^he 
 Flood defer ibed. Page i 1 9 
 
 LETTER II. 
 On the DELUGE. 
 
 Mr. Heavifide" s Anfwer to the former Letter ^ 
 with his Remarks thereon ; together with his 
 Theory of' the Deluge. — That he cannot think 
 that the Earth underwent a general Dijjolution 
 at that Time. — That he believed the central 
 Nucleus was Fire ; — with ObjeBions to the 
 Diffblution of the Earth at the Deluge. 130 
 
 LETTER III. 
 On the DELUGE. 
 
 Fa^s which prove that in all Parts of 
 Europe, Aiia, Africa, and America, the 
 Exuvis of Animals and Ve get able s, particularly 
 Sea Shells y are found in different Strata of Stone, 
 both on the Tops of the highef Mountains in the 
 Worldy and alfo at the greatejl Depths that have 
 
 been
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 been dug below the Surface of the "Earth. — 
 Some farther Account of the "Deluge. Page 1 37 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 On the CREATION. 
 
 Original Names, ideal. — The Reafofi why it 
 has been afferted and generally believed, that the 
 Scriptures do ?iot fpeak JiriSlly true, with Re- 
 gard to Philofophy, on the Motion of the Sun, 
 Earth, &c. but is accommodated to vulgar Ap- 
 prehenfions. — The Mofiic Account of the Crea- 
 tion and Formation of this Syjlem -, — defcribing 
 the Agents which carry on the mechanical Ope- 
 rations of Nature ; together with fome ExtraSis 
 from Sir Ifaac Newton, to Jhew that he fup- 
 pofed the Agents of Nature to be the fame as 
 thofe revealed in the Scriptures. 14c 
 
 LETTER V. 
 On VEGETATION. 
 
 Vegetation, when it firft began. — The Agents 
 which cany it on defcribed -, together with the 
 
 Method
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Method Nature makes ufe of for that Purpofe. 
 T^he Vegetation of a Seed dnd Bud, — Experi- 
 ments from Dr. Hales, to afcertain the Eff'eSis 
 £/'Heat and Cold on that Operation of Nature, . 
 
 Page 167 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 On VEGETATION. 
 
 Experiments frotn Dr. Hales, 'which prove 
 that Vegetables infpire and expire according to 
 the Drynefs and Moijhire, and the Heat and 
 Coldnefs of the Air. —'The Method Nature makes 
 ufe of to perform Vegetation. — Trees and Vege- 
 tables grow in the Form oj a Pyramid, iinlefs 
 prevented, — The Caufe afigned why Plants in a 
 Green-houfcy or other Room^ point towards the 
 Window. — The fuices of Vegetables always hi 
 Motion, but do not circulate like the Blood in 
 Animals.^— Some more Experiments from Dr. 
 Hales, to explain the Method Nature makes ife 
 of in the bleeding Seafon, (in the Spring of the 
 Tear) to force out the Buds and Leaves, 1 84 
 
 LETTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 On VEGETATION. 
 
 A 'Recapitulation of the Method Nature makes 
 ufe of to carry on Vegetation. — T^he natural 
 Agents hot and cold Ether. — Fire and Motion 
 Jynonimous. — 'The 'Phenomenon of Vegetation a 
 proper One to explain the Agency of Nature. 
 The Caufe why Trees Jhed their Leaves in Au~ 
 tumny and the Means made ife of to pufi forth 
 their Buds and Leaves in the Spring, — The 
 Scripture Account of Vegetation perfeBly agree ^ 
 able 'with Nature. — Cold and hot Ether, the 
 Agents which fupport and carry on Animal as 
 ^well as Vegetable Life. Page 203 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 On the D E L U G E. 
 
 Mr. Heavifde profeJJ'es a . great LicUnation 
 
 for the Study of Natural Philofophyy though he 
 
 had been prevented from attending to it fo much 
 
 as he "jjified.—He then puts the following ^ery. 
 
 Li that general Difolution of SubjJances, which 
 
 you
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 youfuppofe at the Deluge, why were not Shells/ 
 Bones, Shrubs, ^c. diffolvedy as well as Rocks, 
 Stones. &c. F Paee 2 1 6 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 On the DELUGE. 
 
 Prejudices of Education hard to be overco7}ie, 
 therefore many 'Things in Mr, Penrofe^s Theory 
 may appear doubtful at frji, as they differ from 
 fome which are generally taught, — There may he 
 Arcana in Nature, which human Peafon may 
 not be able to explain. — Anfwer to Mr, Hea- 
 mfde's laji ^lery. — A Confitution and Cufiom 
 obferved by the Royal Society, concerning Dif- 
 quifitions. — The Waters outfide of this ter- 
 raqueous Globe, not fufficient for the Flood. — 
 Centre of Gravity altered at the Flood, — Caifes 
 afjigned why Bones, Shells, &c. were not dif- 
 
 folved. 220 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 On CHRONOLOGY and ASTRONOMY. 
 
 As the firfl material Agents cannot come 
 
 within the Knowledge of our denies, fo different 
 
 E Philolbther:
 
 C O N I' E N T S. 
 
 Vkilofophers have formed different Opinions ; 
 but Ajlronomy tnay be proved by mathematical 
 Demonjiration. — Hijhry is no more than a Ro- 
 mance without Chronology , which is ?iot certain 
 luikfs proved by Ajironomy. — Where to begin 
 our ajlronomical Epoch. — Mofes s Account of the 
 Place of the Sun and Moon at the Creationy 
 proved by mathematical T>emonf ration. — Firji 
 Meridian proved by an Ohfervation , of Dr. 
 Bradley 'j-. — As Mr. Penrofe is 7iot fearful of 
 being conviBed of JLrror, Leave is given to Mr. 
 Heavifde to fiew this Letter to any Proficient 
 in Afronomy, and to get his Criticifms on it. 
 
 Page 2:; I 
 
 LETTER XL 
 On CHRONOLOGY and ASTRONOMY. 
 
 Mr. Heavifde having Jhewn Mr, Penrofe s 
 Letter to fome eminent Ajironomers, Me?nbers 
 of the Royal Society, they *^ all agree that his 
 ** Calculations were perfeBly right, and proved 
 " what he intended they fioidd-, and that they 
 ** would have" defrcd Leave to have read the 
 '' Paper at the Meeting of the Royal Society, 
 
 but
 
 C ON T E N T S. 
 
 ** hut that it was deemed to he Cjnnecic'd with 
 ** rdigious Sn/jeLls, ivhich they ne'cer meddle 
 ** with there*' — Queries to Mr. Penrofe, oc- 
 cafioned by the aforefaid hetter.. Page 241 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 On CHRONOLOGY and ASTROXOMY. 
 
 Mofes's Hijiory of the Creation cught to he 
 examined hy Chronology and Ajlronomy^ which 
 is the true 'Tejl of Hijiory. — 'The Cycle of Tears 
 ezplained.—Anfwer to Mr. Heavifde's laji ^/e- 
 ' 7'ies. — Ether the Caufe of Gravitation. — Gra- 
 vity and Levity relative Therms. — 'The Agency 
 of the Ethers explained -,— they are the Caufe of 
 Winds i Hurricanes y Earthquakes, &c. — They 
 alter or dejlroy Attrad:ion, Gravitation, Co- 
 hefion, ^c. — Is the Caife of the different Mo- 
 tions of the Earth, and its fpheroidical Shape. — 
 The Caufe of Tides, ^c. 247 
 
 LETTER XIIL 
 
 On NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Doubts propofed concerning fome Farts of 
 
 Mr.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Mr. Tcnrofes Thihfophy, i?i Order that T^riith 
 may be ajbertained. — ^eries concerning cold 
 Ether, and the.FreJJiire of that cold Ether into 
 the hot, or where it is m^re rare. — What ts the 
 Caufe of the Motion of the Earth ? What is the 
 Caife that the Earth does jiot jail into the Sun? 
 Do you impute it to a Current of Ether ? Jln- 
 fwer to the lajl ^leries concluf^'ccy f it he al- 
 lowed that Mofes was fo far ignorant of Afr:- 
 nomyy as to be incapable of calculating t '■: 
 Eclipfcs which preceded his 'Time. — He is f aid to 
 he learned in all the Learning of the Egyptians. 
 State of the Sciences in Chaldea and Egypt. 
 
 Page 263 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 On NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Mr. Heavifide's ^ery anfwered. — Calcula- 
 tions of the Motions of the heavenly Bodies de- 
 monjlrably true i but the Principles of natural 
 Philofophy cannot be demonftrated with that 
 Clearnefs and Precifon, as thofe in Aflrono77iy. 
 I'hree Principles of Matter ; — Gravity explain- 
 ed. — Cold and hot Ether defcribed according to 
 
 Sir
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Sir Ifaac Newton. — Centre of Gravity fiip- 
 pofed formerly to be placed in the Centre of the 
 Earth, but late 'Experiments prove that Gra- 
 vity does not tend to the Centre of the Earth, 
 but to the Superficies, and to the Place ii'here 
 there is the greateji expanfive Heat. — Gravity 
 prc-ced to be hicreafed or lejjened in Proportion 
 as Heat and Cold prevail. -^'The Prejfure of the 
 cold Ether or Gravity acfs exaSlly in the fame 
 Proportion on the Poles and the Equator, as the 
 fpheroidical Shape of the terraqueous Globe Jliews 
 it does. — 'The Centre of Gravity to be 7iear the 
 Surface of the Earth, where every Thing tends. 
 
 Page 271 
 
 L E T T E Pv XV. 
 
 On NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Sta,te of the Sciences about two t hot f and Tears 
 
 ago. — The former 9^ery repeated, ** If the 
 
 ** Earth, &c. were frji put in Motion by the 
 
 ^' Heat of the Sun, rarefying the Atmofphere 
 
 " between tkefe Bodies, why did not the Earth 
 
 " ' immediately gravitate into the Sun ? Muji not 
 
 *' a trajeSiile Force have been frft neceff'ary to 
 
 *' caufe its annual Orbit T' 293 
 
 LETTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER XVL 
 
 On NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Heat mid Cold fr/i Agents, according to Sir 
 Ifaac Newton, Boerhaave, &c. — ■ Internal 
 Make of this ten- aqueous Globe defer ibed, — T'he 
 Thicknefs of the Shell of the Earth. — The con- 
 fufed Appearances on this terraqueous Globe, 
 prove that it has underzvent tre?nendous Convul- 
 fions from %z-ithin, and that the earthy Shell has 
 been burjl into Millions of Pieces. — Earthquakes 
 examined, and their F feels defer ibed. — . Thefe 
 EfeSfs oceafioned by Fire.— The Caifes of Earth- 
 quakes explained', "which prove that there is an 
 immenfe ^lantity of Fire within the Earth. — 
 The above Account agreeable with what is given 
 in the Scriptures. Page 299 
 
 LETTER XVIL 
 
 On NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Mr. IleavifdJs ^lefion, ** TFhy does not the 
 
 Earth, gravitate into the Sun, &c.'' anfwered. 
 
 All Space filled with ETHERS, which reach 
 
 from the Sun to the Extremities oj" this Syjlem, 
 
 and
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 and are in continual Conjlioi, and caufe a vi- 
 brating Motion^ by their Endeavour to get the 
 better of each other. — Theje Ethers the Caufe 
 ^"Projection and Gravity. — The Earth and 
 Planets of different fpecif.ck Gravities, accord- 
 ing to their Dijlancesfrom the Sun. — 'The diur- 
 nal and annual Motion of the Earth account- 
 ed for. — The Fhenontena of Nature, and the 
 Scriptures, confirm the Tejiimony of each other. 
 
 Pajje ?2i 
 
 LETTER XVIIL 
 On A S T R O N O M Y. 
 
 ^ With a DIAGRAM. 337 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 On A S T R O N O M Y. 
 
 Obfrvations of Mr. Heavi/idSs afronomical 
 Friend, on Mr. Fenrofe s Diagram, not con- 
 clufive. 33^ 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 On A S T R O N O M Y. 
 
 Mr. Penrofe's Defign to get the Opinion of 
 
 fome
 
 C O N T E N T S. 
 
 fh7nc cf the Geometricians and AJirofiomcrs, con- 
 cerning his Diagram, Page 34,3 
 
 L E T T E R XXL 
 On ASTRONOMY. 
 
 T^he Di-fficulty in getting a decided Opinion on 
 the Diagrams. 34'/ 
 
 LETTER XXII. 
 
 ASTRONOMY. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS, 
 
 I he Moon not a Planet, but a Satellite at- 
 tending the Earth. — T'he recorded Ohfervations 
 of AJlronomers, concerning her, colleSled. — Her 
 Make and Motion defcribed. — 'T^he Chaldean 
 Cycle, -with the Methods they made ufe of for 
 calculatijig their Eclipfes. — "The phyfical Caifes 
 of thefe Motions explained, and confirmed by the 
 Ohfervations of Mr. Herfchel, and the French 
 Afironomers . 349 
 
 LETTER XXIIL
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER XXIII. 
 
 On ASTRONOMY. 
 
 To confirm what Mr. Penrofe has obferved in 
 his lafi and former Letters. — He has fent Mr. 
 Heavifide a Calculation of the Eclipfe which is 
 to happen July the 2^th. — // is calculated by 
 the Method made ufe of by the Ancients, to 
 meafure and record 'Time : — But t'o jhew how 
 certain their Method was, it is alfo calculated 
 according to the prefent, by Equations and Ano- 
 malies. — It may be remarked, that both thefe 
 Methods differ from each other only 8 M. ii S, 
 That the Patriarchs and Chaldeans had more 
 Knowledge in Afironomy than is generally allowed 
 them. — This is proved by the 1 8 Tears Cycle of 
 Eclipfes, and alfo the 19 Years Cycle of the 
 Moon, both which, it is certain, we received 
 from them, and without thefe Cycles, Aflrono- 
 mers would be at a great Lofs. — Data on which 
 the Calculations are made, and Conclufions in- 
 fer ed from them. Page 380 
 
 Introduction,
 
 The INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE following Letters are real Copies of 
 genuine ones, which paflld between 
 me and an intimate Friend, for our own 
 Amufement, according to their Dates ; but 
 not with the moft diftant View that they 
 fhould ever appear before the Public. — The 
 GentlemaUj* who was the firfl: Beginner of 
 this Correfpondence, died about the Middle 
 of laft February. — Some Days before his 
 Death, he defired his Son to wiite me, th.it 
 A " He 
 
 * JOHN HEAVISIDE, Efq. of Pr'mcesVStrcet, Cavendini-Square ; a 
 Cenileman whofe Lofs is already experienced by many of hig Acquaintance, 
 ■who \vere very numerous; his whole Attention, for many Years paft, 
 kaving been employed to fcrve his Friends and Neighbours, particularly 
 •hofe in Diftrefs ; this was his greateft Pleafure ! and he had Inclination, 
 Fortune, and Abilities to do it. — Therefore, as a Pcrfon of his unbounded 
 Benevolence is fo rarely to be met with, his Lofs will be the more f*- 
 verely felt.
 
 2 The INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " He was pail: all Hopes of Recovery-, and 
 ** begged to know what I would have done 
 " wiJi thofe very valuable Papers which he 
 *' had of mine, his Health having made him 
 ** unable to attend to them as he wifhed." 
 About ten Days after this, the Son wrote me 
 a fecond Letter, " to let mc know that his 
 ** Father was dead, and that he had found 
 ** the i xtters of miae which his Father or- 
 ** dered £hould be fcnt me." 
 
 Some Time after this, I mentioned his 
 Death to fome of our Friends, with the Cir- 
 cumftance of his Son's fending me fome Let- 
 ters which had paflcd between us. — They 
 defirfd to rend them; after which they re- 
 turiied them to me again, with a Requeft 
 that they might be printed ; I confented 
 thereto, and hope they will receive the Ap- 
 probation of the Public. 
 
 As fome of the Notions in thefe Letters 
 are contrary to genera/ received Opinions, I 
 truft they will not be difcarded on that Ac- 
 count, without being firft examined, and the 
 
 Evidence
 
 Ihe INTRODUCriON, 3 
 
 Evidence I produce tried, if fafficient to fiip- 
 port thef^ Notions or not ; which are, prin- 
 cipally, 
 
 Firft, That the Equlnodial, or great Cir- 
 cle of the Heavens, is equally divided hy the 
 tv^elve Signs, of 30 Degrees each, making 
 in the Whole 360" 
 
 Secondly, That the annual Orbit of the 
 Earth mufl be meafured by the Earth's rota- 
 ry Motion, which is abfoluteiy, and with- 
 out any Exception, the true Meafure of 
 Time. 
 
 Thirdly, That the Anticipation of Time, 
 and the Preceffion of the Equinoxes, have 
 not any Foundation in Nature, but are oc- 
 cafioned by the Calendar Comput.'.tion, not 
 anfwering exactly to the Length (jf the an- 
 nual Orbit. — According to our Calendir 
 Meafure, the foiar Year contains 365 i Days, 
 or Six Hours J but the foiar tropica! Year, or 
 the Time fhe is performing her annual Orbit, 
 is only 365 Days, 5 Hours, 49 Minutes, 
 
 which
 
 4 The INTPy^ODUCriON. 
 
 which is II Mi.nutes fhort of her Quadrant, 
 or fix Hours. Therefore the Earth precedes, 
 beyond the Meridian, where it began, 1 1 
 
 Minutes in equatereal Time, or 2"- 45 in 
 Meafure. Hence, as the Earth goes, every 
 Year, i i Minutes beyond the Place where it 
 began ; (o it had occalioned,(in the Year 1753) 
 the Equinoxes to have preceded forward 44 
 Days, and the Calendar Computation to fall 
 back the fame Number ; and thereby to an- 
 ticipate Time fo much. For the Autumnal 
 Equinox, in the Year 706, of the Julian 
 Period (which was the Year of the Creation, 
 according to the Mofaic Chronology) fell on 
 Ocflober 25th j but in A. D. 1753, which 
 was the 6466th of the Julian Period, it was 
 obferved to enter Libra, Sept, 11, O. S. fo 
 that in 5760 Years, the Calendar Meafure 
 had anticipated the true 44 Days. 
 
 At the Council of Nice, which was held 
 
 A. D. 325, the Sun was obferved to enter 
 
 Libra, 8f pt. 22; therefore in order to bring 
 
 the Calendar Meafure back to that Time, 
 
 and fo to commemorate theFeflival ofEafter, 
 
 at
 
 Tbe INrRODUCriON. 5 
 
 at a more exi'.ct Seaf.n ; an Ad: of Parlla- 
 nic'it was paiTed, A. D. 1752, to throw n 
 D.tV"i out of the Calendar Computation for 
 th .t Year j fj th. t t'ns Year contaii^ed only 
 354 Days, inllead of 365. By this Means 
 the r-^qtjinox wis brought back from the 14th 
 of Tjurus to which it was got, (from the iirH: 
 of Aries,) to the third cf the iame Sign, and 
 the Sun entered Libra that Ycc^r, Sept. 22, 
 N. S. in (lead of Sept. 11, O. S. which was 
 the Time it entered it the Year bdure. (aj 
 
 Fourthly ; The general Opinion is, that 
 Mofe?, in his Hiftory of the Creation, does 
 not point out, or give us any Inftrudion, in 
 what Place of the Heavens the Sun and 
 Moon were at the Creation. 
 
 Firft. — la an Aver to this I obferve, that 
 he has told us, ift. That they were placed 
 there on the fourth Day of the Creation Week. 
 
 2dly 
 
 (a) Sec Letter XIL XIV. and Dugram.
 
 6 ne INrRODUCriON. 
 
 adly. — That the Moon could not give her 
 Light till the going down of the Sun : As 
 the Sun was in the Meridian of the Place 
 where it began to fhine -, fo the Earth mull 
 have made one Quadrant of her Rotation, be- 
 fore the Moon could enlighten Her. — As 
 foon as that was performed, the Sun fat in 
 the Well, and the Moon rofe diredly after 
 in the Eaft, when they both together en- 
 lightened the whole Earth from Pole to Pole. 
 Hence, it may be remarked, that the Rotation 
 of the Earth meafured one Qiiadrant of folar 
 Time, before Ihe began tomeafure the lunar; 
 therefore as the Sun and Moon were, jointly, 
 to point out the Seafons, the Days, and the 
 Years ^ fo the Chronology of Time mull be- 
 gin at this Period, as Mofes tells us it did. 
 (b) 3dly. — In Regard to the Place of the 
 Sun and Moon in the Heavens, Mofes in- 
 forms us, that the Feall of Ingathering at 
 the End or Revolution of the Year, was to 
 commemorate the Creation, which happened 
 
 at 
 
 fo) Levit, XXiii, js.
 
 "The IXTRODUCriON. 7 
 
 tt that Seai(:>n. — That the Feafi: was to be 
 kept at the autumnal Fquinox-. — That the 
 Moon mud be^^in to fhine in the Evening, 
 at the going down of the Sun, being fifteen 
 Days old, and juft pafTed her Oppofition or 
 Full. — Here then we have a Point to begin 
 our Calculations from, viz. the firft Degree 
 or Point of Libra ; the Epad 15, (the Moon 
 then being fifteen Days old) the fourth Day 
 of the Week ; and, as one Quadrant of folar 
 Time was to be added to the Beginning of 
 the Year, viz. from twelve o'Clock Midday, 
 to Six in the Evening ; fo it mufl: be the fe- 
 cond Year of the folar QuiJriennium, — Had 
 we not had thefe Data^ we muft be in the 
 Dark for a Point where to begin our Calcu- 
 lations from J for, as Dr Keil obferves, Ledt. 
 XXVIII. ** As there are certain Points from 
 ** which Aftronomers begin their Computa- 
 " tions of the Planets Motions, fo alfo there 
 ** muft be certain Points, as Inftants of Time, 
 •' from which, as from Roots, all Calcula- 
 " tions muft begin." 
 
 Now, I have poftulated that my Inter- 
 pretation
 
 8 rhe INrRODUCriON, 
 
 pretntlon of the Mofaic Hiftory is true 5 and 
 I find by Calculation, that all the Equinoxes, 
 Sollb*ce<^, new Mo -ns, full Moons, and 
 Eclipfes, will be pointed out by thcfe Cal- 
 culations, according to the obferved Times. 
 Here then we have two Points to meafure 
 from, I ft. the poftulated Point of the full 
 Moon, at the autumnal Equinox 706, ac- 
 cording to the Julian Period ; and 2i"IIy. 
 the obferved Time, when the Sun entered 
 Libra, A D. 1786, which Year we knew 
 anfwers to the Year 6499 ^^ ^^'^'- Period; 
 during that Time the Earth has made 5793 
 annual Revolutions through the Ecliptic, 
 and 21 15849 Rotations round her Axis. 
 Therefore, it mufl be allowed, that if the 
 Number of the Earth's Rotations (or natural 
 Days) and the Number of Years, or annual 
 Revolutions, meafure the exad: Length be- 
 tween thefe two Points, it muft be mathe- 
 matically true. — Now, I prove by Calcula- 
 tions (c) that they do.—- Thefe Calculations 
 
 have 
 
 |c) Sae Letter, No, XVI f.
 
 "The INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 have alfo this farther Evidence, 'viz. That 
 you may begin them, citlier at the autumnal 
 Equinox, 706, A. I. P. or when, (by Ob- 
 fervation,) the Sun v/as feen to enter Libra, 
 A. D. 1786, and the Calculations will come 
 out the fame to a Minute, which no aftro- 
 nomical Tables, yet extant, will do. ^During 
 this Time, the Moon will have made jib^j 
 Lunations or Revolutions round the Earth, 
 and Half another, when She interfe^ted the 
 Earth's Orbit, through the Ecliptic, and 
 caufed an Eclipfe of the Sun, A. D. 1786, 
 July 25 D. 8 H. 43 M. P. M. 
 
 If, after this, any one fhould dlfpute the 
 Point, whether Mofes has given proper In- 
 ilrudiions concerning the Place of the Sun 
 and Moon, the Day of the Week, ^c, at the 
 Creation. — ^He muft allow that we have been 
 very lucky in getting Information for doing 
 It. (d) 
 
 Thefe Notions being different from thofe 
 B adopted 
 
 (J) Set Letter, No. XVII,
 
 ro "The INTRO DUCTION. 
 
 adopted by Writers on the Subject, I re- 
 mained diffident of my. own Opinions, not- 
 withftanding my Calculations of the Motions 
 of the Heavenly Bodies, confirmed me they 
 were true, t;ill I defired Mr. Heavifide, who 
 had fome Friends among the Royal Society, 
 eminent in Aftronomy and Philofophy, to 
 ViXQW them thefe Letters, with my Diagram, 
 and to get their Opinions and Remarks on 
 tnem. 
 
 The Gentlemen returned him for anfwer, 
 that I had proved, to Demonflration, that 
 the Sun and Moon were in the fame Places 
 in the Heavens, in the Year 706 of the Ju- 
 lian Period, (as they mull: have been in the 
 Year in which the Creation happened, ac- 
 cording to the Mofaic Chronology,) and that 
 the Earth had made juft the fame Number 
 of Rotations, which I had poftulated it had. 
 But with Regard to thofe Points in the Dia- 
 gram, wherein I differed from the general 
 received Opinions, they did not determine.(e) 
 
 That 
 
 (c) See Letter VIl.
 
 rbe INTRODUCTION. n 
 
 That they liked my Letters fo well, that 
 they would have read them before the Royal 
 Society, had they not been joined with Re- 
 ligion, which was contrary to one of their 
 Rules to enter on. 
 
 Not receiving the Satisfaction from thofe 
 Gentlemen I hoped for, concerning the 
 Points wherein I differed from general re- 
 ceived Opinions, I got another Friend, who 
 was intimately acquainted with an eminent 
 Aftronomer, to requefl his Remarks thereon ^ 
 to whom I alfo fent one of my Diagrams. — 
 After fome Time, he fent his Remarks in 
 the following Words, *' I have examined 
 *' fome Parts of it, and find it to be fuiiicient- 
 " ly exaCt; I muft however obferve, that the 
 *• Method of reprefenting the Sun's Place, 
 " and alfo the new and full Moons, for a 
 ** given Year, by a Diagram, is by no Means 
 " new; fince not only 'that h;?s been done, 
 ** but, by certain moveable Circles, the Lu- 
 ** nations and Seafons of the Eclipfes have 
 ** been £hewn for a jjiven Number ot Years. 
 •* There are, however, feverai Ailertions in 
 
 '* the
 
 12 The IN'TRODUCriON, 
 
 * the Explanation which accompanies the 
 ' Diagram, which, I believe, will not be 
 
 * readily granted. — The Confl:rud:or of the 
 ' Diagram, fays— AJironomers^ tell us, that 
 ' the Ecliptic is equally divided into 1 2 Signs, 
 
 * ^ 30 Degrees each ; but it is net Jo, — Now 
 ' the Truth is, that the Ecliptic is equally 
 ' divided by the twelve Signs, and when 
 ' thefe twelve Signs are referred to the Equa- 
 ^ tor, they necelTarily occupy unequal Por-- 
 
 * tions of that Circle, from the Inclination 
 ' of the two Circles, (f) Befides, the Ecliptic 
 ' cannot with any Propriety , be called an 
 
 * Elipfe. — It is only the Line defcribed ap- 
 ^ parently by the Centre of the Sun, viewed 
 
 from the Earth, during the annual Revo- 
 lution of that Planet round that great Lu- 
 ' minary. — That I am not at all difpofed to 
 
 * enter into any Difcuffion concerning the 
 ' Accuracy either of the ancient Ifraelites, or 
 
 * the modern Jews, in calculating the Times 
 ' of their Feails. — I muft however obferve, 
 
 * that the Lengai of the tropical Year is not 
 
 " exadly 
 
 (f) The Equator is a Circle— -The Ecliptic an Elipfe.
 
 Ihe INTRO DUG no N. 13 
 
 *' exactly 3*^-5 D. 5 11. 49 M. but is at pre- 
 *' fcnt a few Seconds fli )rter, and has been 
 ** continually dimini£hing,fomewhat unequal- 
 ** ly, fur feveral Centuries paft; and will, in 
 " all Probability, continue to diminifh for 
 '* many Ages to come." — On this I beg 
 Leave to remark, that there, certainly, have 
 been formed very exa6t Diagrams, reprefent- 
 ing the Sun's Place, 6cc. for a given Year — 
 But then thefe have been made by the A fTi fi- 
 ance of Equations and Anomilies, to make 
 the 365 Rotations of the Earth, to tally with 
 the 360 Degrees of the Equator. — Thus, as 
 he has very juftly obferved, when the 365 
 Rotations of the Earth, through the Ecliptic, 
 is referred to the Equator, they necelTarily 
 occupy unequal Portions of that Circle, fo 
 unequal as 365 is to 360. From which it is 
 agreed, that a Diagram has been formed to 
 ihew the Sun's Place, &c. in a given Year, 
 by the artificiaiyit2ins of Equations and Ano- 
 milies -, but mine, on the coi^^trary, is formed 
 according to Nature ; that is, by the Rota- 
 tions of the Equator ofify, the file Meaf re of 
 IT/W, without Equations or Anomihes. — I 
 
 will
 
 14 "The INrRODUCriON. 
 
 will now beg leave to remark, that Mofes in 
 his Hiftory tells us, that the Sun and Moon 
 were both placed in the HeaVens, to meafure 
 and point out the Seafons, the Days, and 
 Years : (g) Hence the Reafon why thofj Na- 
 tions who have made Ufe of one of them only, 
 have never yet been able to keep the appoint- 
 ed Seafons of the Year they were defigned or 
 inftituted for. 
 
 The only ancient People, whoie Hiflory 
 can be confirmed by true Chronology, and 
 proved by Aflronomy, were the Ifraelites, 
 whofe Years were formed by the Sun and 
 Moon, jointly. — That is, the Moon, by in- 
 terfering the Earth's Orbit, prevented the 
 Beginning of -the folar Year going from the 
 appointed Seafon j their Year always ended 
 at the firil full Moon which happened either 
 upon, or, the firfl which fucceeded, after 
 
 the 
 
 (g) Gen. I. 14. Mofes fays, that the Sun and Moon were jointly ap- 
 pohitcd to meafure, mark., or p')int out the Times and Seafons ; for God 
 faid, let them (in the Plural) be for ^igns, and for Seaioiis, and for Days, 
 and Yeajs. — The Scriptures tarther infoim us, P'almLXXXlX. 37, and 
 CIV. ig. That the Moon is eflabhfhed in Hf aven as a lauhtiil Witneis, to 
 point cut the Seafons,
 
 ne INrRODUCriON, IS 
 
 the autumnal Fquinox. — In Imitation of this, 
 were formed the Olympiads of the Greeks, 
 who fcllowcd the Pofterity of Abraham in 
 this Particular, viz, by governing the Sea- 
 fons of the folar Year, by the Moon's Inter- 
 fedions of the annual Orbit of the Earth ; 
 indeed they differed from them in ending 
 their folar Year at the Summer Solftice; 
 whereas the Ifraelites iiniihed theirs at the 
 autumnal Equinox. — Thus the Chronology 
 of Years was truly recorded by the Olympiad 
 Games, which were celebrated every four 
 Years, on the firfl full Moon which happen- 
 ed upon or after the Summer Solftice. — By 
 this Means they kept the Beginning of their 
 Years at the true Seafons; and this no other 
 Nation has been able to do, notwithftanding 
 the great Improvements which have been made 
 in Opticks and other Sciences ; neither will 
 it be done now, by the Gregorian Calendar, 
 which will vary more than an Hour in one 
 Hundred Years. 
 
 With Regard to the Meafure of the Earth's 
 annual Orbit, through the Ecliptic, whether 
 
 or
 
 i6 ne INTRODUCTION'. 
 
 or not it is equally divided by the twelve 
 SignSj of 30 Degrees each ; let it be remem- 
 bered, that the rotary Motion of the Earth is 
 the only Meafure of Time, and that every 
 Rotation of the Equator is 360 Degrees, m 
 M.'cifure, and 24 Hours in Time. — Now 
 when the Sun is in Conjun^flion with any 
 one of the Signs, fuppofe Libra,- — The an- 
 nual Orbit is meafured by the Number of 
 Rotations the Earth makes during her Paf- 
 fage through the Ecliptic, or till the Sun is 
 in Conjundion with the fame Star, Libra, 
 again. 
 
 Had the annual Orbit of the Earth been a 
 Circle, inftead of an Elipfe, (as the Earth 
 performs equal Areas in equal Times,) thefe 
 twelve Signs would have equally divided the 
 annual Orbit, as well as the great Circle of 
 'the Heavens, and all concentrick Circles; 
 but as it is not a Circle, but an Elipfe, and 
 that Part of the eliptic Orbit which the Earth 
 traverfes in Summer, being much larger and 
 farther f um the Sun, than- the other Half 
 which ii tiaveries in Wmcci', mufl:, of Con- 
 
 fequence.
 
 The INTRODUCTION, 17 
 
 fequencc, make a greater Number of Rota- 
 tions in going through that Half than the 
 other ; indeed by Obfervation we find it to 
 be more than fevcn. 
 
 The Earth meafures the Orbits of all the 
 Heavenly Bodies, as well as her own annual 
 Orbit, by the NumSer of Rotations fhe makes 
 during thofe Orbits, and adding the Over- 
 plus of Degrees beyond the laft Rotation. — 
 For this Purpofe, the whole Equator, or 
 Circumference of the Earth, is, as has been 
 obferved, divided into 360 Degrees in Mea- 
 fure, whilll fhe makes one Rotation round her 
 Axis, from Sun to Sun, and is called a folar 
 or natural Day; which 360 Degrees inMca- 
 fure, are divided into 24 Hours, by a well 
 regulated Clock. — Hence it may be obferved, 
 that, as every Rotation of the Equator 
 contains exadtly 360 Degrees, whilfl a well 
 regulated Clock points out 24 Hours in 
 Time, precifely ; fo Time may be turned into 
 Meafure, and Meafure into Time, recipro- 
 cally. — This has been evinced to Demon- 
 flration by the Trials of Mr. Harri/bn's Time 
 C Piece.
 
 i8 rhe INT RODUCriON, 
 
 Pieqe. — While the Earth is performing this 
 Rotation or natural Day, She is carried for- 
 ward, four iVIinutes of Time, in her annual 
 Orbit viz. That Space of Time which She 
 takes in going from the Star She fat off from 
 the Day before, (which was then in Con- 
 jund:ion with the Sun) till She comes in 
 Conjunction with the Sun again, is juft four 
 Minutes. — But this is a different and diftimfl 
 Motion of the Earth's, forward, in its an- 
 nual Orbit, which has no other Connexion 
 with the diurnal Rotation, than that it is 
 meafured by a ftated Part of that Rotation.— 
 In this Manner the Earth meafures the 
 Length of her annual Orbit, or folar tropical 
 Year; the Period of a Lunation, or the 
 Time while the Moon is going from one 
 Oppofition or Conjundlion of the Sun, to 
 her next Oppofition or Conjunction. — 'The 
 Length of a Lunar Year, or twelve Lunati- 
 ons, — The Length of the Orbits of the Pla- 
 nets, Comets, &c. — And alfo the Times 
 when the Eclipfes are to happen, or that par- 
 ticular Time, when the Moon croffes the 
 Earth's annual Orbit, either in Conjundion 
 
 with
 
 The INTRODVCriON. .9 
 
 with the Sun, and in a dire(ft Line between 
 the Earth and the Sun ^ or in Oppofition, 
 when the Earth is in a dire(5l Line between 
 the Sun and Moon. — The Moon does not 
 meafure her own Orbit, but, points out the 
 Seafons, by Her Interfe(5lions of the annual 
 Oibit of the Earth, 
 
 Let us now examine whether the annual 
 Path of the Earth is equally divided, by the 
 twelve Signs, or not. — She goes from Libra 
 to Ariesy or the fix Winter Signs, or Winter 
 Half, in 178 D. 17 H. 58 M. But the 
 Summer Half, or fix Signs, viz. from the 
 Vernal to the autumnal Equinox, require 
 186D. II H. 51 M. to compleat itj which 
 fhews us She is more than a Week longer in 
 traverfmg the Summer fix Signs, than She is 
 in traverfing the Winter fix Signs. — From 
 whence it may be obferved, that She increafes 
 her Diftance from the Sun, greatly, after She 
 has pafled the vernal Equinox, and that She 
 muft be many thoufands of Miles farther 
 from the Sun, at the Summer Solftice, than 
 She is at the Winter Solftice. — She is alfo 
 
 31 D.
 
 20 The iNTRODUCriON, 
 
 31 D. 5 H. o M. in going through the 
 Sign Virgo, and but 29 D. 4 H. 35 M, go- 
 ing through the Sign Capricorn; which fhews, 
 that, notvvithftanding the twelve Signs or 
 Stars, divide the great Circle of the Heavens 
 into twelve equal Parts, yet the Path of the 
 Earth's Orbit, (which is an Elipfe within 
 that great Circle,) is fo much enlarged when 
 She is paffing through the Sign Virgo, that 
 it requires more than two Rotations of the 
 Equator, to meafure it, than it does to mea- 
 fure the Sign Capricorn —Thus, it is evident, 
 that She traverfes more than 720 Degrees, 
 or more than forty-nine thoufand Miles, in 
 going through the Sign Virgo, than She does 
 in going through the Sign Capricorn.— HcncQ 
 alfo it is evident, that the Earth's Path or 
 Orbit through the Ecliptic, is certainly an 
 Elipfe; which, I believe, few will difpute. * 
 
 We will now endeavour to try whether the 
 following AfTertion of his is true or not, viz. 
 ** That the tropical Year is not exadly 365 D. 
 
 " 5 H- 
 
 * " The Orbits of all the Planets are Elipfes, very little different from 
 *' Circles; but the Orbits of the Comets arc very long Elipfes ; and the 
 " lower Horns of them all are in the Sun."— See fergufon's Aftronomy,
 
 "The INTRODUCriON. 21 
 
 " 5 H. 49 M. hut at prefent a few Seconds 
 " fhorter, and has been continually decreaf- 
 " ing, fomewhat unequally, for fome Years 
 •* pail, and in all Probability will continue 
 *' to diminifh for fome Ages to come,"— . 
 This appears to be an AlTertion without Evi- 
 dence to fupport it. — It is true, that different 
 Aftronomers, by their Obfcrvations, have 
 made the annual Orbit of different Lengths, 
 hardly any two agreeing about what is the 
 Length of it, except thofe who have made it 
 365 D. 5 H. 49 M.— The Length of it, 
 according to ^iv If aac Newton, is 365 D. ^H^ 
 48 M. ^j S. — Hence is partly the Reafon 
 why the ancient Eclipfes, of more than two 
 thoufand Years ilanding, cannot be calculated 
 by the prefent Tables, which come fhort of 
 them. — This Error, has been attributed, to 
 the Moon's being nearer the Earth now than 
 She was then ; but, in Fadt, the Caufe does 
 not arife from this, but from the erroneous 
 tabular Meafure. 
 
 The meafuring the annual Orbit of the 
 Earth, by two Obfervations, only one Year 
 
 between
 
 22 ne INrRODUCriON, 
 
 between is fo precarious, that almofi: every 
 Aftronomer will make a different Obfervation 
 this Year from that he does the next j hence 
 it may be cbfcrved, that different Aftrono- 
 mers will not only vary from one another, 
 but alfo the fame Aftronomer will differ from 
 Himfelf. — Dr. Keil tells us, (^^ that " by 
 ** Obfervations that are made at the Diilance 
 ** of one Year, we cannot fafely rely upon the 
 ** Quantity of the Year colleded from them; 
 ** for a fmall Error of one Minute, being 
 ** conflantly fncreafed, and multiplied by 
 ** the Number of Years, in Procefs of Time, 
 ** would amount to a prodigious Miftake in 
 **' the Place of the Sun, therefore the Aftron- 
 ** omers more accurately determine the Quan- 
 ** tity of the Year, by taking the Obfervati- 
 ** ons of two Equinoxes, at many Years Dif- 
 *' tance from one another ; and dividing the 
 " Time, by the Number of Revolutions the 
 " Sun has made, the Quantity will fhew the 
 ** Time of one Revolution, or nearly the 
 ** Period of the Earth in her Orbit. — For, 
 
 "by 
 
 (h) Left. S2. p. 271.
 
 Ihe INrRODUCriON, 23 
 
 *' by this Means, if there be any Miftakc 
 ** made in the Obfcrvation, it will be divid- 
 ** ed into fo many Parts, according to the 
 " Number of Years, that it will be infenfible 
 '* for the Space of one Year." 
 
 Dr, Keil, as above, having remarked the 
 great Difficulty there is, in obferving when 
 the Sun is in the Plane of the Meridian ; of 
 the Place of Obfervation ; and alfo the Un- 
 certainty of it was fuch, that he calls the 
 Error of a Mmufe 2ifmall Error -, and, there- 
 fore, in order to come near the Truth, we 
 are to take the Obfervations of two Equinoxes, 
 at many Years Diftance from one another, 
 and dividing the Time by the Number of 
 Revolutions the Sun has made, the Quantity 
 will fliew the Time of one Revolution nearly. 
 
 Now in Order to find the Length of the 
 tropical Year, Mr. Kennedy took Dr. Keil's 
 Direction, and tried it by the Obfervations of 
 two remarkable great and cxad; Aftronomers, 
 which were made 168 Years Diflance from 
 each other, — The firft Obfervation was made 
 
 by
 
 24 The IlNrROBVCTlON. 
 
 hy I'ycho Brakes at Vraniberg, A. D. 1585, 
 and the laft by Dr. Bradley y at Greenwich, 
 ^7 S3' ^y ^^^^ ^^ found the Length of the 
 folar tropical Year to be exactly 365 D. 5 H. 
 49 M. (i) From which may be deduced, 
 that 365 D. 5 H. 49 M. is the exad 
 Length of the folar tropical Year, and alfo, 
 that it is no {horter now than it was 168 
 Years ago. ^""^ 
 
 A natural Day, or one Rotation of the 
 Equator, contains 24 Hours in Time, or 
 1440 Minutes; thefe may be called equato- 
 real Minutes, as there are Terminations, in 
 Meafure, on the Equator, which anfwer to 
 every one of them. — The Equator precedes 
 forward 1 1 of thefe Minutes, every folar 
 Year; and in 1440 Years, it pafTes through 
 all its meridional Variations, and at the End 
 of that Period, it returns again to the original 
 Point of the Day, in the fame Place or Me- 
 ridian, where it began, but not on the fame 
 Day of the Week. — As this is an exad: Cy- 
 cle 
 
 (i) Kennedy, P. l^g. (k) Introdnftion, Page 2j.
 
 rhe INTRO DUC no N. 25 
 
 cle of the Sun, fo all the Multiples of this 
 Number will be fo too, as 2880, 3420, 
 5760, &c. will compleat folar Cycles ; there- 
 fore if you know the Time when the Sun 
 enters Libray or any other Point in the Hea- 
 vens, on any one of the Years of any Cycle; 
 by that you vvill alfo know the Time when 
 the Sun enters Libra, the fame Year, in all 
 other Cycles. ,,) 
 
 The fourth C)Cie ended A. D. 1783. — 
 Here we have 5760 Revolutions to try the 
 exad: Length of the folar tropical Year by ; 
 and throughout all this Period of Time, the 
 Sun will be found to enter Libra at the Times 
 calculated, according to the Length of the 
 folar Year being exadily 365 D. 5 H. 49 M. 
 Thus let the autumnal Equinox 706, of the 
 Julian Period, be one Pomt, and the autum- 
 nal Equinox, 6466 of the fame Period, be 
 the other Point. — Between thefe two Points, 
 the Earth has made 5760 Revolutions; and 
 by an accurate Obfervation that Dr. Bradley 
 made that Year, A. D. 1753, at Greenwich, 
 D. which 
 
 (I) See Letter, No. 8, lo.
 
 26 I'he INTRODUCTION. 
 
 which was the Year in Connc(5tion with 6466, 
 of the Julian Period, the Sun was obferved 
 to enter Libra at the Day, Hour, and Mi- 
 nute it did 5760 Years before, and Calcu- 
 lations, according to this Length of the Year, 
 will be found to agree with the Obfervations 
 made every Year throughout this Period> and 
 alfo all fuccseding ones, (m) Is not this De- 
 monftration, that this Length of the Year is 
 perfedlly right ? 
 
 Li Order to underftand fome Parts of thefe 
 Letters the better, I {hall give a Defcription of 
 the patriarchal or ifraelitifh Year, according 
 to the Calendar of it, as it is found in the 
 Scriptures, or as it was obferved by the an- 
 cient Ifraelites. 
 
 It appears clear, that the Seafons in which 
 Mofes ordered the Feafls to be kept, and the 
 Diredions which he gave to the Ifraelites for 
 keeping them, were pointed out by a well 
 known and limple Calendar -, which, at that 
 
 Time, 
 
 (m) See Letter, No. 6.
 
 T:hc INT RO DU C no N. 27 
 
 Time, may be fuppofed to be underftood by 
 ail; therefore, there was no (V-cfion to de- 
 •fcribe it. — This Calendar feems to he formed 
 in a mod fimple, clear, and exadt Manner. 
 They calc.ulated their Months ajlronoinicallyy 
 by the Number of Rotations njads by the 
 Earth, (in Appearance) as mechanically as a 
 Clock points out the Hours of the Day. — . 
 They did not feem to have any Regard to the 
 Motions of the heavenly Bodies, any more 
 than if they had no Motion at all. — Thus, 
 we may remark, that the. Patriarchs, inftead 
 of being left to find out, by Obfervations on 
 the Heavenly Bodies, the Length of the 
 Years, whereby their Feftivals and Seafons 
 were to be calculated and obfcrved, they were 
 inftrudled by a Calendar of integral Days, and 
 Quadrants, to calculate ailronomically the 
 Times appointed for keeping of them, and 
 thereby to record the Ages of the Patriarchs, 
 and therewith the Age of the World ; this 
 they were to do by the folar tropical Year, 
 but to record Events by Days and Months of 
 the lunar. — Indeed had not Mofes, at the 
 Time he ordered them to keep thefe Feftivals 
 
 at
 
 28 T:he I Nr RODuc no N. 
 
 at their particular Seafons, given them Di- 
 redtions how to know when thefe Seafons 
 came, it would be very abfurd to expedt it 
 from them. -But he inftrudied 'them to mea- 
 fure both the folar and lunar Year, by a cer- 
 tain Number of the Rotations of the Earth, 
 or natural Days. — In this Manner the Patri- 
 archs and the Ifraelites always exprelTed their 
 Ages, viz. by Days of Tears, to fhew that 
 their Years were meafured by Days. — Thus 
 when Pharoah afked yacob how old he was. 
 (n) In the Englifh Text it is, *' And Pharoah 
 ^' /aid unto Jacob, how old art thou'' — la the 
 Margin, you have a literal Tranflation of the 
 Hebrew. — *' How many are the Days of the 
 Tears of thy Lfe-," Jacob anfwered him in 
 the fame Stile — ** The Days of my Tears, \^c. 
 
 Thus it may be infered, that their annual 
 Calendars contained a certain Number of 
 Days, and that their Years were meafured by 
 thofe Days. 
 
 They began to count the Beginning of 
 
 their 
 
 (n) Gen. XLVII. 8, 9.
 
 Ihe JNTRODUCriON. 29 
 
 their Days, at Six o'Clock in the Evening, 
 (0} at the going down of the Sun, (which it 
 always did in the Latitude where Paradife is 
 fuppofed to be placed, and, nearly fo, in 
 Egypt and the Wildernefs.) — Thus, as foon 
 as the Sifn w^as out of Sight, they added that 
 Day to the former Number ; and the next 
 Day immediately began. — Six Days of the 
 Week they w^ere to work, which fixth Day 
 ended at the going down of the Sun that fame 
 Evening, when the feventh or Sabbath be- 
 gan j and at the going down of the Sun, the 
 Evening of the Sabbath, their Week, or Cy- 
 cle of feven Days ended, and the firft Day of 
 the next Week began ^ and, in Order to keep 
 and to commemorate their Sabbath, they had 
 a holy Convocation thereon, which was their 
 lirft and principal Feftival, 
 
 Their Day was divided into four Quadrants 
 or Quarters, and had four cardinal Points; 
 the firfl began at Six o'Clock in the Evening, 
 and ended at Mid -night; the fecond ended 
 at Six in the Morning; the third at Mid-day, 
 
 and 
 
 (o) Levit. XXIII, 3a.
 
 30 "The INrRODUCriON. 
 
 and the fourth at Six in the Evening ; when 
 the next Day began. — This is the Method 
 which Mofes ordered Time to be meafured 
 and recorded by, and the Method that the 
 Sun and Moon do it, viz, by the Number of 
 the Earth's Rotations. 
 
 Thus, notwithstanding in Appearance they 
 meafured mechanically by Calendar Num- 
 bers only, yet at certain Times, thefe Num- 
 bers met the Motions of the Heavenly Bo- 
 dies, and their Calculations turned out aftro- 
 nomically true. — They made Ufe of two 
 Years to meafure and record Times and Sea- 
 ibns by ; the one by the apparent Motions 
 af the Sun, (or more properly the Motions 
 of the Earth,) and the other by Lunations or 
 the Revolutions of the Moon j which two 
 Years, being meafured by Days o?ily, pre- 
 vented the Times appointed, at particular 
 Seafons of the Year, from ever altering; and 
 to prevent their forgetting or miftaking the 
 appointed Seafons, when thefe Tranfad:ions 
 began and ended; Mofes ordered Feflivals 
 and holy Convocations to be kept at thefe 
 appointed Times, to commemorate them.
 
 rhe INTRODUCTION, 51 
 
 Their lunar Year confifted of 354I: Days ; 
 and was divided into twelve Months ^ the 
 firft Month of the Year began at the new 
 •Moon before the Feafl of Tabernacles. The 
 firft Day of the Feaft of Tabernacles, or the 
 Ingathering of the Fruits of the Earth, was 
 appointed to commemorate the Place of the 
 Sun and Moon at the Creation, and was al- 
 ways to be celebrated on the 1 5th Day of this 
 Month, or (as expreffed in the Hebrew) the 
 Moon ; which was at its iirfl: Appearance, on 
 the going down of the Sun, after the full, in 
 Commemoration that that was the Place of 
 the Moon, on the fourth Evening of the 
 Creation ; as the autumnal Equinox was the 
 Point where the Sun was firft placed, at that 
 Time.* As has been already obferved, they 
 
 began 
 
 * As this was the firft Day that the Chronology of the World commenced, 
 the Ifraelites, (which is ftill continued amongll the Jews to this Day.) 
 " on their Return from the Synagogue, falute each other with faying, 
 " to a good Year fhall you be writ, for according to Tradition, this is the 
 " Day that God created the World, fo it is that on which God judges it; 
 " and therefore (fays David Levi) (p) in our Prayers, on this Fcflival ; we 
 " pray to God, to renew unto us a good Year." — As Trumpets were al- 
 ways made ufe of on the firft Day of this Feaft, fo it was called the Feaft 
 of Trumpets, a Memorial of blowing of Trumpets, (q) David Levi tells 
 us, (r) " that their Trumpets are always made of a Ram's Horn, in Re- 
 
 (P) P- 75-— (q) Levit, XXIII. 24.— (r) P. -9.
 
 32 rhe INTRODUCTION-. 
 
 began their Days at Six o'CIock in the Even- 
 ing ; their lunar Year began at the fame 
 Point, and confifted of 354^ Days ; fo 
 the iirfl lunar Year began, at the fame car- 
 dinal Point with the Day, and it ended at 
 the cardinal Point of the next Quadrant, viz. 
 at Mid-night ; the fecond ended at Six in the 
 Morning; the third at Noon, and the fourth 
 at Six in the Evening; at which Point of" 
 the Day, the lunar Year was compleated and 
 ended ; and was then added to the End of 
 the fourth Year, which contained 255 Days, 
 whereas, the firft three of this Cycle of four 
 Years, contained only 354. 
 
 This lunar Year was divided into twelve 
 Months, and was calculated by the Patriarchs, 
 and ancient Ifraelites, by Calendar Numbers 
 only, and continued to be fo till after the 
 
 Captivity 
 
 " tnembrance of Abraham offering his Son Ifaac, when the Angel of the 
 " Lord called to him out of Heaven, and faid, lay not thine Hand upon 
 *' the Lad — and Abraham feeing a Ram, caught by the Horns, in a 
 " Thicket, he went and offered Him up for a Burnt Offering, inflead of 
 " his Son ; our Traditions inform us, that happened on this Day, (s) we 
 " therefore make Ufe of a Trumpet, made of Ram's Horn, as a Memorial 
 -pfu." 
 
 (sjGer. XXII. 8. 9.
 
 ne INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Z2> 
 
 Captivity of the Jews, when they learned 
 and introduced a different Method of point- 
 ing out, and of calculating this lunar Months. 
 It is fuppofed they learned their Method ''du- 
 ring their Captivity amongft the Babylonians 
 and Greeks -, from that Time, to this Day, 
 they calculate their xMonths by the Appear- 
 ance of the Moon, next after the Change, 
 and by 29 and 30 Days, according as it ap- 
 peared ; but they never made their Months 
 to contain more than thirty Days. But, ac- 
 cording to the Calendar Numbers of the 
 Ifraelites, their iirft eleven Months contained 
 30 Days each, and their twelfth 24 Days 
 only ; and at the End of their Cycle of four 
 Years, 25 Days. — At this Point, their Ca- 
 lendar Numbers met the Lunations aftro- 
 nomically. 
 
 The firft Day of every lunar Month was 
 called the Month or Moon- day ^ on this 
 Day they had a Feftival, and holy Convoca- 
 tion, as a Memorial that the laft Month was 
 ended, and another began* — By thefe lunar 
 E Months
 
 34 i:he INrRODUCTlON, 
 
 Months, all Events and Tranfadtions were 
 recorded. 
 
 The folar Year, (by which the Ages of 
 the Patriarchs were recorded, whofe Ages 
 were always made to begin and end at the 
 autumnal Equinox, and thereby to run pa- 
 rallel with the Years of the World,) con- 
 tained 365 i Days; hut then this Quadrant 
 at the End of the Year, like the Lunar, did 
 not come into the Reckoning till at the End 
 of the Quadriennium, or Cycle of four Years, 
 was compleated -, fo that the firft three Years 
 of the Quadriennium confifled of 365 Days 
 each, and the fourth of 366. — The folar Day 
 began at Noon, as it did on the fourth Day 
 of the Creation, therefore it anticipates the 
 lunar one Quadrant of a Day, as that did not 
 begin till Six in the Evening, — -Thus, as 
 this Quadrant reached from Noon to Sun- 
 fetting, fo it fhews us that the firft Year of 
 the World muft be reckoned as the fecond 
 of the Quadriennium; therefore, when we 
 would know the Quadriennium of the World's 
 
 Age,
 
 "The INrRODVCriON. 35 
 
 Age, we mufl: add i to A. M. and then di- 
 vide by 4^-this will always give you the 
 Quadriennium fought. — The folar Day was 
 divided into Quadrants, as the lunar, at the 
 four cardinal Points. 
 
 Hence, it may be obferved, that the lunar 
 Year confifted of 354i Days, and the folar 
 365^. — If we fubftrad: the lunar from the 
 folar, it leaves 11 Days, (the Difference in 
 Length between the two Years ;) which is 
 called the EpaSi, and is a great Means to 
 diftinguifh one Year from another. 
 
 As the two Years were carried on together, 
 and both meafured by integral Days ; fo they 
 regulated each other in the following Man- 
 ner ', the firft folar Year was one Quadrant 
 and eleven Days longer than the lunar ; this 
 odd Quadrant was occafioned by the folar 
 Time beginning fo long before the lunar.— 
 The two firft folar Years contamed 730!: 
 Days, while the two lunar contained only 
 708 i, fo that the Epa6f, at the End of this 
 
 Year,
 
 36 "The IN'TRODUCriON. 
 
 Year, was 22^ Days, the lunar Year being 
 fo far fhort of the folar. — The iiril Day of 
 the Month, of the lunar Year, was on the 
 iirft Appearance of the Moon, after the Con- 
 junction, which was neareft to the autumnal 
 Equinox, and came before it : Now, as the 
 Moon was 1 5 Days old, or paffed its Full, on 
 the iirft Year of the Creation, fo if we fub- 
 flrad: 15 from 22, it will leave 7 for the 
 Epa6t; and fo much the new Moon Year 
 will precede the Solar.—The next lunar Year, 
 added to thefe two, will make 1096 Days, 
 while the three lunar contain 1062 J Days 
 only, which are 33^ fliort of the folar. — 
 Now as the twelfth lunar Month contained no 
 more than 24 Days, fo it over-ran the full 
 Moon 9 Days ; therefore as the firft Day of 
 the P'eaft of Ingathering was to be on the full 
 ]V:oon which happened either upon the au- 
 tumnal Equinox, or the next which follow- 
 ed, they added a Month of 30 Days, and 
 the next new Moon, lunar Year, began 6 
 Days after the folar Year ended. The 
 Number of Days contained in the folar Qua- 
 
 driennium.
 
 ne INTRODUCTION. 37 
 
 driennium, are 1461, while the lunar have 
 but 1 41 7; to which add the Month of 30 
 Days, and it makes 1447; v/hich fubftrad: 
 trom 1461 ; the Days of the folar, leave 14, 
 and fo many Days the full Mcon, lunar Year, 
 precede the next folar. 
 
 Hence It may be obferved, that both Years 
 are meafured by integral Days, and that the 
 annexed Quadrant was not reckoned till the 
 Day was compleated, which it always was at 
 the End of every four Years, — At firft View, 
 this annexed Quadrant, at the End of each 
 Year, has the Appearance as if it would caufe 
 a Confufion between them ; but the contrary 
 is found to be the Fad:; for it may be ob- 
 lerved, that the Quadrant, annexed to both 
 Years, redify each other in fo exadl a Man- 
 ner, that it appears to be appointed by God 
 himfelf, as the Medium or Bond of Con- 
 nexion between them. 
 
 From what has been faid, it may be re- 
 marked, that take any four Years of the 
 
 World,
 
 38 ne INTRODUCTION. 
 
 World, the lunar Computation is not only 
 included in the folar, but is equal to it. 
 
 For firft, every four folar Years in Suc- 
 ceffion, include firfl four lunar Years, three 
 of which conlifl of 354, and one of 355 
 Days, whofe Sum is 141 7. Secondly. They 
 include four lunar Epad:s, three of which 
 conliil: of 1 1 Days, and one of i o Days, 
 whofe Sum is 43 Days, which being added 
 to 1 41 7, make 1460, Thirdly. They include 
 four Quadrants, which make one Day; to 
 1460 add that one Day, and the whole 
 Amount of lunar Days will be 1461, the 
 fame as the Solar. 
 
 The folar Year, like the Lunar, was di- 
 vided into twelve Calendar Months ^ — the 
 iirfl eleven contained the fame Number of 
 Days that the Lunar did, viz. of 30 Days 
 each; but the twelfth had 35 Days. — Thele 
 twelve folar Months began and ended at the 
 fame Point of Time with the twelve Signs — 
 they began when the Sun entered Libra, till 
 
 after
 
 Tbe INTRODUCTION. 39 
 
 after the Exodus of the Ifraelites out of Egypt, 
 when they altered the Beginning of the Year 
 by God's exprefs Command, from the au- 
 tumnal Equinox, to the Vernal ; their firft 
 Month was altered to the feventh, and their 
 feventh to the firfl: ; (t> their Sabbath was al- 
 tered from the feventh Day to the fixth. — 
 The Ifraelites counted thefe Months by Ca- 
 lendar Numbers, in the fame Manner they 
 did their lunar Months, but at the End of 
 every Quadriennium they met the Sun Ajlro- 
 nomkallyy at the fame Point of the Day, in 
 the fame Sign, 
 
 The Ufe which the Ifraelites made of the 
 Months of the folar tropical Year, was for 
 the coming in and going out of the twelve 
 Courfes of Military Officers, and of the 24 
 Courfes of Priefts, M who waited in the 
 Temple; thefe Prieils went in and came out 
 every Sabbath Day j fo that it came to the 
 Turn of each Prieft (v) to wait two Courfes in 
 the Year, befides the three Feilivals j when 
 
 all 
 
 (t) Exod, KH. 1. 
 (u) 1 Chron. XXIV. 7.— XXVH. 1.— (v) a. King*, XI. 5, 7.
 
 40 "The Il^TRODUCriON. 
 
 all the Courfes waited, (w) They began their 
 Year at the Feaft of the Paflbver, which laft- 
 ed till the Morrow' after the Sabbath, v/hen 
 the wave Sheaf was offered, after which they 
 began to count the feven Weeks, between 
 that and Pentecofl, or the Feafl of Weeks ; 
 the third Feaft was the Feaft of Tabernacles, 
 or Ingathering, which lafted eight Days. 
 Thefe Feafts made four Weeks, when all 
 the Courfes waited^ and the 24 Courfes 
 twice over, made 48 Weeks ; which, with 
 the four Weeks of the Feftivals, make in the 
 Whole 52 Weeks, with one Day for all the 
 Courfes to go out and come in, will compleat 
 the folar tropical Year, which contains 52 
 W^eeks and one Day. 
 
 After the Exodus of the Ifraelites, from 
 their Bondage out of Egypt, they kept their 
 Feaft of Tabernacles and Ingathering, ac- 
 cording to Mofes's Diredions, as do the 
 Jews to this Day, (x) on the ffteenth Day of 
 the /event h Month, (from the vernal Equinox) 
 
 itfhen 
 
 (w) s Chron, V. u. (x) Lcvit. XX HI. 39.
 
 r^e INTRODUCTION. 41 
 
 whe'/i ye have gathered in the Fruit of the 
 hand, ye Jhall ke:p a Feajt unto the Lord, fe- 
 vsn Days, On the jirjl Day jJ) all he a Sabbath y 
 and on the eighth Day jhall be a Sabbath,— And 
 ye prjll take you on the fir/l Day, the Boughs 
 of goodly 'Trees, and ye Jhall rejoice before the 
 Lord your God-, ye Jhall dwell m Booths feverz 
 Days. 
 
 It is worthy of Obfervation, (fi^ys Mr. 
 Kennedy) c) that when the Jews celebrate 
 the Feafl of Tabernacles, as above diredled, 
 in Remembrance of the Creation of the World, 
 which they never fail to do at the appointed 
 Seafon; they celebrate at the fame Time, 
 not only the Birth-day of the World, but of 
 the promifed Meffiah too, who was born on 
 the firft Day of the Feaft of Tabernacles, and 
 circumcifed on the eighth, or great Day of 
 the fame.— But as this is a Seafon of the Year, 
 contrary to the general received Opinion, 
 when Chrift was born j I (hall endeavour to 
 find the real and true Seafon when that hap* 
 F pencd. 
 
 (y) Kcnwdy's Introduftcry Difc6«rfg, P. 19,
 
 42 rhe INTRODV CriON, 
 
 pened. — In order to do this, let us examine 
 the Scriptures, and try what Affiftance may 
 be received from them, for when they are 
 examined carefully, and with a good Inten- 
 tion, we often find that they contain more 
 than we expected to find in them. — It is ge- 
 nerally agreed, that the Ceremonies and 
 Works of the Law were typical of thofe 
 Things which were fulfilled in the Gofpel ; 
 both Teftaments being a Counter-part to 
 each other, as our Saviour told the Jews^ 
 Jearch the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye 
 have eternal Life -j they are which tejiify of tne. 
 If ye had believed Mojes, ye would have be- 
 lieved me : for he wrote of me. (/) That the 
 Temple typified the Body of Chrifl we are 
 certain, for our Saviour himfelf told us fo. (aa) 
 The Feaft of Dedication of Solomon's Tem- 
 ple, was kept on the Feafl of Tabernacles, (bb) 
 in the feventh Month, — and on the eighth 
 Day they made a folemn Afiembly for its 
 Dedication. If this w^as a Type of Chriil, 
 
 there 
 
 (t) John V. 39. 4*t— («>) Jo*5» n. 19. 2j.— (bt) II. Chron. V. 3. 7. 8.
 
 IJji INTRO DUG no N, 43 
 
 there is no Doubt but that it was fuliilled by 
 its Antitype. 
 
 St, Luke tells us, ^cc) That in the Days of 
 Herod the King, of yudca, that a certain 
 Prieji named Zacharias, of the Courje of Abia. 
 And it came to pafs, that as foon as the Days 
 of bis Minijiration were accomplified, that he 
 departed to his' own Houfe ; and that after 
 thofe Days, his JVtfe 'Elizabeth, conceived and 
 hid herfef five Months-^ And in the fixth 
 Month y the Angel Gabriel was fent from God, 
 to a Virgin, and faid unto her — behold thy 
 Coiifin Elizabeth, fie has alfo conceived a Son 
 in her old Age, and this is the fixth Month 
 with' her. 
 
 In order to know the Seafon of the Year 
 when this happened, St. Luke tells us, that 
 it was dired:ly after Zacharias s Days of Mi- 
 niftration were accompliflied — And that Za^ 
 charias was of the Courfe of Abia. — And in 
 Chronicles (•id) we are informed that Abia be- 
 longed 
 
 (cc) Luke I. 1. 23; &c.— Jcia) I. Chron. JJXIV. if.
 
 44 l^he INrRODUCriON. 
 
 longed to the eighth Courfe. — Now the 
 Priefls began thefe Courfes of Miniftration 
 after the Sabbath (which followed the Pall- 
 over) was over. — During the Feaft of the 
 PafTover, or Feafl: of Unleavened Bread, 
 (which was feven Days,) all the Courfes of 
 the Priefts miiiiftered together. — That the 
 Beginning of the fifty t)ays, between the 
 Feaft of the Paflbver, and the Feafl of Weeks, 
 was to commence on the Morrow after the 
 Sabbath, when the wave Sheaf was offered ( ee} 
 fo that the firfl Courfe were to bedn their 
 Miniftration on the fecond Sabbath after the 
 Pallbver, which was (ff) Jehajorlb-, the fe- 
 cond yedaiah ; the third Horim ; the fourth 
 Searim -, the fifth Milchijah ; the fixth Mija- 
 min-, the feventh Hahhez — the next Week 
 came the feafl of Weeks or Pentecofl. — 
 Hence the Courfe of Ahiah, (which was the 
 eighth) did not come m till the Week after 
 Pentecofl. — Now if we count the Weeks 
 they will be, the PafTover two Weeks, be- 
 tween that Feafl and Pentecofl feven Weeks, 
 
 Pentecofl 
 
 {*«} l«vi^. XXIII. X5.— (ff ) X. Chfoo, XXIV, 7 to 10.
 
 Hhi INTRODVCflON. 45 
 
 Pentccoil one Week, and Abias, the Week 
 after, one Week} in all eleven Weeks. — So 
 that the Week after his Miniftration muft 
 be the twelfth after the PalTover Day. — Sub- 
 flrad 12 from 52, the Number of Weeks in 
 a folar tropical Year ; and there will remain 
 40 Weeks, the exad Time of Geflation, to 
 which add one Day for the Day of the Birth, 
 and that will bring it to th,^ Pafloyer Day, 
 when John Baptiil was born, — hdd to this 
 fix Months, (the Difference between the 
 Conception of Elizabeth, and when the An- 
 gel Gabriel was fent to the Virgin) and it 
 will bring it to the 15th of the lev entU 
 Month, when Chrifl was born. 
 
 Now multiply the 40 Weeks by 7, and 
 the Produd will be 280 ; add i for the Day 
 of tlie Birth, and it will make 281 Days, 
 (as thefe are lunar Months) fubflrad 266 
 Days for the nine Months of Geflation, and 
 the Remainder 1 5 will cxprcfs the true aftro^* 
 nomical Day when the Baptiil and MefTiah 
 were born,-^Johii the Baptiil was born on 
 
 the
 
 46 "The INfRODUCriON. 
 
 the 15th of the firft Month, or PafToverDay, 
 and the MeiTiah on the 15th of the feventh 
 Month, when the Feaft of Tabernacles com- 
 menced. 
 
 The vulgar Era of ChriH-'s Birth w^»s not 
 fettled till A. D 527, whin it was done by 
 Dionifius, a Roman Abbot, fintc which it 
 has been generally received and followed by 
 Chriftians. — Had this Era began in the Time 
 of the Apoflles, there is no Doubt but it had 
 been right, but as it did not become ?n P'ra 
 till the fixth Century, it is not at ail to be 
 wondered at, if it fliould be found to be not 
 exad:ly right, as it certainly is not.—As there 
 is no Certainty in Chronology, without it is 
 confirmed by Aftronomy, I Ihall endeavour 
 to fettle it according thereto. 
 
 We are told in the Gofpel (gg) that Chrilt 
 was born while Herod was King of Judea ; 
 who fought to kill Him, as foon as he heard 
 of his Birth ; but Jojephy being warned of 
 
 God, 
 
 (gg) Matthew II. iff.
 
 the INTRODUCriON. 47 
 
 God, fled into Egypt with him, where he 
 remained till he heard of Herod's Death, 
 which happened in the Year 47 11 of the 
 Julian Period; but the vulgar Era, fettled 
 by Dionifius, makes his Birth to have hap- 
 pened in the Year 4713 of that Era. 
 
 yofephus informs us (hh) that Herod died in 
 the 26th Year of Auguflus Caefar, and a little 
 before the Paflbver, and that there was an 
 Eclipfe of the Moon during his lad Illnefs.— 
 Now, if we calculate that Eclipfe of the 
 Moon, it muft fettle aftronomicaDy the Year 
 when Herod died. 
 
 This Eclipfe is not to be found amongfl 
 the Catalogue of Eclipfes, but Mr. Fergufon 
 (») fays, ** It appears by our Allronomical 
 •* Tables to have been in the Year of the Ju- 
 ** lian Period, 4710, March 13th, at 3 
 •* Hours pad Mid-night, at Jerufalem." — 
 
 At the End of this Introduaion m I fhall 
 
 add 
 
 (hb) Jofcphu* lib. XYII. C«p. 8 and 11. — (li} Fcrsufon, P. 385, S. 395.
 
 48 ne INTRODUCTION. 
 
 add a Calculation of this Eclipfe, by which 
 it will appear, that Mr. Fergufon has made 
 a Miftake of one Year in his Calculation, for 
 you may obferve, from my Calculation, that 
 this Eclipfe mufl have happened A I P 471 1 , 
 and not 4710, and that it happened accord- 
 ing to Mr. Fergufon's Time, March 13, 
 N, S. 3 H, 40 M. 33 S, It could not be 
 on the 13th of March, 4710, becaufe the 
 Full Moon, in that Year, happened on the 
 23d Day of March, inflead of the 1 3th, when 
 the Moon's Node wag too far Diilant, at that 
 Time, from the Sun, to caufe an Eclipfe. 
 
 As it may beobferved from thefe Calculati- 
 ons, that our Saviour was born on the iirfl 
 Day of the Feaft of Tabernacles, in the 26 th 
 of Auguftus Ca^far, on a Sunday, the ieventh 
 Day of the Week from the Creation, in the 
 Year of the World, (according to the Mofaic 
 Chronology) 4005, about five Months be- 
 fore Herod died, which Jofepbm tells us was 
 a little before the PaiTover Day, or the 14th 
 of Nifan, which happened that Year on April 
 
 II*
 
 Thi IN'TRODUCnON, 49 
 
 ir, of the Julian Calendar. — This corredls 
 the vulgar Era, two Years and 89 Days : It 
 was then propofed to bring the Beginning of 
 the Year, from the autumnal Equinox, 
 (nearly the Place it had got by irregular In- 
 tercalations,) back to the Calends of Ja- 
 nuary. 
 
 Soon after the Feaft of Tabernacles, when 
 Chrift was born, and Herod fought his 
 Death by ordering all the young Children in 
 Bethlehem, of two Years old and under, to 
 be (lain; Jofeph carried him into Egypt, where 
 he remained till after Herod's Death, which 
 happened about five Months after. 
 
 As the Reader may be defirous to know 
 the Reafon why Chriftians kept the Feflival 
 of Chrill:*s Birth, at the Winter Solflice, in- 
 ftead of the Autumnal Equinox, which ap- 
 pears to be the true Seafon 5 and, as Hiftory 
 is filent hereon, I fhall give the moil pro- 
 bable Account I can concerning it. — In or- 
 der to do this, it appears proper to examine 
 the Method of recording Events at that 
 Time, G I»
 
 50 "The INr RODU CriON. 
 
 In the ill ft Place, it muft be obferved, 
 that the Romans were Mailers ^of the then 
 known World, and that they obliged all the 
 conquered People to obey their Laws. 
 
 Forty -fix Years before the vulgar Era, 
 Julius Casfar, finding great Inconveniencies 
 to proceed from the Irregularity of the Ro- 
 man Calendar then in Ufe, which was of a 
 lunar Year, and required an Intercalation 
 every Year to make it agree with the Solar ; 
 and that by the bad Management of the Pon- 
 tificesy who had the ordering of it, the Ca- 
 lends of January were got from the Winter 
 Solilice, (to which they had been placed by 
 Numa, about 560 Years before,) nearly to 
 the autumnal Equinox j he therefore, to 
 make a more perfedt Calendar of the Year, 
 called to his Ailiitancc an Aftronomer from 
 Alexandria; who, in order to put the Sea- 
 fons into their right Places, very carefully 
 obferved the Sun's Place in the Ecliptic -, and 
 by reckoning the greater Part of Odiober, 
 November, and December, twice over, he 
 eifeded it, — Thus, when by the old Calen- 
 dar,
 
 "The INTRODU CriON, 51 
 
 dar, the Year was got to the Calends of Ja- 
 nuary, he brought it back and began it again 
 nearly to the autumnal Equinox; by this 
 Means, the Winter Solillce of the new Ca- 
 lendar, (as Ov/V informs us,)* was made the 
 Point where the old Year ended, and where 
 the new one began. 
 
 Other Roman Writer? alfo inform us the 
 fame; but P/Z/zy and Columella tell us, that 
 the Calends of January, with the other Equi- 
 nox, and the Solftices. were placed in the 
 8th Degree of each Sign, and were much 
 perplexed to account for it ; but the Fa6l ap- 
 pears to be, that the Alexandrian Artronomer, 
 finding that the Equinoxes had preceded the 
 Calendar Meafure, he ordered the Beginning 
 of the political Year to be placed in the 8th 
 Degree of Capricorn y inflead of the firft, 
 thinking thereby to place the Calendar Com- 
 putation where it might agree with the Solar. 
 
 About ten Years before our Saviour was 
 
 born, 
 
 * BmiKa noyi priifka eft vetcrifque NoviJJimus Annif 
 Frincipium capiunt Fhcckus ct Annus idem, Ovi»«
 
 5?. "the INrRODUCriON. 
 
 born, they found that an Error had been 
 committed, by adding the Day of the Leap 
 Year to every third Year, inftead of every 
 fourth, whereby three fupernumerary Days had 
 got into the Calendar ; but by Auguji C(pfar\ 
 ordering that no LeapYear fhould be again put 
 into the Calendar for the twelve Years next en- 
 fuing, brought it right again j and then ima- 
 o^ined that the Calendar would never more 
 want any farth'er Corredion. — 1 his was be- 
 li>.ved fo late as the Council of Nice, which 
 was heldj according to vulgar Era, A. D. 325. 
 For by their pafchal Canons, they erroneoufly 
 fixed the aifb of March fur the Sun's Entry 
 into the Equinoctial Point, and took it for 
 granted, that it would be immovcably fixed 
 to that Day of the Julian Calendar.— For it 
 does not appear that Aftronomers were capa- 
 ble of obferving the exad: Time of the Sun's 
 entering the Equinodial Points, till ^ycho 
 Brake, by his Improvements in Aftronomy, 
 did it. — After this Reformation by Julius 
 and Auguilus Caefar, to prevent Confufion 
 by different Calendars, Strauchas informs 
 ^s, (iij that fevere Laws were made to punifli 
 
 any 
 
 (11) Book XV. Chap. 41, (Salt's TramOation.)
 
 TZv 1 NTRODUCriON. 53 
 
 any People who did not conform thereto, or 
 who mads Ufe of any other. 
 
 Now the above was the State of Calendar 
 Computation at the Coming of Chrift, — All 
 the K.oman Empire kiiuwing what Pains 
 Julias C^efar had taken to fet all the Seafons 
 in their true Places, and to make a true Ca- 
 lendar of the Year, it would have been ftrange, 
 and have the Appearance of great Obilinucy, 
 for any one to have a6ted in Contradiction to 
 it ; and therefore, the Chriftians, no doubt, 
 did conform to it, and made Ufe of it; for, 
 it was one of the Principles of Chriftianity, 
 taught by St. Peter himfelf, (mm) <' to fubmit 
 " themfelves to every Ordinance of Man for 
 ** the Lord's Sake, whether it be to the 
 ** King as Supreme, or unto his Governors." 
 
 Thus it may be obferved in what a State 
 of Confufion the Calendar Computation had 
 been in, about the Biith of Chrift; and what 
 Pains had been taken, by the Roman Em- 
 perors, to fet it upon a right Foundation. — 
 
 He 
 
 (min} It Petcf; II, jg.
 
 54 "The INfRODUCriON. 
 
 He was born amongft the Jews, who, with 
 the Patriarchs and Ifraelites, from the very 
 Beginning to this Time, have always be- 
 lieved, that the Creation happened at the 
 Full Moon neareft after the Autumnal Equi- 
 nox, and that the Feafl of Ingathering was 
 appointed by God, and ordered by Mofes to be 
 kept in Commemoration of it. — The Feafl of 
 Tabernacles was ordered to be kept at the 
 fame Time; but as that was to be a Memo- 
 rial of their Deliverance from the Egyptian 
 Bondage, when they dwelled in Tabernacles, 
 fo they were ordered to drefs their Habita- 
 tions with green Boughs, to commemorate 
 it ; (nn) Chrifl being born amongft the Jews, 
 on the firjl Day of this Feaji, the Chriftians 
 dreifed their Houfes alfo with green Boughs, 
 for a Memorial that Chrift was born on that 
 Day. 
 
 Now as Chrift was born on New Tears 
 Day, and as St. Paul tells us M that in his 
 Time, '* there were many unruly and vain 
 f* Talkers and Deceivers, efpecially they of 
 
 " the 
 
 (nn) See P. 41.— (00) Titus, I. i»(x
 
 the INrRODUCriON, 55 
 
 ** the Circumcifion," (foon after which the 
 Circumcifion and Uncircumcifion fcparated 
 themfclves from each other) ; it would liave 
 been aftonifliing had the Chrifcians obferved 
 their Seafons by any other Calendar than that 
 which Julius Csefar and Auguftus had taken 
 fo much Pains to make compleat: But though 
 they kept the Feftival in Commemoration of 
 tlie Birth of Chrift, on New Tears Day. ac- 
 cording to the Julian Computation, yet full 
 they continued their Cuftom of drefling their 
 Habitations with green Boughs, to fliow that 
 it was on the Feaft of Tabernacles that He 
 was born. — It may be obferved, that they 
 alfo fettled every other Feaft and Feftival ac- 
 cording to the Julian Calendar. — The Names 
 of the twelve Signs begin in the Latin Lan- 
 guage, it appears probable they were given 
 to them at this Time.— For though they are 
 the fame with the folar Months of the If- 
 raelites, yet the Knowledge and Ufe of them 
 were almoft loft. — It does not appear that 
 any People befides the Jews and Greeks made 
 Ufe of the folar Year, all others had the lu- 
 nar, with Intercalations; this was Numas 
 Year. For
 
 56 the INl'RODUCriON, 
 
 For the Reafons before- mentioned, Julius 
 Ca?far, with the Affiftance of an Alexandrian 
 Aflronomer, altered it to the folar ; and they 
 then b lieved they had fettled the Calendar 
 in fo exa(ft a Manner, that the Seafons would 
 always the^e. fter be kept to their true Places. 
 The ifraelites diftinguilhed their falar Months, 
 as well as their lunar, by Numerals; but, it 
 feems, (as Julius Csefar was not willing to 
 make fo great an Alteration in all the civil 
 Months, as to make them to tally exad:ly 
 with the Signs in the Heavens,) that the 
 Aftronomer gave Names to the Signs, ex- 
 preflive of the Seafon of the Year which they 
 pointed out. 
 
 Thus Aries, the Ram, the Point when the 
 Sun enters the Vernal Equinox, was repre- 
 fented by a Ram, the Horns of Animals be- 
 ing always made Ufe of to fhew the Strength 
 of the Sun -, fo the Ram, the Head of the 
 Flock, was a proper Emblem to exhibit to 
 us, by his Horns, the increafmg Strength of 
 the Sun's Heat. 
 
 The
 
 ne INrRODUCriON, ^7 
 
 The 2d was T'aiiriis^ the Bull, the ftrong- 
 efl of all domeftic Animals ! who, together 
 with his Horns y gave us a proper Idea of the 
 great Strength of the Sun, whilffc it paiTed 
 through this Sign, which it entered about 
 the 13th of April. 
 
 The 3d was Gemini or TwinSy informing 
 us, that at the End of this Sign, the Heat 
 of the Sun, and his twin Brother, the cold 
 Ether, then bore an equal Share in the Go- 
 vernment of Nature. The Sun ended this 
 Sign about June 21, when 
 
 The 4th began, which was reprefented by 
 Cancer^ 2. Crab, to inform us, that as the 
 Crab went backwards, whilfl other Animals 
 walked forward, fo this Animal exhibited to 
 us the retreating Power of the Sun at this 
 Seafon. 
 
 The 5th is Leo, the Lion, the mofl: power- 
 ful Beafl of the Forefl ! and is very expreiTive 
 of the violent Heat of the Sun, whilft it 
 pafles through this Sign, which it enters a- 
 H bout
 
 58 "The INTRODUCriON. 
 
 bout July 21. — Notwithftanding the Aftro- 
 nomer did not alter the civil Months, to be- 
 gin and end according to the Signs in the 
 Heavens, yet he named one of thcfe Months, 
 which anfwered nearly to this Sign, Julius, 
 in Honour to his Patron Julius Ccejar, letting 
 us know, that as the Heat of the Sun was 
 then at the greateft, fo it commemorated the 
 greateft Emperor of the World. 
 
 The 6th Sign was Virgo, reprefented by 
 a young Woman, into which the Sun enters 
 about the 22d of Auguft : a young Woman 
 grown to Puberty, is the Inftrument by 
 which the Increafe of the Human Species 
 is brought forth ! during this Sign, the 
 Trees and Vegetables produce their Fruit 
 and Seed. — Hence, the Ailronomer thought 
 it proper to exhibit the Reign of Auguftus 
 Csefar ; in whofe Time Peace and Plenty 
 reigned, and Arts and Sciences flourhhed. 
 
 The 7th is Libra, into which the Sun en- 
 ters about Sept. 2 2d, where one Year ends, 
 and another begins ! Here alfo the Twin- 
 Brothers,
 
 "The INrRODUCriO N. 59 
 
 Brothers, Heat and Cold, ballance each other; 
 what can more properly rcprefent tiiefe than 
 a Pair of Scales ? 
 
 The 8th Sign is Scorpio, a Scorpion ; a 
 deftru(fiive Animal i who does its Mifchief 
 by his hinder Part or Tail ; reprefenting to 
 us the Injury done by the cold Ether Jollow- 
 ing the departing Heat. — The Sun enters 
 this Sign about Od:. 22, and on Nov. 21 
 comes 
 
 The 9th, Sagittarius, the Shooter, to ex- 
 hibit to US the great Power of the cold Ether, 
 during this Sign; which greatly hurts, kills, 
 or deitroys a large Part of the Produdrions of 
 Nature; v/hofe Arrows are fo llibtile and 
 piercing as to enter tiie Peres of all 
 Matter. 
 
 The loth Sign is Capricornus, a horned 
 Goat ; an Animal who gets his living by 
 climbing Hills and Precipices ! A very pro- 
 per Emblem to reprefent the riling Strength 
 
 of
 
 6o Ihe INTRODUCriON, 
 
 of the Sun ! which it begins to do about the 
 2ift of December, when the Sun enters this 
 Sign. 
 
 The I ith \^ Aquarius , reprefented by flow- 
 ing Water, to denote this watery Seafon. 
 
 The 1 2th and laft is Pifes, Fiflics ; the 
 moO: prolific of ail Animals ! reprefenting to 
 us the approaching Fertility of the Seaiun ; 
 when Seeds and Plants are made to vegetate 
 by the growing Power of the Sun. 
 
 From the above Account of the Signs, it 
 may be remarked, that Heaf and Co/J were 
 then believed to be the Agents which go- 
 verned the Mechanifm of Nature. — In this 
 they agreed with the ancient Philofcphcrs ; 
 for Plato tells us, ** that they maintained 
 ** that Fire and Heat govern all other Thing?,'' 
 and " that Fire expands all Bodies outward, 
 ** and that Air comprejfes them together in- 
 *' ward, and counterads the internal Fire : By 
 ** the Minijiry of thefe Caujes a perpetual Cir- 
 " culation is kept up." Thefe, (fays he), 
 
 ** are
 
 rhe INrRGDUCriON. 6t 
 
 ** are fccondary and co-operating Crufes, which 
 ** Gi'J make.*: ufe of as his Minifters." And 
 Cicero^ in defcribing the Tenets of the an- 
 cient Plat07vjlsy does it in the following 
 Vv'ords. — ** De Naiirrd autem ita dicebant, 
 ■^^ lit e^m dividerent in Res duas : ut altera 
 
 * efTet ediciens, altera aiitem, quali huic fi 
 ' prebens' — Neque enim Materiam ipfam 
 
 * cohsrere potuide, ii nulla vi contineretur : 
 
 * neque vim fine aliqua Materia.— Ilia Jnitia 
 
 * Elementa dicuntur, e quibus Aer <^ Ignis 
 
 * movendi vim habent 6c eiliciendi, rcliqus 
 
 * Portes accipiendi 6c quafi patiendi^ Aquam 
 ' d'lco &: Terram." ylcad Qus:[\:, lib. i, or 
 n Engli Ji thus. — ** That they divided Na- 
 
 * ture into two Parts, one of which was 
 
 * a£lhe, and the other paj/he. — They held 
 
 * it impoiiible for Bodies to cohere, un'efs 
 
 * tliey were kept together by fome Force; 
 
 * and that it was necefiary this Force fliould 
 
 * be exerted by fome Matter. — In diRinguifli- 
 
 * ing the feveral Ufes of the Elements, they 
 ' attributed to Air and Fire, the Power of 
 
 * giving Motion, and caufmg Effcdis -, to 
 
 " Earth
 
 62 "The INrRODUCriON. 
 
 ** Earth and Water a PaJJtvenefsy or Difpofi- 
 *' tion to receive their Impreffions." 
 
 Hence we are taught the Doctrine of an- 
 cient Philofophers ; which they received, by 
 Tradition, from their Ancellors, and from 
 their Obfervations on the Phenomena of 
 Nature. — Perhaps if we diveft ourfelves of 
 the Prejudices imbibed by our Education, 
 we (hall find it to be true. — It is probable, 
 that thefe Philofophers received their Tra- 
 ditions from Noah and the Patriarchs, as it 
 appears to be thf fame taught by Mofes, who 
 informs us, (pp) that God created the Heavens 
 and the Earth ; " that the Heavens and Skies 
 ** were in continual Conjh^y MotioUy and 
 *' Expanjion ; to which he gave the Name of 
 *' the Placers, the Dijpofers, or Governors, 
 " under God, of all Nature." — We are told 
 in Samuel, (qq) that the Vegetable is pufied 
 out of the Earth by a Jhining Light and by 
 Rain 'y and in the 19th Pfalm we are iniorm- 
 ed, that the Mechanical Circulations oj the 
 Heavejis reprejcnt the Glory oJ God; and the 
 
 Firmament 
 
 (pp) Gen. I. Chap, i.— (qq) II. Samuel, XXIil. 4.
 
 The IN^RODU Cr ION, 63 
 
 Firmament (Expanfton) bis handy Work ; and 
 that their Fuhiefs and Influence reach unto the 
 End of the World. — That in them he has placed 
 the Tabernacle of the Su?2s Light y which com" 
 ing out like a flrong Many prevails to the Ex- 
 tremities of them y and nothing is hid from the 
 Heat thereof To return from this DigrefTion, 
 
 In regard to the Death of Chrift, It is 
 agreed, that he died on a Friday, the Full 
 Moon Day, on the 14th of Nifan. — 'Hence 
 it is no difficult Matter, to calculate the Year 
 when this happened y as, two PalTover Days 
 could not happen on a Friday for many Years 
 following. 
 
 The Time of this PalTover, or the Death 
 of the Meffiah, was foretold by the Prophet 
 Daniel, 562 Years before, (n) In the firfl 
 Year ot the Reign of Darius I. Daniel pro- 
 phelied, ,ss) *' That feventy Weeks (of Years) 
 ** are determined upon thy People, and upon 
 •* thy holy City, to finiHi Tranfgreffions, 
 ** and to make an End of Sin, and to make 
 
 ** Reconciliation 
 
 [rr) Daniel, IX, i. ^ss^ Daniel. IX. 24, 25, 26, 27,
 
 64 "The INrRODUCriON, 
 
 *' Reconciliation for Iniquity, and to bring 
 ** in everlafting Righteoufncfs, and to feal 
 ** up the Vifion and Prophecy. — Know 
 ** therefore that from the going f >rth of the 
 ** Commandment, to reftore and build Jc- 
 ** rufUem, unto Me^lLh the Prince, {lull be 
 ieven Weeks ; and three-fcore and two Weeks 
 ** the Street fhr.ll be built agiin. — And after 
 ** three-fcore and two Weeks, ihall Meffiah 
 ** be cut off, but not for Himfelf. — And the 
 ** People of the Prince that fhall come, fhall 
 ** deftroy the City and the Sand:uary, and he 
 *' Ihall confirm the Covenant with many for 
 ** one V^^eek ; and in the mi^lfl of the Week 
 ** he fliail caiife the Sacrifice and the Obli- 
 ** gation to ceafe, and fas in the Margin) 
 *' upon the Battlements fhall be the Idols of 
 •* the Defolator. * 
 
 yofepbusy who was a Jew, and lived to fee 
 thefe Things accomplidied, could n t help 
 giving the Prophet Daniel, the following 
 Charader, (tt) *' That Daniel did not only 
 '* foretell Things to come, which was common 
 
 "to 
 
 (tt) Jofcph, lib. X. C. 12.
 
 The INTRODUCTION, 65 
 
 *' to him with other Prophets, but alfo/^/ a 
 ** Time for their coming to pafs." — He did 
 not only foretell the Calamity that befell our 
 Nation, from Antiochus, before it happened; 
 but he alfo wrote of " the Dominion of the 
 ** Romans i and of the great Defolation they 
 ** fliould hereafter bring .upon the People.' 
 And St. Matthew tells us, M *' That the 
 *• Difciples came unto Jefus privately, faying, 
 ** when (hall thefe Things be," Jeius an- 
 fwered, ** When ye therefore fee the Abo- 
 ** mination of Defolation fpoken of by Da- 
 ** niel, the Prophet, Jiand in the Holy Place, 
 " (whofo readeth, let him ur^derftand.) Let 
 " them which be in Judea, flee into the 
 ** Mountains. — For then fhall be great Tri- 
 ** bulation, fuch as was not flnce the Begin- 
 *' ning of the World to this Time — And 
 ** they fliall fall by the Edge of the Sword, 
 ** (WW) fin Number 1,100,000, fays fofephus) 
 " and they fhall be led Captive, (in Number 
 *^ fays fojepbus, 97,000) into all Nations, 
 ** and Jerufalem fliall be trodden (or inhabit- 
 ** ed by Gentiles) until the Time of the Gcn- 
 I " tiles 
 
 (uu) Matthew XXIV, |, »5, and ai.-^^ww) Luke XXI, 24.
 
 66 The iNrRODUCriON. 
 
 " tiles bs fulfilled."— Ver. 32, '' Verily I 
 " fay unto you, this Generation fhall not pafs 
 " until all be fulfilled/' which it was in the 
 jQth Tear of the vulgar Era. For 
 
 Jofeohus, who was an Eye 'Witnefs of- the 
 miferable Defolation by the Romans, tells 
 us, (^^^ of the Accomplifhment of all thefe 
 Prediftions ; when Titus laid Siege to the 
 City J when Jerufalem was encompaffed with 
 the (Roman) Armies; v/lien they,. caft a 
 Trench about it, and enclofed it in on every 
 Side J and when ihey caufed the daily Sacri- 
 fices and Oblations to ceafej and when 
 \titus's Soldiers, in Spite of all his Endea- 
 vours to prevent it, fet the Temple on Fire ; 
 and whilli it was in Flames, they fet up the 
 Standards of the Legions, on the Eaftern 
 Porch, and there they facrificed before them 
 after their idolatrous Manner. He alfo re- 
 cords the Month and Day of the Month 
 when Jerufalem was taken and plundered, 
 and the Temple deflroyed; and remarks, that 
 the fecond Temple was burst by the Romans 
 
 the 
 
 (xx) Lib. Xr. Chap. 47.
 
 ^he INTRODUCriON. 67 
 
 the £ime Month, and Day of the Month, on 
 which the iirft X'emple was burnt by the 
 Babylonians. Lib. VII. Chip. 9, 10. 
 
 Sixty-lhree Years after Daniel had made 
 the above Prophecy of the Commandment, 
 for the Return of the Jews, and for the re- 
 Aoring the Polity of Jerufalem, both civil 
 and ecclefiaftical, Artaxerxes Longimanus gave 
 forth, (in the feventh Year of his Reign, 
 A. M. 3550, which anfwe s to A. I. P. 4256) 
 his Decree and Command to Ezra, the 
 Prieft, fyy) ** to go up to Jerafctlem, and with 
 '* him all the Priefts and Levites, and all the 
 ""People of Ifrael, which are minded of their 
 ** own free Will, to go with him, and to 
 " carry in his Hand the Silver and Gold, 
 ** which the King and his Counfellors had 
 ** offered unto the God of Ifrael, and all the 
 ** Silver and Gold, the free will offering of 
 ** the People and the Priefls, and whatfoever 
 " more fhall be needful for the Houfe of thy 
 '* God, which thou flialt have occafion to 
 " bellow," 
 
 Now 
 
 (yy) Ezra VII. xi to 27.
 
 68 ne INrRO DUCriON. 
 
 Now let it be obferved that the feventh 
 Year of the Reign of Artaxerxes, begins and 
 ends aftronomically at the Vernal Equinc^x, 
 as all Kings Reigns recorded in Scripture, 
 after theExodus of the li'raelites out of Egypt, 
 do. — Here begins the firft Point of the Pe- 
 riod of 70 Weeks, or 490 Solar Years, con- 
 taining 365 D. 5 H. 49 M. each — and wc 
 are informed by Mofes, (^z) that they num- 
 bered by Sabbaths of Years. 
 
 Now thefe 490 Years begin in the folar 
 
 tropical Year of the World, 3550, when the 
 
 iixth Year of the Reign of Artaxerxes Longi- 
 
 manus. King of Perfia, ends, and the feventh 
 
 Year of his Reign begins. — Now if to A.M. 
 
 3550 the 490 Years are added, it will make 
 
 4040, the PaiTover when the Meffiah was 
 
 cut off, as is proved by the Calculation at the 
 
 End of this Introdudion. — (0 Alfo, as the 
 
 Mofaic Chronology places the Creation in 
 
 the 706th Year of the Julian Period; fo, if 
 
 we add that Number to it, it will fliew us 
 
 that it was the 4746 th Year of that Period 
 
 when Chrift fuffered. 
 
 Ezra 
 
 (zz) Levit. XXV. 8.— (1} Page .
 
 rhe INrRODUCnON, 69 
 
 Ezra informs us, (2) it was in the Month 
 of Nifan, in the Beginning of the feventh 
 Year of Artaxerxes, in the folar tropical Year 
 of the World, 3550, when he fet off from 
 Babylon to reftore the ecclefiailical and poli- 
 tical State of Jerufalem. — And as may be ob- 
 fervcd by the Calculations at the End of this 
 Introdudion, it was on the 14th of Nifan, 
 A. M. 4040, juft 490 Years after Ezra re- 
 ceived this Commandment, that the MefTiah 
 was cut off A. I. P. 4746, on the 3d of April, 
 on a Friday, in the 19th Year of the Reign 
 of Tiberius Csefar, when Pontius Pilate was 
 Procurator of Judea ; when Daniel's Prophecy 
 of feventy Weeks was completed, by the 
 Death of Chrift, who died on the Crofs, on 
 the Day, Hour, and Minute that the pafchal 
 Lamb was ordered to be Slain ; for God di- 
 redis it to be killed en the fourteenth Day of 
 the Mouthy between the two Evenifigs, ii) 
 
 That the exad Time may be known when 
 the pafchal Lamb was ordered by Mofes to 
 be llain, I will give you the Time according 
 
 (2) Ezra VU.— (3) Exod. XII. 6.
 
 70 The INrRODUCriON. 
 
 to David Levi, who cannot be fuppofed to 
 give a partial Account of it in Favour of 
 Chrifl. — -He tells us (4) the Manner of fo- 
 lemnizing the Paflbver while the firft Temple 
 flood. — '* It muft be obferved, (fays he) that 
 ** the Lamb was to be without Blemifh, a 
 ** Male, of the firft Year, from the Sheep or 
 '* the Goats, and brought to the Temple, 
 ** and there to be killed on this fourteenth Day 
 " of Nifan, between the two Evenings, that 
 ** is, according to the common and very an- 
 " cient Tradition, betwixt the Time of the 
 " Sun's declining from his Meridian Alti- 
 ** tude, till three o'Clock in the Afternoon, 
 " and from Three till Six : after which, the 
 ** Sun going below the Horizon, the fifteenth 
 " Day commences." — St. Matthew (5) and St. 
 Mark (6) both tell us^ that Chrift gave up 
 the Ghoft the ninth Hour, which was at 
 Three o'Clock in the Afternoon, or between 
 the two Evenings, the Time precifely when 
 the pafchal Lamb was to be flain. — Thus, 
 Chrift died on a Friday, lay in the Grave all 
 Saturday, or the Jewifh Sabbath, and was 
 
 raifed 
 
 {4) Page 45.— (0) Matthew XXVII. 50— (6) Mark XV, 34-
 
 The INTRODUCTION. 71 
 
 raifed again on Sunday, the Morrow after the 
 Sabbath, when the original feventh Day was 
 again rellored, and kept as fuch by Chriftians 
 ever fince, which was the Day appointed to 
 wave the Sheaf before the Lord, explaining 
 and fore-fhewing the Refurredtion, v/hich 
 both our Saviour (7) and St. Paul tell us was 
 typical, and gave us an Idea of it; for as the 
 Grain was the iirft Fruits of the Earth, fo 
 was the Refurredtion of Chrid the fir ft Fruiis 
 of the Spirit. 
 
 1 he firft Chriftians were Jews ; therefore, 
 in order to keep a Memorial of the Birth of 
 Chrift, which happened as has been obferved, 
 at the Feaft of Tabernacles ; they took the 
 Boughs of green Trees, to drefs up their Houfes 
 and Churches, or Places of Worfliip, in the 
 fame Manner as the Ifraelitcs and Jews were 
 commanded and ufed to do, and to dwell 
 therein, and to rejoice therein, till the eighth 
 Day, or Chrift's Circumcifion, or of the great 
 Feaft, — (8) This Cuftom, this Memorial of 
 the Birth of Chrift, has been kept by Chrif- 
 
 tians, 
 
 '♦7) John XII. 84, and Corint. XV. 26, 23, 36.— (8) Levit. XXIII. 35.
 
 7?. "The INTRODUCriON, 
 
 tians, without Interruption, from the Birth 
 of our Saviour to this Time: and though 
 now almofl left off, except in our Churches, 
 and amongft the common People, who do 
 not think it Superftition to commemorate the 
 Birth of Chrift ; but our falliionable Gentry 
 are now fo wife in their own Conceit, (9) 
 that they think it Fooliflmefs to believe any 
 Myfteries at all; and Superftition to make 
 ufe of Memorials or Ceremonies, — They are 
 alfo fo charitable to give the Name of En- 
 thuliafls to all thofe who do -, believing no- 
 thing but what they can explain, according 
 to their own Reafon or Imagination.— But 
 this is contrary to the Inftrudtion which St. 
 Paul gives us, (10} that without Controverfy, 
 (fiys he) great is the Myflery of Godlinefs : 
 God was manifeil in the Flc fli — that by 
 Grace we are faved through Faith — (»i} that 
 Faith is the Subftance of Things hoped for; 
 the Evidence of Things not feen, (»2) for we 
 are faved by Hope ; but Hope that is feen, is 
 
 not Hope. (13) 
 
 Now, 
 
 (9) Proverb* XXVI, 12.— (»o) I. Tim. III. 16.— fii) Ephcfians U. f . 
 (t2J Hebrew* XI. 1.— (13) Romans VIII. a^.
 
 the INrRODVCTlON, 73 
 
 Now, as I am going to conclude this In- 
 trodud:ion, and begin my Calculations, with 
 fome critical Remarks on the Holy Scriptures, 
 let the Reader join with me in Prayer to our 
 God Jehovah, that he will open our Eyes, 
 that we may behold wondrous Things out of 
 thy Law, (h) and that his Holy Spirit may 
 aflift us with Grace, whereby we may ferve 
 God acceptably with Reverence and Godly 
 Fear. (15) 
 
 tJr, J in TO u 9 
 Stonehoufe, Plymouth, Sept. 27.» 
 
 In the Year of our Lord, 1787, (according 
 
 to the Vulgar Era) 
 In the Year of the World, 5794. 
 In the Year of the Julian Period, 6500. 
 
 N,B, To prevent any fpurious Editions 
 being impofed on the Public, I {hall iign my 
 Name at the Bottom of the Diagrams, and 
 at the Conclufion of the Introducftion in each 
 
 Book. % 'Jinnti^ 
 
 K CALCULATIONS. 
 
 Ch) P^aln» CXIX, j8.«-(i5) Hebrews XII. %%
 
 74 CJ LCV LA'tlONS. . 
 
 Having now concluded my Introdudilon, 
 I fliall ?-dd forne (Jalculations of Equinoxes, 
 new, full Moons, and Eclipfes, to confirm 
 what has been cbferved therein. — All of 
 thefe begin at the Point wherein Mofes places 
 the Sun and Moon at the Creation, and they 
 come out at the obferved Time when they 
 happened. Now, 
 
 If the unbelieving Deifl, or the doubting 
 Sceptic is not fatisfied herevi^ith, I call on 
 either one of them, in the friendly Words of 
 Horact\ to find out one Equinox, full, new 
 Moon, or Eclipfe, which do not confirm it; 
 if he cannot, let him fhew Caufe why he 
 withholds his Afient to it; as the Sun and 
 Moon bear Witnefs that it is as true as that 
 they are in Heaven. 
 
 Si quid novijii redlius ijiis, 
 Candidus imperii ; fi non, his lit ere Me cum, 
 
 Horace, 
 
 The Point I begin the following Calcu- 
 lations from, is the Autumnal Equinox, in 
 
 the
 
 CALCULATIONS, ys 
 
 the Year 706, of the Julian Period. 7'he 
 Sun, the Earth, JMoon and her Node being 
 then all in the firfl Point of Libra, when an 
 Eclipfe of the Moon ma ft have h-ppened, 
 had they been in Being. — This is an exa^ft 
 Point to begin my Calculations, and from 
 that Point, to the prefent Time, I calculate 
 with a Mathv^matical Exa(!T:nefs. —I fay, that 
 Mofee, (in his Account of the Creation, to- 
 gether with his Dired:ions for keeping the 
 FelHvals, in Commemoration of that great 
 Event,) has informed us, where thQ Sun and 
 Moon were placed at that particular Inftant 
 of Time. — If my Calculations are true, you 
 muft admit that I received my Inftrudjions 
 either from Mofes, or that I obtained them 
 fome other Way. — Now, it does not appear, 
 that this can be obtained otherwile than 
 either by Calculation, Obfervation, or Re- 
 velation. — As to the firH: it is impoffible to 
 be done ; and, it couid not be obtained by 
 the fecond, as there was no liunan Being to 
 obferveit; but MofeS fays, it was revealed 
 by God, and to confirm his Hiflory a-id 
 Chronology, he teils us the Places of the 
 
 Sun
 
 76 CALCULATIONS. 
 
 Sun and Moon at that Time, which was 
 2370 Years before he was born ; and this 
 alfo at a Period of Time, when, (as the ge- 
 nerality of People think) that all Sciences 
 were in their Infancy, — But the following 
 Calculations prove that his Relation is true. 
 Is not this fufficient Evidence to prove any 
 other Hiilory to be true ; if fo, why fliould 
 Mofes's Hiflory be excluded ? 
 
 I have dated this Introdudion, Sept^ 22, 
 A. D. 1787, which agrees with the 6500th 
 Year of the Julian Period.' — This is the real 
 Day I have iiniihed it ; but, had it not been 
 fo, it would have been a very proper Day to 
 have dated it from 5 as this Day, at 46 Mi- 
 nutes pafl Five in this Afternoon, (16) the 
 Earth will have made and iiniflicd 5794 Re- 
 volutions through the Ecliptic, in the firft 
 Meridian ; and in the Meridian of Green- 
 wich Obfervatory, at ten Minutes part Four 
 To-morrow Morning. — This is the precife 
 Point of Time when A. M. 5794 ends, and 
 5795 begins, according to the Mofaic Chro- 
 nology 
 
 (16} See Page 8S.
 
 CALCULATIONS, yj 
 
 nology of the World. — But as Mofes diredcd 
 the Ifraelites to meafure Time by the Sim 
 and xMoon jomtly, (whofc Motions were to 
 be a Check on each other, and by that 
 Means to prevent any Miftake in keeping the 
 Seaibns) fo it was meafured by the Sun j and 
 the Seafons were pointed out by the Moon. 
 (17) Thus, as the Moon was fifteen Days old 
 at the Creation, or a little paft its Oppofition 
 or Full, fo this Feaft of Ingathering, (which, 
 was ordered to be obferved in Commemora- 
 tion of it,) was not to be kept, till the 1 5th 
 Day of the Moon, next after the Sun had 
 entered Libra. Now, as has been ob- 
 ferved, the Sun will enter Libra this Day, 
 but the Moon will not be Full, or in Op- 
 pofition to the Sun, at Greenwich, till Thurf- 
 day the 27th Inftant, at 22 Minutes paft 
 One in the Morning ; and the Jews will be- 
 gin their Feaft of Tabernacles at Six o'Clock 
 in the Evening. And with it they muft ce- 
 lebrate the Birth of Chrift, who was born on 
 the firft Day of that Feaft, and circumcifed 
 on the eighth or the great Day; at which 
 
 Time 
 
 (17) Pfalm CIV, If.
 
 78 CALCULA Tl N S. 
 
 Time the Moon will have made 71662 Lu- 
 nations or Revolutions round the Earth.— 
 The Length' between thefe two Points has 
 been meafured by 21 16214 Rotations of the 
 Equator round its Axis, which being divided 
 by 7, mike 30216 Vv'eeks, and leave in Re- 
 mat nder two Days, to which add the four 
 Dayp of the Creation Week, (before the Sun 
 and Moon were placed in Heaven to meafure 
 and pc^int out the Seafons, the Days, and the 
 Years,) and it will bring it to the Sixth Day 
 of the Week, or Saturday, regularly from 
 the Creation.— This proves, befides thoufands 
 of others, that Sunday was the original Se- 
 venth or Sabbath-Day. — The Saturdays Sab- 
 bath can claim no higher than the Exodus of 
 the Ifraelites out of Egypt. 
 
 If this is not mathematical Demonflration 
 that the Sun and Moon, in the Year 706, 
 A. L P. where in the Places which Mofes in- 
 forms us ', I fliall be glad to know in what it 
 falls fliort of it. 
 
 CALCULATION
 
 CALCULAriONS. 7^ 
 
 CALCULATION 
 
 Of the Eclipfc which happened in the Year 
 471 1, of the Julian Period ; which was the 
 26th of Auguftus Casfar, during Herod's lafl 
 Ulnefs. 
 
 The Mofaic Chronology places the Year 
 of the Creation in the 706th of thje Juliaa 
 Period ; therefore if we fubftrad: 706 from 
 471 1, it will give 4005. The Year of the 
 World anfwering to the 26th of Auguftus 
 Csfar. 
 
 Subftrad One to find where A, M. 4004 
 ends, and 4005 begins. 
 
 
 SOLAR,
 
 CALCULATIONS. 
 
 S O L A P., 
 
 A. M. 4004 Julian Years 
 Minutes y^ 1 1 Julian Excefs 
 
 4004 
 4004 
 
 Minute 7-^.1440x44044/30 Days 
 in a Day j ' J^o^o v 
 
 844 
 Hours in a Day X ^4 
 
 337S 
 1688 
 
 -7-i44o\ 20256/14 Hour* 
 
 )\ 20256/ 
 J 1440 \^ 
 
 585S 
 
 5760 
 
 96 
 
 Minutes in an Hour X ^o 
 
 •-r 1440^ S?^^*^ Minutes 
 J 5760I 
 
 SOLAR.
 
 CALCU LAriOl^ S. 
 
 SOLAR. 
 
 4004 
 
 y(^ 1461 Quadrants in a Year 
 
 4004 
 24024 
 16016 
 4004 
 
 Days H. M. 
 
 Quadrants 7 _^4A5849844/ 1462461 o o Julian Years 
 in a Year J ' J [o)\ 30 14 4 Jul'an Excefs 
 
 1462430 9 56 Sun in Libra, ift 
 Meridian 
 Add to bring Merid. of Jerufalem 1 3 4 
 
 J462430 23 00 Sun in Libra, Je« 
 rufalem. 
 Add, to Oa. 25. 298 
 
 1462728 23 00 
 Julian Biffext, 4004 1462461 
 
 267 23 oo- 
 Aug. 31 243 
 
 Sept. O. S. 24 23 00 at Jerufalem,P'M 
 that is Sept. 25 ii o O.S, 
 
 1462728 23 00 
 add to bring to Aries 178 17 58 
 
 1462907 16 58 
 Julian Biffext. 4005 1462826 6 
 
 81 10 58 
 Feb. 28 59 
 
 March 22 O.S. 22 10 58 Sun in Aries, Js- 
 
 ruralem. 
 
 L
 
 82 CALCULATIONS, 
 
 LUNAR CALCULATION, A. M. 4005. 
 A. M. 
 Yean in a Cycle -ri 9x4004/2 10 Cycles 
 
 J38 \ 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 Lunations in a Year 
 
 X ^2 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 168 
 
 Intcircatory 
 
 Lunations 5 
 
 73 
 
 210 Cycles 
 
 235 Lunations in a Cycl« 
 
 1050 
 630 
 
 420 
 
 49350 
 Lunationt 173 
 
 49523 Lunations
 
 CALCULAr IONS, 83 
 
 LUNAR CALCULATION, A. iM. 4005. 
 
 Days H. M. S. 
 
 In 40,000 Lunations are — 1181223 00 46 40 
 
 9,000 Ditto -V— ^^577S 4 -2 30 
 
 500 Ditto 14765 6 54 35 
 
 20 Ditto — . ggo 14 40 35 
 
 3 Ditto 88 14 12 5 
 
 1462442 i6 56 25 
 Subflraft 1 Day for 49680 Lunations x 
 
 Moon full ifl Meridian, Libra 1462441 16 56 25 
 add to bring to Merid. of Jcrufalcm 13 4 
 
 Moon full Jerufalem j 462442 6 00 25 
 To bring to Oft. 24. 297 
 
 3462739 6 00 25 
 Julian Biffcxtile 4004 1462461 
 
 278 6 00 25 
 Sept. 30 273 
 
 Oa. 5 6 00 25 
 
 and one Day for Apparition 7 Fcaft of Taber- 
 
 nacles \yhen Chrift was born
 
 84 CALCV LAT IONS, 
 
 LUNAR CALCULATION, A. M. 4005. 
 
 Days H. M. S. 
 Moon full in Libra 1462442 6 00 55 
 
 add 5 I -inatioui to bring to i^ifces 147 15 40 8 
 
 ivioon full n Pi fees 
 lo bring to 06t. 24. 
 
 1462589 
 297 
 
 2:. 40 33 
 
 Julian Biflextilc 4005 
 Feb. 
 
 1462886 
 14628^6 
 
 60 
 59 
 
 21 40 33 
 6 
 
 15 40 33 
 
 March O. S. 
 To N. S. 
 
 1 
 11 
 
 ^5 40 33 
 
 12 15 40 3jF.M, 
 Eclipfe of the Moon in Herod's laft Illnefs, Match 12 L. i^ 
 H. 40 M. 33 S. that is March 13 D. 3 H. 40 M. Morn. 
 
 D. H. M. 
 9dd Half Lunation 14 18 : 2 
 
 March N. S. 
 arition 
 
 27 10 
 
 1 I'i 
 
 2 New 
 
 M on 
 
 1 of ^ Ian 
 
 Add 
 
 28 22 
 
 2 
 of Kifan 
 
 March 
 
 42 2a 
 3» 
 
 2 
 
 April 
 
 11 PalTover Evcn#
 
 CALCU LAriONS. 85 
 
 CALCULATION SOLAR, A. M. 4040. 
 OJ CIIRIST'i Death on the Cro/s* 
 
 \4039 /Julian Years 
 Minutes /X^^ I Julian Excefs 
 
 4039 
 4039 
 
 i44o\ 44429/30 Days 
 
 3\ 44429/ 
 / 43^0 V 
 
 1229 
 Hours X24 
 
 4916 
 2458 
 
 1440 \29496 20 Hours 
 ^2880 ( 
 
 Minutes )v 60 
 
 1440 \4i 760 ^29 Minutes 
 ^2880 V 
 
 12960 
 12960 
 
 (.0) 
 
 * In the firft Year of Darius the firft, which anfwers to 
 A. M. 3488, Daniel prophefied, (18; that a future Decree 
 fliould he made for the Reftoration of the Jews, (who were 
 then in Captivity,) again to Jerufalem ; and from the going 
 forth of that Commandment, to the cutting off of theMefliah, 
 ihouldbe 70 Weeks,or 490 Years, — 63 Years after^ and; after 
 
 (18) Daniel IX, 24, 25, 26, 27,
 
 U CALCULAriONS. 
 
 CALCULATION SOLAR, A. M. 4040. 
 OJ CHRIST'S Death on the Crofs, 
 
 4039 
 3461 
 
 4039 
 24234 
 
 36156 
 4039 
 
 D. H. M. 
 
 -f4 '\5900979 /1475244 18 o Julian Reiuftion 
 ^ (3)^ 30 '^'^ 29 Julian Excefs 
 
 Solar Reduction 1475213 21 31 Sun in T "bra, ift 
 
 I'Jeridian, 
 add to bnng to Jerufalexn 13 4 
 
 * 1/5'^ 14 'O 35 Sun in Libra, Jc- 
 rufalem 
 add to bring to Aries 178 17 58 
 
 M75393 4 33 Sun in Aries, Je- 
 i^^rufdltm 
 add to bring to 0£!. 25 298 
 
 1475691 4 33 
 Julian Rcduftion 4040 1475.610 
 
 81 4 c3 
 Feb. 59 
 
 March O. b. 22 4 ^3 Sun in Aries, Je- 
 
 raldlem 
 two future Kings Reign, this Commandment was iffued by 
 Artaxerxes Longimanus, at the End of the Sixth and Begin- 
 ning of the Seventh Year of his Reign, A. M. 3550, to 
 Ezra, (19) to refhorc the ecclefiaftical ana political State of 
 
 Jerufalem. Now if we fubftraft 3550 from 4040, it wil^ 
 
 leave the 490 Years exaftly, between iffuing that Decree, 
 to the cutting off of Chrift. See Page 21 , 
 
 (19I Ezra, Chap. VII.
 
 CALCULATIONS. S7 
 
 CALCULATION, LUNAR, A. M. 4040. 
 
 A, M. 
 \4039/2 
 J38 I 
 
 A, M. 
 Years in a Cycle -r i9'\4039/'2i2 Cycle* 
 
 
 23 
 19 
 
 
 49 
 38 
 
 Lunations 
 
 11 
 
 Xi2 
 
 Intercatory Lunations 
 
 132 
 
 4 
 
 136 
 
 • 
 
 212 Cycles 
 
 235 
 
 1060 
 636 
 
 424 
 
 Lunations 
 
 49820 
 136 
 
 49956 Lunations 
 
 jftofNifan 147539* 
 before the Suja, extra, D. 4 
 
 7 V 475395 (l^^P^ 
 J (5)VFnday 
 
 to 14th of Nifaa ^4 
 
 7V475409 f "°77* 
 J (5) \.Fnday
 
 88 CALCULATIONS, 
 
 CALCULATION, LUNAR, A. M. 404c. 
 
 Days H. M. S. 
 
 In 40.000 Lunations are 1181223 00 46 40 
 
 9,o«o Ditto ■ 265775 4 2.2 30 
 
 900 Ditto - ■ 26577 12 26 15 
 
 50 Ditto 1476 12 41 27 
 
 5 Ditto 147 15 40 8 
 
 j. Ditto———— 14 18 22 
 
 1475214 16 19 o Moon New, 1 
 Mcrid. Libra 
 Subf. 1 for4968oXunations 1 
 
 1475213 i6 19 o 
 add to bring toMeridian ) 13 4 
 
 of Jerulalem 3 
 
 1475214 5 23 Moon New, Jcn 
 
 faienij Libfv 
 add to bring to Aries 177 4 24 
 
 i/[7539i 9 47 NewMoon 1 Nifan 
 add to bring to Oft. 24 297 
 
 1475688 9 47 
 Julian Redu£lion 4040 1475610 
 
 78 9 47 
 Feb. 59 
 
 March 0.*S. 19 9 47 1 Nifan 
 
 12 
 
 14 21 47 
 
 33 21 47 
 March 3 1 
 
 April P. M. 2 ti 4 14 Nifan, PafTover 
 
 when Chrill died 
 
 Days from the Creation, to the 14th of Nifan, when Chrift 
 
 died, 
 
 1475405 
 4 Days before tlie Sun 4 
 
 . Weeks. 
 
 7V475409 (2107722 
 
 ^ (5}^ 5th Day, Friday
 
 CALCULATIONS, 89 
 
 I iliL'il add one Calculation more in order 
 to con^rm vvhrit I have obferved ; which will 
 alio be an Explanation tu fume oi tlie follow- 
 ing Letters. 
 
 In A. D. 171 5 there was a re.narkible and 
 total Eclipfe of the Sun, which was lecn in 
 London, about Ten o'Clock in the Morning. 
 According to Mr. JVhifions Calculation^, the 
 Middle of it was April 22 D. 9 H. 51 M.- 
 Therefore as this Eclipfe wa? fo well ob- 
 ferved and recorded, there can be no Miftake 
 about it ; and as it is fo certain a Point, I 
 fhall calculate that Eclipfe from the original 
 Point at the Creation, when the Moon was 
 Full and in her Node, and the Sun in the 
 lirfl Degree of Libra. — I fhall then calculate 
 from that Eclipfe, to the Full Moon next 
 I'hurfday Sept. 27, 1787. — -This, if it comes 
 out right, will be Demon ftration, that the 
 Point we calculate from, according to Mc fes's 
 Chronology, is true, and that the Length of 
 the Solar Year is exadly 365 D* 5 H. 49 M. 
 and the Length of a Lunation 29 D. 12 H. 
 44 M. I S. 45 T. as we have afligned it. 
 
 M The
 
 90 CALCULATIONS. 
 
 The vulgar Era of Chrifl: is placed in 
 A. M. 4007, to which add A. D. 17 15, and 
 it will make A. M. 5722, to which add 706, 
 the Number of Years the Julian Period be- 
 gins before th:it Time ; and it will bring it 
 to the 6428th of that Period. 
 
 Subftradt i from A. M. 5722, to make 
 the Calculations at the End ot that Year. 
 
 SOLAR CALCULATION. 
 
 A.M. 5721 Julian Years 
 : 1 1 Julian Excefs 
 5721 
 
 Minutes in a Day 1440 \6293i - 43 D. 
 
 J 57feo V 
 
 5331 
 4320 
 
 1011 
 Hours X 24 
 
 4044 
 2022 
 
 i44o\ 24264/ 16 H. 
 J 1440 \ 
 
 9864 
 8640 
 
 1224 
 Minutes X^o 
 
 1440x73440/51 M. 
 77200 \ 
 
 1440 
 1440 
 
 1?"
 
 CALCULAriONS. 
 
 SOLAR CALCULATION. 
 
 91 
 
 5721 Julian Years 
 X*46i QuadiaTits in a Julian Year 
 
 34326 
 22884 
 
 Days PI. 
 Quadrants ) _^ \8358381 /'2089595 6 o Julian Re- 
 in a Day j * ^j (i)t duaion 
 
 43 *6 51 Julian Exc. 
 
 Sun in Libra, ifl Meridian 2089551 13 9 
 
 add to bring to Aries 178 17 58 
 
 Sun in Aries, i ft Meridian 2089730 7 7 
 
 add Meridian of Greenwich 10 24 
 
 add for Oft. 25 
 Julian Reduftion, 5722 
 To Feb. 28 
 
 2089730 
 
 298 
 
 17 
 
 3V 
 
 2090028 
 2089960 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 68 
 
 59 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 March O. S. 9 17 31 P. M. that 
 
 is March jO; 31 M. pail 5 Mornimg.
 
 92 
 
 CALC ULATIONS. 
 
 CALCULATION SOLAR, A. L P. 6500. A. D. 1787, 
 A. M. 5794. 
 
 5794 
 
 5794 
 5794 
 
 1440 63734M4D 
 >576o ^ 
 
 6134 
 5760 
 
 X24 
 
 1496 
 748 
 
 1440 8976/6 H, 
 J8640V 
 
 X60 
 
 1440X20160/14 M 
 ■'1440 \ 
 
 m 1 1 —.a 
 
 5760 
 5760
 
 calculat: IONS, 93 
 
 A. D. 1787. 
 CALCULATION SOLAR, A. LP. 6500. 
 
 5794 _ , 
 X1461 Quadrants 
 
 5791 
 347^4 
 23176 
 
 5794 
 
 Uavs H. 
 "• 4^8465034 .2116258 12 o Julian Reduction 
 (^)\ 44 6 14 Julian Excefs 
 
 2116214 5 46 Sun in Libra, 1 Merid. 
 add Meridian 7 10 24 P. M. 5 H. 46 M. Af- 
 
 of Cre^iiWich 3 ■■' ternoon 
 
 2116214 16 10?. M, 4 10 Morning 
 to Oft. 25 298 
 
 ii 1 ] 65 1 2 16 10 
 Jiilian Red uclion 2 1 1 6 i ^ 8 . 
 
 254 10 10 
 To the End of Auguft ?.j3 
 
 Sep^ •> S 11 16 10 
 
 M.S. 11 
 
 Sept. N. S, 22 16 10 P. M. that is Sept. 23, 
 
 10 M. paft 4 Morning 
 
 Days fmce the Creation. 
 2116215 
 4 
 
 7\2ii62i9, 302317 Weeks fincethcCreation 
 
 J oV 
 
 7 Sunday 
 
 1794: 
 
 t 
 
 4V795/'44^ 
 J 3 V Year of Quadn 
 
 eniuiB
 
 94 CALCULATIONS, 
 
 LUNAR CALCULATION. 
 
 A. M. 
 Years in a Cycle -r 19 "\572i/3oi 
 J 57 V 
 
 
 21. 
 »9 
 
 Lunations 
 
 2 
 12 
 
 Intercalary 
 
 24 
 6 
 
 (25) 
 
 301 Cycles 
 ^•(23.5 Lunations in a Cycle 
 
 1505 
 903 
 602 
 
 70735 
 
 70760 Moon Full in Libra 
 'ijiii bring to Aries 6^ 
 
 Ltions in 7 _^^ ^/■707661/Moon New in Aries 
 Year 3 * "v6o ^5897 Lunar Years 
 
 ijanations 
 a 
 
 107 
 
 116 
 io8 
 
 86 
 84 
 
 (2) I Lunations
 
 CAL CU LAriONS. 
 
 9S 
 
 LUNAR CALCULATION. 
 
 Years in a Period -~ ^o\e,Z(^'j f ir^S 
 
 289 
 270 
 
 197 
 180 
 
 (17) Years 
 
 2089774 
 Extra. Da;fs 4 
 
 7\2o89778 /'298539 Weeks 
 ; (5)1 Friday 
 
 In 138 Periods are 
 
 50 Ditto — 
 
 8 Ditto 
 
 17 Years are 
 2 Lunations 
 I Ditto 
 
 Days H, M. S. 
 
 1467078 (24) 9 00 
 
 531550 8 45 00 
 
 85048 1 24 00 
 
 6024 5 41 57 
 
 59 1 28 3 
 
 14 18 22 
 
 New Moon, 1 ft Merid. Aries 2089774 11 50 o 
 add for Meridian Greenwich 10 24 
 
 add for Oft. 24. 
 
 2089774 22 14 
 297 
 
 2090071 22 14 
 Julian Redu£Hon, 5722 2089960 
 
 To March 31 
 
 111 22 14 
 90 
 
 April O. S. 21 22 14 P.M. that IS 
 
 April 22 D. 10 H, 14 M, in the Morning
 
 96 CALCULATIONS. 
 
 LUNAR CALCULATION. 
 From the Eelipfe A. D. 1715, New Moon Aries, and 
 add 895 1 Lunations, to bring to Full Moon in Libra, 1787. 
 
 Days H. M. S. 
 
 To 70766^ Lunations 2089774 22 14 o 
 
 add 800 Ditto 23624 11 3 20 
 
 90 Ditto 2657 18 2 37 
 
 5 Ditto 147 15 40 8 
 
 X Ditto . .1- 14 18 22 
 
 2116219 13 22 5 
 add to bring to Oft. 24 207 
 
 2116516 13 22 5 
 Subflraft Julian Reduftion, 5794 21 ibz^Z 
 
 258 13 22 5 
 Calends of Jan. to the End of Aug. 243 
 
 Sept. O. S. 15 13 22 5 Moon 
 
 Full in Libra 
 
 add N. S. 11 
 
 N.S. 26 13 22 5 P. M. 
 
 that is Sept. 27 D. 11 H. 22 M. 5 S. in the Morning 
 
 A.M. 
 5794 
 
 4^5795/1443 
 ^ 3\ of Quadriennium 
 
 2116219 
 Extra Days 4 
 
 7'\2n6223 /302317 Weeks 
 
 (4) vfhurlaay. 
 
 By our Calculations, both from the original Point of the 
 Full Moon at the Creation, and alfo from the Eelipfe which 
 happened at London, 1715, there have been 71662 Luna- 
 tions lince the Moon was Full at the Creation, and that the 
 laft will end wuIt a Full Moon next Thurfday Morning, 
 
 Sept. 27. at 22 M. pall One, 
 
 The
 
 EXPLANATION 97 
 
 Of the Method inadi Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 The above Calculations of Equinoxes and 
 SoliHces are made in a different Manner from 
 the Method generally ufed; which is, firfl 
 to find the Places of the Sun and Moon in 
 the Ecliptic, and then, by Equations and 
 Anomilies, to make the 360 Degrees of the 
 Equator to agree with the 365^ Rotations of 
 the Earth, through the Ecliptic. 
 
 Thefe Calculations are not made in that 
 Manner, but from the Method obferved by 
 Nature, viz, by the Number of Rotations 
 the Earth makes between each of them i in 
 the fame Manner as Mofes taught the Ifraelites 
 to calculate their Seafons; and that in the 
 mod fimple, eafy, and (I will add) exad: Man- 
 ner, and requires no farther Knowledge in 
 the Sciences, than the firfl: four Rules of 
 Aritnmetic — and this Method I fliall explain 
 in as clear and concife a Manner as I can. 
 
 The Julian Period is a certain Meafure of 
 
 Time, for that Reafon I calculate by that 
 
 N Period.
 
 98 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the Method made. UJc of in the foregoing Calculations, 
 
 Period. — But, as the Julian Year contains 
 1 1 Minutes more than the Solar Tropical, ^o 
 we muft fubllrad: that Sum from every Julian 
 Year, to make it agree with it. — Dr. Keil, 
 in his XXVIIIth Led;ure, has explained this 
 in fo clear a Manner, that I (hall give it in 
 his own Words. — " It muft be acknowledged, 
 " fays he, that the Time appointed by Julius 
 ** Caefar, for the Solar Year, is too much ,• 
 " for the Sun hnillies his Courfe in the Eclip- 
 ** tic, in 365, Days, 5 Hours, and 49 Mi- 
 *' nutes ; and therefore he begins again his 
 *' Round 1 1 Minutes before the Solar Year 
 *' is ended : fo that if the Sun in any Year 
 " has entered the Equinox upon the 20th of 
 " March, at Noon Day; after four Years 
 " he will arrive at the Equinox 44 Minutes 
 "before Noon; and fo every Year, 11 
 " Minutes fooner than by this Reckoning; 
 *' fo that in 131 Years, he will anticipate, or 
 ** enter the Equinox a whole Day before the 
 ** ?.ocli of March; and therefore the Celejlial 
 
 ** Equinox
 
 EXPLANATION 99 
 
 OJ the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 " Equinox will not always fall upon the fame 
 *' Day of the Month, but by Degrees it will 
 ** move towards the Beginning of the year."(a) 
 
 Hence, you may obferve, in our firft Cal- 
 culation on the Birth of Chrifr, that we 
 iiiultiply A.M. 4004, by 11 Minutes — 
 The Produd; of which is the Number of Mi- 
 nutes that 4004 Julian Years contain more 
 than 4004 Tropical Solar. — Then, in Order 
 to bring thefe Minutes to Days, we divide 
 that Sum by 1440, the Number of Minutes 
 in a natural Day, or whilil: the Equator com- 
 pleats one Rotation from Sun to Sun, — The 
 Remainder we multiply by £4, to bring it to 
 Hours, and that Remainder by 60, to bring 
 it to MinuteSo 
 
 In Order to find the Number of Days, we 
 multiply 4004 by 1461, the Number of 
 Qwadrants, or Quarters of a Day in a Julian 
 Year. — We then divide the Pioduia by 4, 
 
 which 
 
 (a) See Diagram and Calculations.
 
 100 E X P L A N AT I O N 
 
 OJ the Method made UJc of in the forcgiin^ Calculations. 
 
 which brings them to Days. — If there is any 
 Remainder, it is Quadrants.— Hence we have 
 the Number of Days and (^adrants in 4004 
 Julian Years -, from this Sum we Subflrad: 
 the Days, Hours, and IVIinutes of the Rctro- 
 ceffion, and the Remainder gives the exacft 
 Quantity of Days, Hours, and Minutes, in 
 the fame Number of tropical folar Years ; 
 and this, by Obfervation, will be always 
 found exadlly true, from the Creation to this 
 Time. — Hence we can calculate the Day 
 when the Sun will enter Libra, in any Me- 
 ridian, but not the Hour and Minute.— This 
 appeared the grcatefl Difficulty to get over, 
 but by a lucky and accurate Obfeivation of 
 Dr. Bradley, A. D. 1753, it has anfwered 
 our Purpofe fo far, as that all our Calculati- 
 ons made by it come out true. 
 
 1440 is the Number of Minutes in a Day, 
 which has the fame Number of Points or 
 Terminations, on the Equator, anfwering to 
 every one of them; fo that in 1440 Years, 
 
 the
 
 EXPLANATION loi 
 
 Of tki Method TT.aii UJe. of in th: foregoing Calculations. 
 
 the tropical folar Year will have began on 
 every one of thein, and at the End of that 
 Period, ihc Sun will again begin a new Cy- 
 cle, in the fame Meridian, and on the fame 
 Point of the Day it did 1440 Years before, 
 bat li jt on the fame Day of the Week, which 
 is the Charafteriilick of each Cycle. 
 
 A. D. 1753 ^^ ^" Connection \\it!i A. M. 
 5760, and A. I» P, 6466, v/hen the fourth 
 Cycle of the Sun was iiniilied -, and the Sun 
 entered Libra on the finie Point of the Day, 
 the fame Hour and Minute it began it 1440 
 Years before, (b) 
 
 Dr. Bradley obferved it to enter Libra that 
 Year, at Greenv^dch, Sept. 22d Day, loth 
 Hour, 24th Minute. — Now, as the Sun was 
 placed in Libra, at the Creation, at Noon, 
 in the firfl: Meridian ; but, at the Time when 
 he made his Obfervation, it was palTed on 
 10 Hours, 24 Minutes to the Weilward; by 
 turning Time into Meafure, the firft Meri- 
 dian 
 
 (b) Se: Page a^.
 
 J02 EXPLANATION 
 
 OJ the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations,. 
 
 dian will be found to be 156 Degrees to the 
 Weft ward of Greenwich Obfervatory. — We 
 have accordingly made this the Root, and 
 poftuiated it as true, and have found all our 
 Calculations to turn out right on" that Pojlu- 
 latum. — As Jerufalem is 35 '^ 20 M. of Lon- 
 gitude, Eaft of Greenwich ; fo if we turn 
 this Meafure into Tims, it will produce 
 2 Hours, 40 Minutes, u-hich added to 10 
 Hours,, 24 Minutes, (the Meridian of Green- 
 wich) it will make 13 Hours, 4 Minutes.— 
 On this Principle the above Calculation was 
 made; and by it the Sun was foutid to enter 
 Libra that Year at Jerufalem, Sept. 24th D„ 
 23d H. o M. P. M. that is Sept. 25th Day, 
 nth Hour, GO Minutes, Morning. — To 
 which we add 178 Days, 17 Hours, 58 Mi- 
 nutes, the Diftance between the iirft Point 
 of Libra, and the firft Point of Aries j by 
 which the Sun was found to enter Aries at 
 Jerufalem, March 22d Day, 5th Hour, 58th 
 Minute, P. M. or Afternoon. — -As the Sun 
 was placed vci Libra, Odt. 25th, A. I. P. 
 
 706,
 
 EXPL AN AT I N 103 
 
 OJ the Method made Ufc of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 706, according to the Julian Calendar, fo, 
 in all our Calculations, we add 298 Days to 
 the Sum, (the Number of Days from the Ca- 
 lends of January, to Odl. 25, when Time 
 began) and then fubftradt the Julian Reduc- 
 tion from it. — The Remainder will give the 
 Day of the Julian Month fought. — Hence, 
 as the firft of the Month was not to be 
 counted from the Synod , but from the Ap- 
 parition, we poflulate that the Moon, if flie 
 had been in Being, would be in one of her 
 Nodes, and exadly oppofite to the Sun, on 
 the third Day of the Week, juft 24 Hours, 
 or one whole Day, before the Sun entered 
 Libra.-— This is a mofl exadl Point, and from 
 it we begin all our Calculations, and they al- 
 ways come out according to the obferved 
 Times; this we call the original Radix or 
 Root, and from this Root we calculate by 
 Years and Lunations, and thofe Years and 
 Lunations, are meafured by Days. — In all 
 thefe Calculations we make the tropical folar 
 Year to contain 365 Days, 5 Hours, 49 Mi- 
 nutes
 
 104 EXPLANATION 
 
 OJ ike M:thod Tnade Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 nutes precifely, and a Lunation 29 Day?, 12 
 Hours, 44 Minutes, i 5. 45 T. 
 
 It may be obferved by thefe Calculations, 
 that in every 49680 Lunations, we throw 
 ofF one Day.— -This Day is thrown off for 
 much the fame Reafon that 1 1 Minutes were 
 thrown off every Year from the folar Com- 
 putation. — For in a Period of 30 Yej?rs, the 
 Reckoning over-runs the compleat Days, 10 
 Minutes and 30 Seconds. — In this determi- 
 nate Proportion, the Moon makes a flow, 
 gradual, and uniform Progreflion quite round 
 the Ecliptic, and in 49680 Lunations, gets 
 a Day, in the fame Manner as the Sun gets 
 one Day in 131 Years, according to the Ju- 
 lian Reckoning ; therefore it mufl: be dif- 
 charged, othervvife we Ihall count one Day 
 more than is performed by Nature. 
 
 Before the late Regulation, it had been 
 obferved, that the lunar Reckoning had an- 
 ticipated the Agronomical four Days, and fo 
 
 much
 
 EXPLANATION 105 
 
 OJ the Method made Ufc of in the foregoin? Calculations, 
 
 much DifFrrence there were between the Ec- 
 clefi^ilical and Aftronomical Full Moons.— 
 This Anticipation was attri*buted to the Moon 
 being now nearer the Earth than (he was 
 f^'ine Years ago, and that (he performed her 
 Lunations in lefs Time now than (he did 
 formerly j and what appears the mure extra- 
 ordinary is, that Aftronomers fliould afcribe 
 thefe lunar Anticipations to the Moon's com- 
 ing to the End of the lunar Cycle of 19 
 Years, one Hour and Half before the Sun ; 
 whereas, it may be obferved, by ccmparing 
 the 19 Years Cycle of the Sun and Moon to- 
 gether, that inftead of the Moon coming to 
 the End of that Cycle an Hour and Half be- 
 fore the Sun, the contrary is the Fadt j for 
 the Sun comes to the End of the Cycle i H. 
 55 M. 51 S. 15 T. before the Moon. 
 
 Here it follows. 
 
 Days H. M. & T. 
 A Lunar Cycle containing 235 Lunations 6939 16 26 51 15 
 A Solar Cycle of 19 Tropical bolarYe-rs 6939 14 31 00 00 
 
 Exccfs of Lunar Computation above the Sokr 1 55 5» ^5 
 
 O From
 
 io6 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of tht Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations, 
 
 From the above it may be remarked, that 
 the Contrary to what Aftronomers maintain 
 is true, viz. that the Moon comes to the End 
 of the Cycle before the Sun; fhe indeed de- 
 parts from the Sun at the End of every Cy- 
 cle, but then it is by a Progreffion Eaftward, 
 and not by a Rctroceflion Wefbward ; for the 
 New Moons and Full Moons in that Space of 
 Time fall out almoft tw^o Hours later, and 
 not an Hour and Half fooner. 
 
 On comparing 19 Julian Years with 19 
 Lunifolar, we (hall find that the Julian Reck- 
 oning over-runs the Lunar i H. 33 M. 8 S. 
 45 T. juft in the fame Manner as it was ob- 
 ferved the Julian Year over- runs the Tropi- 
 cal Solar; and muft be expunged for the fame 
 Reafon. — Here follows the Comparifon. 
 
 Days. H. M. S. T. 
 19 Julian Years contain " ^939 ^^ 00 00 o 
 
 19 Lunifolar Years contain — — =- 6939 16 26 51 15 
 
 Exeeft of the Julian above ihe Lunar— a 33 8 45 
 
 Hence
 
 EXPLANATION 107 
 
 OJ the. Method made Ufc of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 Hence appears the Rcafon why Aftrono- 
 mers maintain, that in 19 Lunifolar Years, 
 the mean New Moons and Full Moons hap- 
 pen an Hour and Half fooner, than they did 
 at the Beginning of the Cycle. — Inftead of 
 which, it is found, on comparing 19 Solar 
 with 19 Lunar, that the Sun comes to the 
 Point where they fet out from together, i H. 
 55 M. 51 8. 15 T. (which wants but 4 M. 
 8 S. 45 T. of two Hours) before the Moon. 
 But that the Julian Reckoning over-runs the 
 Lunar, 3 M. 8 H. 45 T. more than an Hour 
 and Half in every Cycle; which, (like the 
 1 1 Minutes Difference between the Julian 
 and tropical folar Year) has been the Occafion 
 of the apparent Anticipation ; which has no 
 Foundation in Nature, but owes its Exiftence 
 entirely to a miftaken Computation. 
 
 Having premifed thus much, I fliall finifli 
 this Explanation with giving an Account of 
 the Method ufed in the Lunar Calculations, 
 and for that Purpofc, ihall explain the Cal- 
 
 culation.
 
 io8 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 dilation, P. 9^, where the total and central 
 Eciipfe of the Sun, which was obferved in 
 London, A. D. 171 5, is calculated frcm 
 the original Point of the Full Moon, the 
 third Day of the Creation ; to that very 
 Point when it was obferved at London j and 
 from, that Point, to the Full Moon next 
 Thuffday Morning, Stpt. 27th. 
 
 The Year c f the World anfwering to 1715, 
 has been f< und to be A.M. 5722, fr-m 
 which we throw ( fF One, as was obferved in 
 the Solar Ktckoning, and then divide 5721 
 by 19, the Number cf Years in a C)-cle, 
 which gives 301 Cycles, and leaves in Re- 
 mainder }z of another J we then multiply 
 the Remainder 2 by 12, the Number of Lu- 
 nations in a Year ; which make 24 Luna- 
 tions. —And, as about one Month is inter- 
 calated every three Years, to make the Com- 
 putation agree with the Solar, we add One 
 to this Sum, which makes 25 Lunations. — 
 "We then multiply thefe 301 Cycles, by 235, 
 
 the
 
 EXPLANATION 109 
 
 Of tJie Method made Ufe cf in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 the Niimher of Lunations in a Cycle, which 
 give 70735 ; to which we add the 25 re- 
 m-iining Lunations, thefe make 70760, which 
 brings it to the Full Moon at the autumnal 
 Equinox; but, as this Eclipfe happened at 
 a New Moon, near the vernal Fqninox, we 
 add Six Lunations to bring it thereto, and 
 PTaif a Lunation to bring it from the Full of 
 the Muon, (at which Point all thefe Luna- 
 tions end, as tht^y began at that Point at the 
 Creation) to the New. — fhefe make in the 
 Whole joy66^. — We then divide thefe Lu- 
 nations by twelve, (the Number contained in 
 a Year) and that gives 5897 lunar Years, and 
 leaves 2 Lunations and Flalfin Remainder. To 
 bring ihcfe to Perioas of 30 Years, we di- 
 vide 30, which gives 196 Periods, and 17 
 Years of another Period. — We then add the 
 Periods and Lunations together, which makes 
 2089774 Days, II 1:1. 50 M. which is the 
 Diitance between the tuii Moon at the Crea- 
 tion, and the Eclipfe of the Sun, which hap- 
 pened in ijis* ill the firit Meridian; but in 
 
 Order
 
 no EXPL AN ATION 
 
 Of the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Cakulattoni. 
 
 Order to bring it to the Meridian of Green- 
 wich Obfervatory, we add lo H. 24 M. 
 which makes 2089774 Days, 22 K. 14 M. 
 for the New Moon at Greenwich. — Then, 
 as the Calends of January are 297 D, before 
 0(5t. 24, we add that Sum to it, as we did 
 298 in the folar Computation, to bring from 
 the Calends of Jan. to 0(ft. 25, which is one 
 Day fhort of the Solar Reckoning, as the 
 Moon was Full one whole Day before the 
 Sun began to meafure Time at the Creation. 
 With this Addition to the above Sum it 
 makes 2090071 Days, 22 H. 14 M. — From 
 which we fubftra(fl the Number of Days of 
 the Julian Redudion, for A. M. 5722, which 
 leaves 1 1 1 Days, 22 H. 14 M. from the Ca- 
 lends of January -, from thence, to the laft 
 Day of March inclufive, arc 90 Days, which 
 we fubftrad; from the above Sum ; and then 
 find that the Point of Time, when the Moon 
 interfered the Path of the Earth, in Con- 
 jundion with the Sun, was April 21 Days, 
 22 H. 14M. P.M. that is April 22 D. 10 H. 
 
 14 M.
 
 E X PL AN ATIO N m 
 
 OJ the Method made U/e of in the foregoing Calculations, 
 
 14 M. in the Morning. — -Thus it may be 
 obferved, that our Calculation differs only 
 23 Minutes from Mr. Whifton's j which, 
 fuppoling Mr. Whifton's to be precifely true, 
 is but a very little, confidering the Length 
 of Time of 70766 Lunations, or 5722 tro- 
 pical folar Years. 
 
 In Order to know the Day of the Week 
 when this Eclipfe happened, we divide 
 2089774 Days, the Number of Rotations 
 the Equator has made between the fourth of 
 the Creation, and that Point, (when the 
 Moon interfe(fted the Earth's Path) by 7, 
 the Number of Days in a Week, firft adding 
 4 for the firft 4 extra Days, before the Sun 
 began to meafure Time; and it will give 
 298539 Weeks, and leave in Remainder 5, 
 (Friday) the fifth Day of the Week. 
 
 Between that Eclipfe and the Full Moon 
 which will happen next Thurfday, Sept. 27, 
 there will have paffed 895 i Lunations.-^ 
 
 We
 
 112 EXPLANATION 
 
 CJ the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 We therefore add the Quantity of thefe Lu- 
 nations together, and find it to cont. in 
 2 1 162 19 Days, 13H. 22M. 5S We then 
 add 297 Days, to bring it to Od:. 24, after 
 fubftrad:ing the Juiim Redudtion f^r this 
 Year, A.M. 5794, it leaves 258 D. 1 7 H. 
 22 iM. 5 S. from which we fubilradl 243, 
 the Number of Days from the Calends ^f 
 January, to the End of Auguft inclufivej 
 and we {hall have Se]->t 15 D. i ^ \l. 22 M. 
 5 S. P. M. for the Full Moon this Year, in 
 LibrUy which is according to our Reckoning, 
 Sept. 16 D. I H. 22 M. 5 S. P. M. O. S. 
 to which we add i i, to bring to N. S. and 
 then it will be Sept. 27th, at 22 Minutes, 5 
 Sccunds palt One in the iVlorning. 
 
 For the Day of the Week 2116219 Days 
 
 Extra Days 4 
 
 -V 7,2116223 , 305317 Weeks 
 J (4)^ liiuiluay 
 
 I now hope I have given demonJ}rative'E\i*- 
 dence that what 1 aflerted is true, viz. that 
 
 Mofei
 
 EXPLANATION 113 
 
 OJ the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations, 
 
 Mofes has given us an Account of the Place 
 of the Sun and Moon at the Creation ; which, 
 according to his Chronology, happened at a 
 Full Moon, at the autumnal Equinox, in 
 the 706th Year of the Julian Period, 
 
 I am now willing to join Iflue with the 
 doubting Sceptic, and bring my Caufe to be 
 tried and determined by the difcerning Pub- 
 lic. — I fhall beg Leave to fum up the Evi- 
 dence of this laft Calculation on/y. 
 
 The Matter at IfTuc is, whether Mofes in 
 his Hiftory of the Creation, has given us In- 
 ftrudiion, where the Sun and Moon were 
 placed at that Time — It appears to me that 
 he has done it, and I populate it as true, viz. 
 that the Sun was placed in Li3ra, on 0(5t. 
 25, according to the Julian Reckoning, at 
 Noon, in the iirft Meridian, on Thurfday 
 the fourth Day of the Week. — That the 
 Moon was 1 5 Days old ; that had fhe been 
 in Joeing, flie would have been diredly in 
 p Oppofition
 
 114 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the Method made lift of in the foregoing Calculatiom, 
 
 Oppofition to the Sun, on Wednefday Noon, 
 the third Day of the Week, and in her Node, 
 Od:. 24j according to the Julian Reckoning, 
 and that fhe would then be totally and cen- 
 trally eclipfed ; and that this happened in 
 the Year 706, of the Julian Period. — This 
 is the Jlrjl or original Root or Point from 
 whence I begin all my Calculations. — The 
 Point I meafurc to is a mofl certain One; 
 and was obferved by many Thoufands of Peo- 
 ple. — -It is the Eclipfe of the Sun which 
 happened at London, on a Friday, April 22. 
 The Middle of which, according to Mr. 
 Whiflon's Calculations, was at nine Minutes 
 before Ten in the Morning. — This was in 
 A. D. 171 5, and we know this Year was in 
 Connexion with 6428 of the Julian Period. 
 Now as the Mofaic Chronology places the 
 Year of the Creation in A. I. P. 706; if wc 
 fubftrad; 706 from 6428, it will give 5722^ 
 the Number of the annual Revolutions which 
 the Earth has made between thefe two Points; 
 which this Eclipfe proved to be cxadly true. 
 
 From
 
 EXPLANATION 115 
 
 OJ the Method made Ufe of in the foregoing Calculations. 
 
 From tliis Point to next Thurfday, Sept. 27, 
 at twenty- two Minutes paft One in the 
 Morning, there will have pafled 26444 ^o~ 
 tations of the Equator, and as much as mea- 
 fured 15 H. 8 M. 5 S. beiides. — Now the 
 firil Point of this fecond Calculation begins 
 at London, at the central Point of the total 
 Eclipfc, 171 5, and ends at 22 Minutes paft 
 One in the Morning, on Thurfday, Sept. 27. 
 Between thefe two Points, the Moon will 
 have made 895^ Lunations — that is, from 
 her Conjunction with the Sun, A. D. 171 5, 
 to her Oppofition, 1787. — This is the lunar 
 Meafure between thefe two Points. — The 
 folar Meafure will be found to agree with it. 
 Our firft Point of folar Meafure is Oft. 25, 
 at Noon, A. I. P. 706, when the Sun en- 
 tered Libra, in the firft Meridian, on Thurf- 
 day the 4th Day of the Week. — Our next 
 Point is this Day, Sept. 22, when the Sun 
 will be found to enter Libra in the Meridian 
 of Greenwich, at ten Minutes paft Four To- 
 morrow Morning, A, I. P. 6500. — Between 
 
 thefe
 
 ii6 EXPLANATION 
 
 Of the Method made Ufe #/" iyi the foregoing Calculations, 
 
 thefb two Points, the Earth will have made 
 5794 annual Revolutions through the Eclip- 
 tic, which fhe has performed in 21 162 14 D. 
 1 6 H. I o M. and will end To-morrow Morn- 
 ing, the yih Day of the Week or Sunday, 
 at ten Minutes paft Four. 
 
 The firft: lunar Calculation began at the 
 original Point, at the Creation, and ended at 
 the total Eclipfe of the Sun, A. D. 17 15. — 
 The fecond began at the Point where the firfl 
 ended, and finifhed at the Full Moon, Sept. 
 27, at 22 Minutes paft One in the Morn- 
 ing, — By comparing the Sum of thefe two 
 lunar Calculations, we (hall find them to 
 agree exactly with the folar Meafure, begun 
 at the original Point, at the Creation, and 
 ending To-morrow at ten Minutes paft Four 
 in the Morning.— — Here they follow. 
 
 Dayi. H. M. 
 
 Lunar Meafure 21 1 62 1 9 13 22 Sunday 
 Solar Ditto 21 16214 ^^ loThurlday 
 
 4 21 12 
 
 It
 
 EX PL AN AT I O N ny 
 
 Of the Method made lift of in the foregoing Calculations, 
 
 It may be obferved, that the Difference 
 between the folar and lunar Meafure is 4 D. 
 21 H. 12 M. and wants but 2 H. 48 M. of 
 live Days Difference between the lunar and 
 folar Reckoning; but between Su: day and 
 Thurfday, there are only four Days — It 
 mull be remarked, that the Moon was Full 
 one whole Day before the Sun began to mea- 
 fure Time, therefore one Day muit be fub- 
 flradled from the lunar Computation, which 
 makes the exad: Difference to be 3 D. 21 H, 
 12 M. as appears by thefe Calculations.— 
 Does not this prove to Demonftration, that 
 what I have pollulated i% true ? 
 
 Advertifement. 

 
 f ii8 ) 
 
 Advertifement. 
 
 'T^HE following Letters were occaji- 
 oned by a Tour of Mr, Heavifide 
 and Mr. Penrofe^ through Cornwall, 
 A. D. 1783, to view and examine, the 
 Nature of the Mines, Clifts, Druid Mo- 
 numents, and other Antiquities found 
 there: — This, as may be imagined, oc- 
 cafioned many Obfervaiions and Re- 
 marks, in Order to account for the df- 
 ferent Phenomenayd<??2* — Hence, Mr, 
 Heavifide, in his Letter to Mr. Penrofe, 
 after his Return to London, from Ply- 
 mouth, fent him fome Obfervaiions he 
 made as he pajfed over the Mendipp 
 fliils, with fome Queries. — The frfl 
 Letter is an Anfwer to them.
 
 ( M9 ) 
 LETTER I. 
 
 To JOHN H E A V I S I D E, Esq. 
 
 An Anfwer to fome ^eries propofed by Mr. 
 Heavifide j whether Ore, Metal, or Coal 
 were ever found under Chalk ? — Ob/erva- 
 tions where Ore and Metals are found, with 
 Remarks on the Formation of the terraqueous 
 Globe, — How Metals, Salts, &c. were dif 
 folved, and reformed at the Deluge ; toge- 
 ther with the Method by which the different 
 Strata were formed,"— ^ he Flood defcribed. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 YOUR Favour, with your judicious Ob- 
 fervations on the Mendipp Hills, I re- 
 ceived ; with your ^ere whether Ore, Me- 
 tal, or Coals are ever found under Chalk ? — 
 In Anfwer to which, I obferve, that I have 
 not met with any Account that either of the 
 above have ever been found under fuch a 
 Stratum ; Coals, as you remark, are found 
 under Strata of Stone and Clay. —Ore and 
 
 Metals
 
 120 On the DELUGE, LET. I. 
 
 Metals are generally (though not always) in 
 Fiffures of large hard Strata of Stone ; which 
 Strata were formed snd cracked before the 
 Metals were depofited in th^:fc FilTures 
 and Cracks ; indeed. Lead is often found in 
 crumbling Ground ; and Iron fomctimes in 
 Floats — the philofophical Caufe of which 
 require more Room to difcufs, than can be 
 contained in a common Letter. — Befides, 
 Philofophers are not yet agreed, how, and in 
 what Manner, or by what Agent or Agents, 
 this terraqueous Globe was formed — there- 
 fore, it will be no eafy Matter for me to ex- 
 plain it in fuch a Manner as to gain a general 
 AfTent j fuppoling my Theory to be true — 
 and however fatisfad:ory it may be to myfelf, 
 it may not be fo to others. — One great Dif- 
 ficulty is, that the Stratum of the g'-eateft 
 fpeciiic Gravity is not always the lowermoft ; 
 but, when we fuppole, that before thefe dif- 
 ferent Strata fubfided, every Thing was in 
 the greaiell: Confuficn ; and alfo, that the 
 greateft Part of every Stratum^ as deep as has 
 been examined, (if not the Whole) was in a 
 State oi Solution -, fo it may appear likely, 
 
 that
 
 LET. I. On the DELUGE. 121 
 
 that it remilned in this Manner till it met 
 with a Fluid, of quite a different Nature; 
 (which from the great Difturbance and Con- 
 fufion this would occafion,) it would let fall 
 its earthly Contents, in the fame Manner as 
 we often fee performed in Chymical Opera- 
 tions ; particularly in the making oi Magnefia 
 Alba. — The acid Salt being diffolved in Wa- 
 ter, is quite clear and tranfparent ; as is alfo 
 the Alcaline Salt diffolved in the fame Man- 
 ner ^—thefe will continue clear and tranfparent 
 nearly as long as you choofe, if you keep 
 them feparate and apart, but mix them toge- 
 ther, and they will immediately become very 
 turbid, and let fall a large Sediment or Stra- 
 tum } and after a Time, the incumbent Li- 
 quor will become clear again ; but if this Li- 
 quor is not entirely freed from all its faline 
 Parts, whether they be acid or alkaline, add 
 to It a Solution of the other, they will again 
 become turbid, and let fall their Contents, 
 and this toties, quotiesy as often as this is 
 donr, till all the earthly Parts are fubfided. 
 Operations of this Kind give us an Idea of 
 the Solution of the earthly Parts, which were 
 Q^ diffolved
 
 122 On the DELUGE, LET. I. 
 
 diflblved at the Deluge, and again fubfided in 
 different Strata, as we obferve them at this 
 Day : Hence we may underftand the Caufc 
 why every Stratum is not found to have fet- 
 tled exaBly according to its fpecific Gravity. 
 Hence alfo we muft imagine, that if any 
 ExuvicB of Animals or Vegetables were mixed 
 with thefe Fluids, that they would be carried 
 down together with the earthly Matter, and 
 be mixed throughout the Stratum, in the 
 Manner we find them at this Day. 
 
 From Obfervation we alfo find, that Metals 
 of all Sorts will dilTolve in particular Fluids, 
 as Gold in Aqua Regia, other Metals in 
 Aquafortis ; there are alfo Solvents that will 
 diffolve all Sorts of Salts and precious Stones ; 
 thcfc Liquids, after the Solution, appear as 
 clear as pure Water; but on being mixed 
 with a Fluid of a different Quality, become 
 turbid, and let fall their Contents. — Hence 
 we may eafily conceive how the different 
 Strata of the Earth were formed, and by 
 what Means fome of the Strata of Stone, 
 Clay, &c. were loaded and filled with the 
 
 different
 
 LET. I. On the DELUGE. 123 
 
 different Exuvias of Animals and Vegetables. 
 But then perhaps the follov/ing Qaeftion will 
 be aflced — if it was fo ? how comes it that 
 Metals, did not fubfide in the fame Manner, 
 and not remain fufpended, till after the earthy 
 Strata were fo far hardened as to be 
 cracked in different Fiffurcs ; after which the 
 different Metals filled thefe Fiffures together 
 with Spar and other faline Concretions of the 
 fame Kind ? To anfwer this Queflion we 
 mufl again have Rccourfe to the different 
 Effects produced by Chymical Operations ; 
 but it will be proper firfl to explain how 
 thefe different Cracks were produced.— It ap- 
 pears by the Account Mofes gives of the 
 coming on of the Flood, that they were oc- 
 cafioncd, in a great Meafure, by breaking up 
 the Fountains of the great Deep, and open- 
 ing the Windows of Heaven, (a) Now it is 
 obfervable, that God fays to Noah, /, even 
 If (b) do bring a Flood of Waters upon the 
 Earthy thereby letting him know that it 
 would be a Miracle, performed by God him- 
 
 felf, 
 
 (a) Gen. VII. ii.— (b) Gen. V. 17.
 
 124 On the DELUGE. LET. I. 
 
 felf, and brought about contrary to the Me- 
 chantfin of Nature. — But then, notwithftand- 
 ing it was brought on by his Order, and con- 
 trary to the Mechanifm of Nature; yet, he 
 would now, as he did at the Formation, 
 make the material Agents perform it. — Thus 
 he made the internal Expanfion ad: with 
 greater Power ; and by this Means force out 
 the Water of the great Deep, through the 
 Fountains and Windows of Heaven -, (c) by 
 this Means the Place or Centre of Gravity 
 being altered, and the Caufc of the Attrac- 
 tion of Cohefion being taken away, they 
 were made to dilTolve and cover the Earth. — 
 Now the Power of the internal Expanfion 
 being ordered by God to be of a j«/? Strength, 
 to throw out the Waters , Jo as to cover the 
 Hills fifteen Cubits upwards^ and no farther , 
 And being then retrained by the Agency of 
 the outward Expanfc or PreiTure of the Ethers 
 and Air-thefe two Powers aded much in the 
 
 fame 
 
 (c) Thefe Windows of Heaven, according to the Hebrew, are the Cracks 
 and Holes in the Earth, which, before this Event happene<^, were filled 
 with the fame Ethers as fills the Heavens, but were now fo enlarged, as t» 
 admit the Water through tkem.
 
 LET. I. On the DELUGE, J25 
 
 flime Manner they did at the Formation. — 
 And the Power or EfFe(5t of Gravity was 
 made to ad: both within and without the 
 Waters, which were then a compleat Globe, 
 covering all the earthy Parts. — The internal 
 Expanfion, adting in this Manner, in the 
 Midft of the Globe, forced Gravity to effe6t 
 the fame outward, from the Centre, as it did 
 en the Outfide towards the Centre; by thefe 
 Means a folid Shell of the earthy Parts was 
 formed between the outward Surface of the 
 Waters, and the inward Surface. — After this 
 the internal Expanfion flill increafmg, and 
 by the Clofenefs of the earthy Shell, being 
 prevented from finding its Way outward, its 
 expanfive Force gradually diftended, the in- 
 cumbent Strata, (like a Bladder forccably 
 blown) and opened the Cracks and FiiTures 
 more and more, till a violent Explofion en- 
 fued, v/hich tore the Globe into Millions of 
 Fragments, and threw them into every poffi- 
 ble Degree of Confufion ; fome of them more 
 elevated, and others more deprefled : Hence 
 arofe an indefinite Number of fubterraneous 
 Caverns, for many Miles, and fome for many 
 
 Hundreds
 
 126 On the DELUGE. LET. I. 
 
 Hundreds of Miles. — After this God remem- 
 bered Noah, (d) (and ufed the fame Agent then 
 as he did at the Formation) and caufed a 
 Windy or Etherial Spirit to pafs over the 
 Earth, which quieted the Waters, and made 
 them recede, (e) and by this Agent he alfo 
 made Gravity to ad: again, towards the Cen- 
 tre, till the Waters were forced to their pro- 
 per Place, v/herc the gravitating Ethers, (as 
 God commanded) {^)^jhut the Sea with Doors, 
 when it brake forth, it had ijjued out of the 
 Womb i when he made thick Darknefs afvad- 
 Jing Bond for it ; and faid, hitherto fi alt thou 
 come, and no farther : Here Jhall thy proud 
 Waves be flayed : Here is a Bound fat that 
 they may nut pafs over ; that they turn not 
 again to cover the Earth, 
 
 Having in fhort explained the coming on 
 the Waters of the Deluge, the Deftrudion 
 of the Earth thereby, and its Reformation ; 
 I flidll now endeavour to anfwer your Queflion, 
 why the Metals did not fubfide with the 
 
 earthy 
 
 fd) Gen. VI 1 1, i.—'e) This is a literal Tranflation of the Hebrew, 
 (fj Jab. XXXVIII. 8; 9.
 
 LET. L 0?i the DELUGE, 127 
 
 earthy Matter, but were placed in the Fif- 
 fures we now find them, which muft have 
 been done after thefe FilTures were formed ? 
 
 In the iirfl Place it muft be obferved, that 
 Metals require a ftronger Menjiruum than mere 
 Water, to difTolve and take up their Parts ; 
 and alfo that they are feparated from one ano- 
 ther with greater Difficulty; and Salts or 
 Gems, require fome of the watery Parts to 
 be evaporated, before they will run into 
 Chryftals, or feparate from the Liquid ; be- 
 fides as they require a Menjlriium faturated 
 with proper Salts, before they will be dif- 
 folved, and fuftained in them ; fo they muft 
 alfo meet with another Menftruum, well 
 ftocked with Salts of an oppofite Nature, be- 
 fore they will let their Contents fall again, 
 and perhaps might require the additional 
 Heat which the Waters received from the 
 internal Fire to do it. — Kence the metalline 
 and chryftalline Particles, might not feparate 
 till the greater Part of the Water was run off 
 the Earth, when they were forced into the 
 Cracks and FiiTures. — Thus, we obferve, 
 
 that
 
 128 On the DELUGE. LET. I. 
 
 that Gold is dilTolved by Jlqr/a Regia, n par- 
 ticular faline Fluid! whilft all other Metals 
 are diflblved by Aqua-fortis. — Hence, Gold 
 is found often in the Earth or Sand, j^ure, 
 and without the Mixture of other Metal? ; 
 but Silver, Tin, Lead, Copper, &c are of- 
 ten found mixed, and incorporated in the 
 fame Mafs ; to which generally is added Spar, 
 which from its Tranfparency, angular Form, 
 &c. appears to have Shot, and to be formed in 
 the fame Manner as (other) Salts. — Quere, 
 Are not Diamonds formed after the fc,me 
 Manner ? — Now, if the different Strata of 
 the Earth were formed as above defcribed, 
 it feems natural to imagine, that they would 
 carry down with them the different Exuvice, 
 as Shells, Vegetables, Wood, Bones, &c. 
 which were contained therein, though of 
 different fpecific Gravities to. the Strata when 
 formed', and there remain mixed with the 
 Strata, in the fame Manner as they are now 
 found. 
 
 According to your Delire, I have fent you 
 fome fhort Hints of my Ideas concerning the 
 
 DeflruCtion
 
 LET. I. On the DELUGE, 129 
 
 Deftrudtion and Reformation of this terra- 
 queous Globe; the Errors you find therein, 
 your fuperior Judgment will eafily corredt; 
 and what they are, let me know in your next 
 Epiftle. 
 
 I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 Tour obliged. 
 And obedient. 
 
 Humble Servant f 
 
 Stonehousi, 
 'A'^S' 1, 1783. 
 
 5\ J&nro/e* 
 
 R On
 
 130 On the DELUGE. LET. II. 
 
 To F. PENROSE, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Heavijidis An/wer to the former Letter, 
 with his Remarks thereon ; together with his 
 Theory of the Deluge.— ^hat he cannot think 
 that the Earth underwent a general Dijfo- 
 lution, at that Time ; that he believed the 
 central Nucleus was Fire ; with ObjeSiions 
 to the Dijfolution of the Earth at the Deluge. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Am much obliged to you for your Anfwer 
 to the Quere in my laft ; it was a fuddeii 
 Queftion which arofe in my Mind on feeing 
 thofe Hills -, and I neither did, nor do, re- 
 colled: ever to have met with it in the Courfe 
 of my reading; and if it has never been 
 touched upon by any Naturalift, it feems very 
 furprifing, for it appears to me to be well 
 worthy the Obfervation of one. — To give a 
 Reafon why Metals may not be equally found 
 under Chalk, as under Stone, may not indeed 
 be fo eafy, as 'tis to make the Obfervation. — 
 
 I
 
 LET. II. On the DELUGE. 131 
 
 I muft alfo thank you for the Trouble you 
 fuffered that Quere to caufe you, by explain- 
 ing your Theory of the Earth, and defiring 
 my Opinion of it. — But, really. Sir, my 
 Opinion in thefe Matters is of very little 
 Value 'y for to tell you a Truth, my reading 
 has always been defultory and varied ; for as 
 ObJL'drs prefented themfelves to my Mind, I 
 purfued them cither till I was tired of them, 
 or new ones ftarted to turn the Current of 
 my Thoughts another Way : But I never 
 ftudied any Science methodically or fcienti- 
 fically, nor ever had any one to encourage or 
 affift me in any Purfuit I entered upon j fo 
 that you muft not expert any regular, well- 
 digefted Syftem from me : Hov/ever, as you 
 defire it, I will give you my Thoughts juft 
 as they arife at this Moment of my Writing ; 
 but, not having Leifure to digell them, will 
 probably be confufed enough. ^ — Firft, then, 
 I muft tell you, that I agree to your Theory 
 in Part, but not wholly ; becaufe I do not 
 thmk that the general DiiTolution of the 
 Earth, at the Deluge, (which you fuppofe) 
 either did or could take Place; nor could it 
 
 have
 
 On the DELUGE. LET. II. 
 
 have produced the prefent Appearances, if it 
 had. — But that a partial DilTolution of the 
 earthy Parts, Sand, Gravel, &c. &c. was 
 caufed by it, I readily alTent to ; yet I cannot 
 think that the immenfe Bodies of Rocks that 
 now exifl in the World, were ever mjluore 
 /ince they were firll formed at the Creation. 
 My own Idea is in ihort this j when the 
 World was firft formed out of the chaotic 
 Matter, the central Nucleus was Fire, and 
 that it was enclofed in a Shell or Cafe, 
 formed of fome of the heavieft Particles, fuch 
 as Marble, Stone, &c. and that the other 
 component Particles took their Places, not 
 indeed exa(ftly according to their fpecific 
 Gravities, but perhaps nearly fo ; that the 
 Waters drained off into the hollows, or 
 loweft Parts of the Surface, and, formed the 
 Sea.—- That at the appointed Time, this cen- 
 tral Fire burfl its Jiony Shell, Vv'ith a violent 
 Explofion, and was one great efficient Caufc 
 , of the Deluge, — And as this Earth or Cruft 
 muft necelTarily have been thinneji, where 
 thofe deep Hollows had been made to re- 
 ceive the Sea, fo probably thofe Parts would 
 
 firfl
 
 LET.il On the DELUGE. 133 
 
 firft yield to the Force of the Explofion, and 
 be thrown fartheft from the Center, as being 
 lighteft, and confequently form the highefi 
 Parts of our prefent Globe, fuch as the An- 
 des, Alps, &c. and (if you pleafe) the Moun- 
 tains of Cornwall ; all of which are of Rock. 
 That the violent Agitation of the Waters, 
 caufed by this Explofion, would, in many 
 PartSy wa{h much of the earthy Particles 
 which covered thefe Rocks in their prifline 
 Situation, irom them -, and thereby leave 
 them in the naked State we now fee them in 
 many Places : but that in others, where the 
 rocky Shell was not forced up quite fo high, 
 it remains covered with the diiterent Strata 
 of Sand, Shells, &c, much in the fame Man- 
 ner as it did when it originally made a Part 
 of the great Eafon which contained the Sea ; 
 which feems to me to be a very natural Solu- 
 tion of the Phenomenon of Shells, 6cc. being 
 found even on very high Mountains ; and 
 different Sorts of them in different Places ; 
 as we now find that the different Sorts of 
 Shell-fifh, as well as others, are found in 
 much greater Quantities in fome Parts of our 
 Seas than in others. On
 
 1 34 
 
 On the DELUGE. LET. 11. 
 
 On this Principle it is likewife eafy to con- 
 ceive, how thofe Fiflures were caufed in the 
 hard Rocks of Cornwall and Derbyfhire, &c. 
 which are now filled with what they call the 
 (Metallick) Load : but whether that Load 
 was originally in the State it is now found, I 
 very much doubt : My own Opinion being 
 rather that they have been gradually formed 
 by the Admixture of certain impregnated 
 Fluids, with earthy Particles properly adapt- 
 ed to receive them, and become the Balis of 
 Mineral Subftance. 
 
 And what inclines me to this Opinion, 
 and confirms me in it, is my own Obfer- 
 vation of the Formation of what are vulgarly 
 called Plumb-pudding Stones; which 1 have 
 ieen in the Stdte of loofe Gravel, and watched 
 it through all the Gradations between that 
 and the hardnefs of a Granite : I have alfo 
 feen a fmall Kuby, in the Center of a Dia- 
 mond, which inconteflably proves that the 
 Ruby was formed before the conftituent Parts 
 of the Diamond, which muft then have been 
 in a Fluid or Ibft State, for otherwife they 
 could not have furrounded and enclofed it.
 
 LET.il On the deluge, 135 
 
 But to return, and give you my Objed:ions 
 to Part of your Theory -, if, as you fuppofe, 
 all the terraqueous Globe was in a State of 
 Solution at the Time of the Deluge, how 
 could the Rocks of Marble and Granite, ac- 
 quire fuch great Hardnefs and Solidity, in {o 
 fhort a Space as one Year, to admit of being 
 cracked and fplit as we now fee them. — 
 Would they not rather have admitted of be- 
 ing arched or bent, as being in ayS/Z^T State ? 
 But, admitting for Argument's Sake, that 
 they could have acquired fufficient Hardnefs, 
 what Force, or what Caufe could have been 
 applied to ih^xn Jince then, fufficient to crack, 
 break, and tumble them about in the won- 
 derful Manner we now fee them ? You will 
 obferve, that we fo far agree about the For- 
 mation of Ores, in thefe Cracks, as to fup- 
 pofe them formed there, fubfequent to thoie 
 Cracks: But whether you will agree with 
 me, that they were formed upon a Matrix 
 of earthy Particles, by Impregnation from 
 Fluids, I know not; but rather think you 
 will, from the Inftance you properly bring 
 of Spars being found among them, which 
 
 every
 
 136 On the DELUGE, LET. IL 
 
 every one knows are formed from aqueous 
 Particles, loaded with what may properly 
 enough be called Saline ones. 
 
 Thus, my Dear Sir, you have a hafty 
 Sketch of my Philofophy, the Produdl of the 
 firft leifure Hour I have had fmce my Return 
 to Town. 
 
 I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour very obedient. 
 
 And much obliged Servant, 
 
 J. HEAVISIDE. 
 
 Prince'E-Strect, Oft. 10, lySg.
 
 LET. III. On the DELUGE. 127 
 
 To J O H N H E A V I S I D E, Eso. 
 
 FaS?s iDhich prove that all Farts of Europe, 
 Alia, Africa, and America, the Exuviae of 
 Animals and Vegetables, particularly Sea 
 Shells, are found in different Strata of St one j 
 both on the Tops of the highcji Mountains in 
 the Worldy and alfo at the greatejl Depths 
 that have been dug below the Surface of the 
 Earth. — Sof7ie farther Account of the De-- 
 luge. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 THOUGH we cannot exaSlly agree in 
 our Ideas about the Formation of the 
 Earth, at the Creation, and the Deftrudlion 
 (as I fuppofe) and Reformation of it at the 
 Deluge ; yet the genteel and impartial Man- 
 ner in which you mention your Objedlions, 
 fhews that Truth is your Ob j eft. — And, I 
 am fure, that no one, who reads your Ob- 
 fervations, but mufl think (notwithftanding 
 what you fay) that you have made fome Pro- 
 ficiencies in the Study of Natural Philofophy, 
 
 S I
 
 138 On the DELUGE. LET. III. 
 
 I believe you have been teazed enough al- 
 ready, to know that it is my Hobby-Horfe. 
 As Uncle Toby had his, iio I have mine ; 
 for V7hen F^hilofophy is once made the Sub- 
 jed: of Converfation, I dont know v/hen to 
 have done with it ; and therefore, I fuppofe, 
 you will delire no more on the Subjed:; if 
 fo, throw this in the Fire, and trouble your- 
 felf no more about it. 
 
 It gave me great Satisfadion to find that 
 your Ideas agreed in Part with mine -, but 
 you fay you cannot think with me, ** that 
 " there was a general Dijfolntion of the Earth 
 ** at the Deluge, and that the immenfe Bo- 
 ** dies of Rock that now exift, were ever in 
 *' a fluid State, fmce they were firfl formed 
 ** at the Creation." 
 
 The Way to come at the Truth of what 
 we have not feen, or don't know for certain, 
 is to apply to Matters of Fad, Experiments, 
 and the natural Phenomena of Nature. — On 
 examining this Earth, in all Parts of the 
 World, in America as well as Europe -, Afia, 
 
 and
 
 On the DELUGE. LET. III. 139 
 
 and America-, from the Tops of the higheft 
 
 Mountains, to the deepefl Places that have 
 
 been dug in the Earth 5 we find it is com- 
 
 pofed of different Strata^ as Sand, Gravel, 
 
 Stone, Clay, 6cc. — In all thefe Strata are 
 
 found Exuvice of Animals and Vegetables; 
 
 particularly Sea Shells, in large Quantities.— 
 
 Does not this prove, that thefe Shells, &c. 
 
 were mixed with the Subitance of the Stone 
 
 and other Strata, when they were in a fluid 
 
 State ? 
 
 » 
 
 This could not happen at any Time, but 
 at the general Deluge.— And (as was obferved 
 before) that, as they are to be found in great 
 Part of the Strata, from the Tops of the 
 higheft Mountains, to the greateft Depths in 
 the Earthy all muft be diffolved. — The find- 
 ing Skeletons of Elephants, and the Horns 
 of the Moufe Deer, here in England, feems 
 to prove that thefe Strata, wherein they 
 are found, were in a State of Solution when 
 thefe Relicks were there depofited ; and alfo 
 that the Deluge was univerfal. — How is it 
 poiTibie for a Flood of Water, many Feet 
 
 deep.
 
 I40 LET. III. On the DELUGE. 
 
 deep, to be partial on any Part of the Earth ; 
 it is well known that Water will give Way 
 to PrefTure, as may be obferved by Pumps 
 and Hydroftatic Machines, &c. — Therefore, 
 as the PrelTure of the Atmofphere is uni- 
 verfally alike all over the Globe, (allowing 
 for the Difference between the Heat at the 
 Equator, and the Cold at each Pole) the 
 Water mufl: be forced equally round it. — 
 This being the Cafe, we may rcafonably fup- 
 pofe, that thefe Relicks muft be brought 
 from other Climates, to this Place) neither 
 one of them being an Inhabitant here — 
 Large Trees are alfo found in fome of the 
 Northern Latitudes, which are fo culd as not 
 to admit a bhrub to grow. 
 
 Mofes, in his Hiflory of the Flooa, as 
 before obferved, tells us, that God faid, I, 
 even I, do bring on a Flood of \V aters on 
 the Earth. — Hence we are informed, that it 
 was brought on by the immediate ASf of God 
 him/elf, and not according to the Agency of 
 
 Nature,
 
 LET. III. 0?2 the DELUGE. 141 
 
 Nature. —Now though God brought it on 
 contrary to that Agency, which he had efla- 
 .bliflied; yet he made Ufe of his material 
 Agents, both to bring it on, and to carry it 
 off. — Thus we find that Mofes, in his Hif- 
 tory tells us, that the Method God ordered 
 was to break up the Fountains of the great 
 Deepf and open the Windows of Heaven, {z) 
 
 The literal Tranllation of the above Paffacre 
 is. That all the Openings of the great Deep, 
 through which tlie Fountains flowed, and 
 the Holes and Cracks through which Air, 
 Steam, or the internal Expanfion or Heaven 
 pafled, were enlarged, fpread abroad, and 
 broke up. — Alfo that there was a very great 
 Rain. — From all which it may not be im- 
 probable, but that the Shells, and different 
 Parts of Animals and Vegetables, fo found, 
 were appointed as an undeniable Evidence, 
 to the lateft Pojierity, that Mofes's Hiflory 
 of the Flood is true. 
 
 The Method made Ufe of was, (as he in- 
 forms us) to incrcafe the internal Expanfion 
 
 and 
 
 (g) Gen. Vn. 11,
 
 142 On the DELUGE, LET. III. 
 
 and Rarefadion, fo as to force out the Water 
 from the Deep, through thofe Openings 
 which became larger continually, and relifled 
 lefs, as the Centre of Gravity was altered, 
 by lefiening the compreffing Force without, 
 and increasing the expanfive Force v/ithin. — 
 Thus the AttraMion of Cchejion was taken 
 away ; htnce the Parts of Stone, &c. became 
 loofe and eailiy dilTolved, and were moved, 
 and by the Force of th:' Water beloiVy mixed 
 with it and carried away, — The Expanfwn 
 below continuing and increaling, till it had 
 forced the Water fifteen Cubits upwards, a- 
 bove the higheft Hills, which were covered 
 and hid. 
 
 By this Defcription of the Agents, you 
 may obferve, that I agree with you in think- 
 ing, that there is a central Fire within this 
 Globe, which I take to be the firfl Agent in 
 all the Operations of Nature.— The late 
 Earthquakes have fhcwed us fomething of its 
 EfFedts, by which were thrown out hot Wa- 
 ter, and burning Sand, &c. — Is it not pro- 
 bable that this central Fire may be made, by 
 
 God,
 
 LET. III. On the DELUGE. 143 
 
 God, the Agent, which, at the laft Day.. 
 may deftroy this terraqueous Globe, with its 
 Inhabitants ?— Indeed this central Fire, which 
 you mention, appears to be the caufe of our 
 Lakes and Springs, C^) both hot and cold — 
 Is it not probable that it affifls to increafe 
 the Fertility of the Earth in fome Places 
 more than in others. — The Parts of Italy fo 
 much damaged by the late Earthquakes, as 
 well as by former ones, are allowed to be 
 fome of the moft fertile Places on Earth : — 
 Can there be a Doubt but that Earthquakes 
 are brought on by Steam arifing from this 
 central Fire. W It is obfcrved, that after long 
 continued Frofls, that the Thaw, generally ,^ 
 if not always, proceeds from below : — Do 
 not thefe Effluvia from below, caufe the 
 Drains, &c. to fmell before Rain ? Has it 
 not alfo an aparent Effed: in fmking the 
 Quickfilver of the Barometer, by its Force 
 upwards, abating the PrefTure of the At- 
 mofphere ? Without this, how will y©u ac- 
 count for the Difference of Cold under the 
 fame Latitudes, as Newfoundland ^ Hudjons 
 
 Bay, 
 
 (h) See Letter.XVI. (i) Michel, on Eatthqnak&s, Part «.— Whithurft, C. XII
 
 144 On the DELUGE. LET. III. 
 
 Bay^ &c\ which are m the fame Latitude as 
 England, and yet the Cold much more in- 
 tenfe ?— Unlefs you will fuppofe that the 
 Shell of the Earth, under thefe Places in 
 America, is thicker and clofer than it is here 
 in England, and thereby the Lleat of the 
 Fire and Steam below, are prevented from 
 having fo great an Effed: on it. 
 
 I have now given you a fhort Narrative of 
 my Theory of the Deluge, and how it was 
 brought on. — Mofes in his Hiilory gives but 
 a fhort Relation about its going oiF, and the 
 Reformation of the terraqueous Globe; which 
 indeed he had no Occalion to do, as he had 
 been fo particular before in his Hiftory of 
 the Creation and Formation, of the antidilu- 
 vian Earth 3 which I (liall explain in my 
 next Letter, as I have already run this to a 
 great Length, — He only lets us know that 
 God did not forget Noah, or fuffer him to 
 be deftroyed, but that he caufed a Wind or 
 gravitating Ether to pafs over the Earth, by 
 which the Waters were aifuaged, or as it is 
 in the Hebrew, the Waters vftxt forced down^ 
 
 Adieu, 
 Stonehoufe, Sept. 27, 1783-, F. PENROSE.
 
 LET IV. On the CREATION. 145 
 
 To JOHN HE AVI SIDE, Esq. 
 
 Original Names ideal. — T'bc Rcafon why it has 
 been ajferted, and generally believed^ that 
 the Scriptures do not fpeal: jlridlly true, with 
 Regard to Philofophy, on the Motion of the 
 Sunt Earthy &c. but is accommodated to 
 vulgar Apprebenjions. — 'The Mojaic Account 
 of the CreatioUy and Formatiofiy of this 
 Syjiem ; defer ibing the Agents, which carry 
 on the mechanical Operations of Nature-, 
 together with fome ExtraSls from Sir Ifaac 
 Newton, to fiew that he fuppofed the 
 Agents of Nature to be the fame as thofe re- 
 vealed in the Scriptures, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 ACCORDING to the Promife in my 
 laft Letter, I have herewith fent you 
 my Theory of the Creation and Formation of 
 this terraqueous Globe. — The Inftrudtion 
 for doing it, I have taken from the Mofaic 
 Hiftcry^ which Mofes tells us came from 
 Jehovah himfelf. — Indeed we have no other 
 T Account
 
 146 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 Account of this grand Affair, therefore let 
 us examine it with the fame critical Strick- 
 nefs we would any other Hiftory, — If we 
 find this Hiftory confirmed by all the Parts 
 of the terraqueous Globe, and alfo by all the 
 Phenomena of the Sun and Moon, &c. why 
 fhall we not believe it ? * 
 
 It is agreed by the learned in general, and 
 by Antiquarians in particular, that original 
 Names, (in all Languages) were ideal, and 
 gave an emblematical Reprefentation of the 
 Thing fignified thereby. — Thus in Latin, 
 Candelabrum fignifies a Candleftick. — This 
 Word is compounded of Candela, a Candle, 
 and JLabruniy a Ciftern or Socket to contain 
 a Candle; fo that it was expreffive, that 
 this Inftrument was to contain a Candle :— 
 In Englifh it is a Candle-Jiick, denoting that 
 it was then made of a Stick or Wood, and not 
 of Silver or other Metal as it is now. — We 
 are informed by Mofes, that the Names given 
 by God, by Adam, by the Patriarchs, or by 
 
 Himfelf, 
 
 * See Iotrodu£lion.
 
 LET. IV. On the CREATION. 147 
 
 Himfelf, were all i^ea/, and exprelTed the 
 Reafon why the Name was given. 
 
 Thus, when Mofes afkcd the Lord, what 
 he (houid fay was his Name, ;;<: God /aid un- 
 to Mofes i I am, that I am ; thou fbalt fay, I 
 AM has Jent me unto you, JeHoVaH. — This 
 is the incommunicable Name given by God 
 himfelf; and though it contains but four 
 Letters in the Hebrew, (the fmall Vowels 
 being added to aflift the Sound) yet it is io 
 comprehenfive and expreflive, as to require 
 a Sentence to explain it, which, with all 
 Humility, I Ihall endeavour to^do, viz. ne 
 eternal Jelf-exijling Being, 'who was, and is, 
 and is to cofne.—M.o^QS alfo informs us, that 
 Adam called his W^ife's Name HoVaH, E've, 
 This is a Participle paflive, from HIaH ijixit, 
 to live, fignifying Life givi?7g, or, as we are 
 told, bccaufe {he was to be the Mother of all 
 Living ; or the Perfon from whom all Pof- 
 terity were to derive their Being.— We alfo 
 find, that God not only gave ideal Names, 
 but alfo that he ordered thofe Names to be 
 
 changed 
 
 (k) Exoa, III. 13, ij.
 
 148 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 changed on particular Occafions, when the 
 Alteration in Condition required it. — Thus 
 Abraham from Abram^ that is, from high 
 Father, to the Father of a great Multitude^ 
 to exprcfs and be a Memorial of the Promife 
 which God made him. — That He Jhould be 
 the Father of many Nations, ^'^ God alfo al- 
 tered the Name of Jacob to Ifrael, &c. (m) If 
 thefe Examples are not fufficient to latisfy any 
 Inquirer, let him confult the Scripture Names 
 at the End of Crudens Concordance, and, I 
 believe, he will want no more Examples } 
 
 For the above Reafon, I fhall give, (to- 
 gether with the Mofaic Hiftory of the Crea- 
 tion) a literal Tranflation of the Meaning of 
 the Hebrew Words as they occur.^ — If it 
 don't give you Inftrudion, I think it will 
 add to your Amufement. — But before I do 
 this, it will be proper to take Notice of a 
 general Notion which has prevailed for about 
 the three laft Centuries, viz. That Mofes, 
 when he gives an Account of the Creation, 
 Deluge, or Motions of the Heavenly Bodies, 
 
 does 
 
 (1] Gen, XVII. 5.— (m) Gen. JiXXII. aSi
 
 LET. IV. On the GREAT lO^N. 149 
 
 docs not fpeak philofophically true, i^ut ac" 
 commodates bhnjelf to the vulgar Apprehenjions 
 of Men, to fuch Points of natural Philofophy 
 as they, were not able to comprehend. 
 
 Now, in Anfvver to this, it is confeft, iw 
 general, that there is a great deal of Geogra^ 
 phy, of authentic Hijhry, and Chronology y in 
 the Bible, — Its Hiftory, its Chronology, or 
 Philofophy, muft be in Fad: as true as its 
 Theology ; for to fpeak falfe- in any Cafe 
 whatfoever, or, if we fuppofe that any Part 
 of the divine Word to be erroneous, it fo 
 far fliakes the Authority of the reft. — If we 
 believe his Hiflory of the Ifraelites to be 
 true ; why (liould we difbelieve his Hiftory 
 of the Creation ? efpecially if the Phenomena 
 of the Sun and Moon, and all Nature con- 
 firm it. 
 
 Let us now enquire, why it was fuppofed 
 that the Scriptures did not fpeak ftridly true, 
 with Regard to Philofophy. — By this In- 
 quiry we fhall find, that about Three Hun- 
 dred Years ago, Copernicus publiilied his Ac- 
 count
 
 150 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 count of the Solar Syflem, (which was no 
 other than a Recovery of what was before 
 maintained by Pythagoras, and other ancient 
 Philofophers,) — For fome Centuries before 
 this, there had reigned an univerfal Ignorance, 
 with Regard to the Sciences. — The Church, 
 which was then that of Rome, had not, nei- 
 ther did they underfland any other Scriptures 
 but the vulgar Latin ; which, according to 
 their Apprehenfions, afferted, that the Earth 
 flood ftill, and that the Body of the Sun 
 moved, rofe, and fet. — Copernicus and his 
 Followers proved beyond Difpute, that it 
 was not the Sun, but the Earth which moved. 
 This being the Cafe, and thefe lear7ied Ec- 
 clejiajlicks not being able to read and under/land 
 the original Hebrew, (which fpoke the con- 
 trary) were forced to give up the Caufe, and 
 to fave , Appearances, to cover their Ig- 
 norance, and to prevent farther Inquiry, they 
 contrived to get it afferted, and preached from 
 the Pulpit, that the Scriptures did not fpeak 
 philofophically true, but that Mofes did ac- 
 commodate himfelf to the Apprehenfions of 
 the Vulgar. — Mankind being thus educated 
 
 and 
 
 \
 
 LET. IV. On the CREATION. 151 
 
 and taught with their firfl Ideas, no Body 
 feemed to doubt it. * 
 
 Mofes, in the firfl Chapter of Gencfis tells 
 us, that the World was not eternal, but that 
 in the Beginning God created the Heavens 
 and the Earth. — After this he goes on to let 
 us know, what Time God was forming it, 
 and what material Agents he made u(e of for 
 that Purpofe. — He tells us that the Earth 
 was created without For?n, and had a Void or 
 Hollow in the Midji of it. — That the Faces, 
 (plural) or Outfides of it were covered with 
 Darknsfs, — That the firfl Thing which God 
 did, was for RUaCH, his Spirit, to caufe a 
 Motion, or Wind, or PrelTure, amongfl: the 
 D.irknefs on the Outfide of the Waters.— 
 The next W^ord, MeRaCHaPHeT, defcrib- 
 ing the Motion to be of the vibrating Kind, 
 backwards and forwards, like the Waves of 
 the Sea, preffed by Wind, or the Breath of 
 an Animal, or the Hovering of a Hawk over 
 his Prey -, and God Jaid let there be Light. -^ 
 
 Here 
 
 * Hence appears the Abfutdity of Perfons explaining •written Laws they 
 cannot read and underftand.
 
 152 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 Here it may be obfervcd, that it was not a 
 new Creation, but God faid kt there be Light-, 
 or let this expanlivc Struggle or Conflict con- 
 tinue till it produced Light— and there was 
 Light; and God faw that the Light was 
 good, or according to the Hebrew Signifi- 
 cation, that it was compleaty and fit to an- 
 fwer all the Purpofes it was defigned for. — 
 The Hebrew Name is AUR, a Particle paf- 
 five from JAR, to flow like a River, to ir- 
 radiate, to expand; as a Subflantive a Splend- 
 or, an Irradiation, a continual Flowing or 
 Motion. — Thus we find that the Name given 
 to this Subftance, (which was before called 
 CHeSHeC, T^arknefs, Stillnefs, Inertnefs, 
 Sluggiihnefs) was of a quite difiPerent Quality 
 to what it had been before, which was Stillnefs, 
 Inertnefs ; but this, a continual Flowing, 
 like a River, Motioji itfelf, or the moving 
 Agent. — Hence it may be obferved, that the 
 Darknefs which furroundcd the terraqueous 
 Globe, was divided into two Parts, viz. 
 RUaCH, Spirit, Wind, or Air, in Motion, 
 which caufed Gravity and Compreflion, and 
 AUR, Light, which gave Motion, and irra- 
 diated.
 
 LET. IV. On the CREATION. 153 
 
 diated.— That God placed the Earth between 
 the Light and Darknefs, fo that Light was 
 on one Side of the Earth, and Darknefs on 
 the other. — That God called the Air on that 
 Side of the Globe which was covered 
 with Light, JOM, Day, or Tumult , from 
 the violent Agitation or Struggle there car- 
 ried on between the two Parts, Light and 
 Darknefs. — The State of the Air, on the op- 
 polite Side of the Earth, he called LalLaH, 
 Night, Ina^hity, Lajjitude : Hence, on that 
 Side of the Earth which was Day, there was 
 a continual Struggle, or Conflict j and on 
 the contrary Side, Night, or InaBivlty .—^ 
 That by caufing the Globe to make a Rota- 
 tion all round, there was Evening and Morn- 
 ing, or one Day. 
 
 On the fecond Day we are told that God 
 faid, " Let there be a Firmament or Expan* 
 ** Jion in the Midft (void) of the Waters, and 
 ** let that be an Inftrument and Caufe to di- 
 ** vide between the Waters and the Waters." 
 Thus let the Motion between the Light and 
 Darknefs increafe, and by their Struggle and 
 U Conflia:,
 
 154 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 Confli<5V, caufe an Expanfion or Firmament . 
 which Expaniion, we are told, was the In- 
 flrument God made ufe of to feparate or 
 make to gravitate the earthy Parts from the 
 Waters, and fo form the Shell -, which Shell 
 of Earth when formed, feparated and made 
 a Divifion between the two Waters, viz. 
 thofe on the Outlide, under the outward Fir- 
 mament, and thefe V/aters on the Infidc of 
 the Shell, above the internal Expanfion, in 
 the Midji of the Waters. — After the Expan- 
 fions between the Light and Darknefs had 
 begun to perform the Office they were de- 
 ligned for, God gave them new Names to 
 denote their Office. —He now called them 
 Heavensy (") SHeMIM, that is the Placers, 
 the Di/pofers, the Agents-, alfo SHeCHeKIM 
 the Confli6tors. — Thefe were God's Agents 
 under him, whofe Power he lets us know 
 their Names reprefented. — Thus ended the 
 fecond Day.* 
 
 ;(nj Pfalm 89, 37. 
 
 On 
 
 * Saint Paul tells us, Rom. I. 20. That iht invifible Things 
 cj himjrtm the Creation of the World, are dearly feen, being un- 
 derjtood by iht Thingi that are madejeven his eternal Power and God- 
 
 head*
 
 LET. IV. 0?i the CREATION. 155 
 
 On the third Day the Adion of the Ex- 
 panfion or Firmament, in the Midft of the 
 Waters, ftill continuing and increaling by 
 being furrounded and pent up within the 
 
 Shell 
 
 head.—ln the Margin of our Bible, the Tranflators have re- 
 ferred us to the XIX iMahn, as the Place where the Scrip- 
 tui^iqs have pointed out to us thofe Parts of created Nature 
 which do it: I fliall therefore give the firfl fix Verfes of that 
 Plalm, vi'hich differ httle from the Enghfli Tranflation, ex- 
 cept being more literal. 
 
 Veife ift. " The Heavens, as Books, rc.prcjint to its, by 
 ** their Numbers in Circulation, (a) the Glory of God ; and tiie 
 *' Firmament Iheweth his handy Work, or his Strength and 
 *' Power." — (Thus, Job XXXVII, 18, we are told, that 
 " the Skies or Heavens areftrong as a Molten Looking-Glajs.) 
 
 2d. " Day unto Day caufes his Decree lo be fpread abroad^ 
 *' and Night unto Night the Knowledge oj Jehovah. * 
 
 3d. " Neither Words or Speech are in them ; let their 
 S»und be attended to !" 
 
 4th. " Their Ordinance goes out over the whole Earth, and 
 «' their Fulnefs {h) unto the End of the World. — The Place 
 " or Tabernacle for the folar Light (c) is fpread out in them. 
 
 5th, " Which lika a Bridegroom coming out of his 
 
 « Chamber,
 
 156 0« Mr CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 Shell of Earth and Waters, it burfi the Shell, 
 a?2d got Vent^ by which the Qiitward Waters, 
 (after the Rupture) were prelTed down by the 
 Firmament, to join thofe below, within the 
 
 Shell 
 
 " Chamber, and triumphs as a ftrong Man, fliki the great 
 " ManJ to run a Courfe." 
 
 6th. " His going forth is frcm the End of the Heavens, 
 *' and his Circuit unto the Ends of it ; and there is no Thing 
 " nor Place hid from the Heat thereof." 
 
 Obfervations on the Words which differ from the EngliJJi TravJ- 
 lation. 
 
 (a) The Hebrew Word tranflated declare, isMeSePRiM, 
 not a Verb, but a plural Noun, agreeing with SHeMIM, 
 Heavens, ad derived from Sak'eR, which according to ^i;e- 
 narius's Lexicon, fignifies " nnmeravit ordine, recenjitper Gyrum, 
 etCirculumj" to number according to Order, to declare, as 
 in a Book, to number by a Circle.— As a Noun, a Book, a 
 Numeration, a Scribe. 
 
 (b) MeLIHiMjtranHated Words are derived from MeLaH, 
 which fignifies Fulnefs, not Words.(*) — Ihe Hebrew Words 
 are DaCNoTH, JeHoVaH, which is literally the Knowledge 
 of Jehovah ; but in the Englifh Tranflation it is, Jkcxuetk 
 Knowledge. 
 
 (c) SHeMoSH in the Englifli Tranflation is often ren- 
 
 dered
 
 LP:T IV. On the CREATION. 157 
 
 Sl^e// of the 'Earthy which was before occu- 
 pied by the Expanfion, and thus, as Mofcs 
 informs us, the Waters v/ere gathered to one 
 P/ace ^the Abyfs, but not to the Centie of 
 
 the 
 
 dej-ed Sun, as it is in this Place, though it never fignifies the 
 Bod) of the Sun throughout the whoie Bible ; but the Sun_ 
 Beams or Light proceeding from the Sun. — "Whenever the 
 foiar Fire or Body of the Sun is mentioned in Scripture, if 
 is called CHaMaH, and the Body of the Moon is called 
 LIBNaH. Thus, ir..iah XXX. 26.—" The Stream of Light 
 " of LIBNaH, the Moon, fliall be as the Stream of Light of 
 *' CHaMall, l/ie Sun, and the Stream of Light of CLIaMatl 
 '• fhdU be levenfold.'" — The not making a proper Diftinftion 
 between thele two Hebrew Words, lias been the Otcafion 
 of great Confufion, by attributing Motion to the Sun, and 
 not to the Eaith, (which is contrary to the \Vc$ds of the 
 Scriptures) and has given anOpportuniiy to tlie fclf-fufiicient 
 and conceited Dcifl, to ridicule them.— Thus in the Englifh. 
 Tianflation, the Sun is faid to rife and Jet; but this is not 
 found in the Hebrew ; in thofe Places it is SHeMoSH,- the 
 Solar Light, which is faid to /pring out, and the Solar Light 
 to go of. — Thus, jfofiua, X. 12. The SHcMdSPI, the Solar 
 Li^ht. is faid to be filent, or not to go off, but to remain ftill 
 on Gibeon. — And laReCH, the Lunar, or ref.ecied Light 
 (this Word fignifies Effluvia, Odour, or reflefted Light, from 
 a Body, as Canticles II. 13 — V. 10, and 1 Sam. XXVL ig, 
 is the very fame Wo^d, o f the fame identical Letters, which 
 in the Margin of the EngliHi Bible is tranflated SinellJ from 
 *he Moon, in the Valley oi Ajalon, 
 
 Hence,
 
 i/:8 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 '0 
 
 the Earth, which Place (I think with you) 
 was and is always occupied by Fire. — -Hence, 
 as Mofes informs us, by the going down of 
 the Waters, the dry Land appeared. 
 
 I 
 
 Hence, we find, in this M'racle, that neither the Motion 
 of the Sun. Moon, or Earth is mentioned, or at all con- 
 cerned about it: It was only the Solar Light and the Lunar 
 Light which remained in both thofe flaccs, till Jofhua had 
 deftroyed his Enemies. — It was a fupernatural Light that 
 remained there ! as a fupernatural Darknefs had before re- 
 mained in Egypt for three Days, (a Da^kneJ's that mi^ht bt 
 Je.lt !J whilft the Children of Ifrael had Light in their Dwel- 
 lings, Exod. X. 21, 22, 23. Yet we have not the leaft 
 Reafon to fuppofe that the Earth flood flill all this while. — 
 We are told the contrary, that this Miracle of Darknefs re- 
 mained three Days, or whilft the Earth made three Rotations 
 round its Axis — As the Earth did not remain ftill or ftop 
 her Motion, whilft this Miracle of Ligh t and Darknefs was 
 performed in Egypt, why ftiould we fuppofe it did while a 
 Miracle of the fame Kind was performed on Gibeon? Had 
 that been the Cafe, the whole folar Syftem muft have been 
 difordered ! which would have anfwered no End ; it was as 
 much a Miracle without it. — That it did not is evident fro» 
 our Aftronomical Calculations of Eclipfes, Equinoxes, &c. 
 Jor there is not one Minute of that Day deficient. 
 
 Thus we find that SHeMoSH, the folar Light, and 
 laReCH, the Lunar, or reflefted Light, remained^iY/, with- 
 out Motion, in both thefc Places, in a miraculous Manner^ 
 
 contrary
 
 LET. IV. On the CREATION. 159 
 
 I (liall now recapitulate what has been ob- 
 ferved, from which it may be remarked, that 
 this terraqueous Globe was created in a con- 
 faled Mafs or a Chaos ; that it had a Hollow 
 
 or Void in the Midft of it. That this 
 
 Void v/as filled with Darknefs, and the Out- 
 fide of it was alfo covered with the fame Sub- 
 fi:ance. — That this Darknefs was inert or in- 
 aSlive Matter, which afterwards had different 
 Names given it by God, exprelllve cf their 
 Agency, till it was quite good or compleat, 
 when it received the Name of Heavens, or 
 the Placers, the Agents. — Thus God firfl 
 caufed a Wind Weight, or vibrating Motion 
 or Agitation amongft the Darknefs, by which 
 
 Light 
 
 contrary to the Mechanifm of Nature— But that CHaMaH, 
 the folar Fire, or Body of the Sun, and LiBNaH, the Body 
 of the Moon, were at the fame Time in their Places in the 
 Heavens ; and that the Earth continued her ufual Motions, 
 and no Difference was occahoned on other Parts of the 
 Globe, befides upon Gibeon, and in the Valley of Ajalon.— 
 And Verfe 13 it is faid, that '• the SHeMoSH, the folar 
 " Light, remained in that Part of the Heavens, (viz. over 
 " GibeonJ it did not g» off, (or fetj it was like an entire or 
 «< perfe6l Day, and there wa$ no Day like that before it or 
 « after it."
 
 i6o On the C R E A 1 1 O N". LET. IV. 
 
 Light fprung out, to which he gave the 
 Name of Light, Iradiation, Splendor, or 
 flowing Motion. - That the Globe had 
 
 Light, Day or Tumult on one Side, and 
 Nighty a Lajjitude, or a Decay of it, on the 
 other Side. — That the terraqueous Globe was 
 a Divifion between them. — That by one Ro- 
 tation there was Evening and Morning on all 
 Parts of the Globe, which made the firfl 
 Day. — That on the fecond Day God caufed 
 an Expanlion amongft the Darknefs, in the 
 Midft of the Globe; which Expanfion caufed 
 a Separation of the earthy Parts from the 
 Waters, and forced them outwards to join 
 thofe which were prefled towards the Centre, 
 by the outward Expanfion, and thus a firm 
 Shell of Earth was formed, which was a Di- 
 vifion between the outv/ard and the internal 
 Waters. — On the third Day the internal Ex- 
 panfion continually increafing, and being 
 confined by the Shell of Earth, it arrived to 
 fuch a Strength as to burft the Shell, and get 
 Vent ; after that mixing with the outward 
 Expanfion, the Waters were prefTed down 
 into the Place lately occupied by it, by which 
 
 Means
 
 LILT. IV. an M^ CREATION. i6i 
 
 Means the Waters were in o?2e Place, and the 
 dry Laad appeared ; after they had performed 
 this Ad:ion, God faw that they were good, 
 or capable to perform the Agency he appoint- 
 ed for them ; and he then gave them the 
 Name of Heavens, the Agents y Placers ; and 
 deputed them to a(ft. — And we find that they 
 caufed Vegetables, Trees, &c. to fpring out 
 of the Earth and grow. 
 
 Having now given you an Account of the 
 Formation of this terraqueous Globe, as 
 given by Mofes, who tells us that the Earth 
 now brought forth Vegetables, Trees, 6cc. 
 I (hall endeavour to explain how the natural 
 Agents performed thefe Operations, which 
 the Scriptures tell us they do^ but before 
 that, I take the Liberty to make fomc Ex- 
 tra(5ts from Sir Ifaac Newton, to {hew that 
 he fuppofed they did the fame -, and alfo that 
 the Phenomena of ProjeBion or centrifugal 
 Force, together with the Centripetal Gravity^ 
 and all Kinds of Attra<flions are performed 
 by the fame Agents, the HEAVENS, the 
 ETHERS; the Fluid which fills them.-This 
 X * will
 
 i62 On the CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 will be a Confirmation, that he has properly 
 applied his geometrical and mathematical De- 
 monftrations of thefe Effeds, or Phenomena -^ 
 which Demonftrations, I doubt not, will 
 ftand the Tefl of Ages, as Euclid's has al- 
 ready done. 
 
 Sir I/aac Newton s great Judgement and 
 Skill in Geometry, was the principal Caufe 
 of excelling his contemporary Philofophers, 
 for God comprehended the Duji of the Earth 
 in a MeafurCy and weighed the Mountains in 
 Scales, and the Hills in a Ballance, (o) Hence 
 the moft certain Method to afcertain the 
 Truth of an aftronomical or philofophical 
 Hypothefis, is by Geometry, by Numbers, 
 Weights, and Meafure. — This was the Me- 
 thod that great Mathematician purfued his 
 Studies ; for in a Book of Def-cartes, which 
 he made ufe of when at College, there ftill 
 remain in many Places in the Margin, the 
 following Remarks,' — Error, not geometricah 
 But then great Care fliould be taken in their 
 Application, not to apply them to improper 
 
 Subjcd:s, 
 
 (o) Ifalah XL, n.
 
 LET. IV. On the C R E AT I O N. 163 
 
 Subjects, for if applied improperly, we fliall 
 be miflead by them. — Sir Ifaac himfelf has 
 been guilty of this Error. — The Science of 
 Geometry is derived from the Syftem of Na- 
 ture, which is a perfect: Autoinaton, or a 
 mechanical Machine, that has the Power of 
 Mjving within itfelf ; but it was formed and 
 fet a going by the Creator, who faw that it 
 was good, perfect, and compleat, and capa- 
 ble to perform all the Operations he defigned 
 it for, many of which are fecret and wond- 
 erful. 
 
 Now let it be obferved, that what Mofes 
 calls HEAVENS, or the ?naterial Agents 
 under God, Sir Ifaac Newton calls ETHERS, 
 of which he gives the following Defcription. 
 ** This Medium (fays he) pervades all Bo- 
 ** dies, and that there is no Vacuum but what 
 ** it fills ; that it readily pervades all Bodies, 
 ** and by its elaflic Force, is expanded through 
 " the whole Heavens, 'p) And 4) that it is 
 '* rarer within the Body of the Sun, than at 
 ^' its Surface -, and rarer there than in the ce- 
 
 *« Icllial 
 
 (p) Opt, p. 383-— (1) Opt. P. 325.
 
 i64 On ^^^ CREATION. LET. IV. 
 
 '* leftial Spaces ; fo that if the elaftic Force 
 " of this Medium be exceeding great, it may 
 *' faffice to impel Bodies from the denfer 
 ** Parts of the Medium, towards the rarer, 
 *' with all that Force or Impulfe which we 
 '* call GRAVITY."— At the Conclufion of 
 his Principia he tells the fame, (r) He farther 
 fays, ** We might add fomething concerning 
 ** a certain vcio9iJubtile Spirit ^ which pervades 
 " and lies hid in all Bodies ; by the Force 
 *' and AElion of which Spirit ^ the Particles 
 ** of Bodies mutually attraci one another, at 
 " near Diftances, and where, if contiguous^ 
 *' the elaftic Bodies operate at greater Dif- 
 ** tances, as well repelling as attracting the 
 '* neighbouring Corpufcles, and Light is 
 *^ emitted, refracted, infled:cd, and heat Bo- 
 " dies ; and all Senfation is excited, and the 
 *' Members of animal Bodies move at the Com^ 
 *^ ma7zd of the Will, namely, by the Vibrati- 
 ** ons of this Spirit, mutually propagated, 
 *' along the folid Filaments of the Nerves, 
 *' from the outward Organs of Senfe, to the 
 *' Brain, and from the Brain to the Mufcles/' 
 
 Then 
 
 (i) Peznberton, P, 406*
 
 LET. IV. On iU CREATION. 165 
 
 Then in his Opticks, in Order to convey to 
 us a Notion how this Agency was performed 
 between the Light proceeding from the SuUy 
 and the Spirit defcending from the Extremi- 
 ties,-^ He has thefe Words, ** The fame 
 ** great Weight (or Spirit) niJiy condenfe 
 " thofe Vapours and Exhalations, as foon as 
 ** they ihall at any Time begin to afcend from 
 ".the Staiy and make them prefently fall 
 ** back again ifito him, and by that Adion, 
 ** increafe his Heat much after the fame Man- 
 *' ner that in our Earth the Air increafes the 
 " Heat of a culinary Fire. (0 But, fays he, 
 ** it is difficult to explain how Rays can be 
 " alternately in Fits of eafy Reflection, and 
 ** eafy Tranfmillion -, unlefs perhaps one 
 ** might fuppofe, that there are in all Spacer 
 *' TV/0, (Light and Spirit as he mentions 
 *' before) ethereal, vibrating Mediums."— 
 Perhaps we may not get a more clear De- 
 fcription of the Agency of Nature than the 
 above, from Sir Ifaac Newton j the Truth 
 of which all the Phenomena of Nature con- 
 firm, as well as the Scriptures ; hence I fhall 
 
 take 
 
 Cf)0pt. p. 339.
 
 i66 On the CREATION. LET, IV. 
 
 take the Liberty of adopting his two Agents, 
 Light and Spirit ; and, note, that whenever 
 I make Ufe of either, I may be underflood 
 to mean the fame by them, as has been above 
 defcribed from Sir Jjaac Newton. 
 
 Having now extended my Letter to a 
 Length, that I think, will tire your Pati- 
 ence, and the next Thing coming on to be 
 explained being Vegetation, which will re- 
 quire another long Letter, I Ihall now con- 
 clude this, with a Promife that you fhall re- 
 ceive another in a few Days. 
 
 I am, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 Tour Friend, 
 
 And humble Servant, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 Oa.4, 1783.
 
 LET. V. On VEGETATION. 167 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE, Eso. 
 
 Vegetation when it Jirjl began : — T/je Agents 
 which carry it on defcribed-y together with 
 the Method Nature makes iife of for that 
 Purpofe. — I'he Vegetation of a Seed and Bud, 
 'Experiments from Dr. Hales, to afcertain 
 the Effects of Heat and Cold on that Ope- 
 ration of Nature, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 MY lafl: Letter I finifhed with the Wa- 
 ters being gathered together in one 
 Place y and the dry Land appeared ; and God 
 faid, let the Earth bring forth Grafs, the 
 Herb yielding Seed, and the Fruit ^ree yields 
 ing Fruit after his Kind, whofe Seed is in it- 
 felf upon the Earth : and it was fo. And 
 God faw that they were good^-^On this the 
 third Day ended, 
 
 It may be obferved, that God, on the firfl 
 Day, caufed a Splendor, an Irradiation, a- 
 mongft the Darkncfs, which covered the 
 
 Faces
 
 i68 On V EGETATION, LET. \ . 
 
 Faces or Surfaces of the Waters. Thefc Sir 
 IJaac Newto?2 obferves, were the Agents, 
 (which wefind afterzunrdsGod calledHcavens) 
 to which he gives the Name Ethers, and 
 filled all the celeftial Space from the Sun to 
 Saturn, and beyond.— Thefe Agents, by their 
 continual Confii(^, caufed an Expanlion, and 
 formed the terraqueous Globe. — Thus the 
 Light by entering, opens and expands — 
 and the Spirit, by preffing, forces every 
 Thing clofer together. — We are now told, 
 that thefe Agents had a free Accefs to the 
 Surface of the Earth, which by their Agency 
 brought forth Grafs ; the Herb yielding 
 
 Seed, &c. whofe Seed was in itfelf. 
 
 Thus we find that Vegetation was the firft 
 Operation thefe Agents produced, after the 
 forming of the terraqueous Globe. — And, 
 perhaps, it is the Jirji in DigJiity that wei 
 fhall be capable to underftand — therefore, as 
 it muft be allowed, that the 'Phenomena pro- 
 duced by Nature, are much more certain and 
 lefs equivocal, than what are obtained from 
 Experiments of our own deviling; fo I fhall 
 endeavour to explain, in the beft Manner I 
 
 can.
 
 LET.V. 0;i VEGETATION. 169 
 
 can, the Agents employed to perform it. 
 Now let it be remembered, as we have al- 
 reaviy obferved from Sir Ifaac Newton, that 
 Light, and its perceivable EffeB, Heat, and 
 Spirit or Cold; together with the Atmojpbere, 
 Water and Earth, are the Things required to 
 produce and carry on Vegetation. 
 
 Boerhaave fays, that Fire and Motion are 
 fynonymous Terms ; which, as he obferves, 
 is proved thus; Fire by its entering Bodies, 
 and producing fl><7/,thcir Parts are dilated, and 
 muft neceffarily be moved farther afunder; 
 whether they be Solids or Fluids. — Thus, an 
 Iron Bar, being heated, increafes in all Di- 
 menfions, and the more (o as it is farther and 
 farther heated ; but on being again cxpofed 
 to the Cold, it contrails, and its Parts are 
 forcibly prejfed together, and return through 
 all the Degrees of Dilatation, till it comes to 
 its firft Bulk, or to the fame Degree of Heat 
 which it had when that additional one was 
 firft applied ; being never two Minutes of the 
 fame Dimenfons^ — • Hence, fays Boerhaave^ 
 ** If there were the greateil Degree of Cold, 
 Y '* and
 
 170 On VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 ** and all Fire were taken away, all Nature 
 " Vv'-ould grow into one concrete Body, folid 
 *' as Go/d, and hard as Diamond. -But, up- 
 *' on the Application of Fire, it would re- 
 " cover its former Mobility. — Confcquently 
 ** every Diminution of Fire is attended with 
 ** a proportionable Diminution of Motion, 
 " and Vice Verfa.'' — Now, as we have the 
 Authority oi Sir Ifaac Newton and Boerhaave, 
 to affirm that the Heavenly Spaces, and all 
 Matter, are filled with an ethereal Fluid, 
 which adts in two Capacities, viz. by Light or 
 Heat entering their Parts, and expanding 
 them, and by Spirit or Cold comprejjing and 
 forcing them together-, we (hall endeavour to 
 trace out the Method Nature makes ul% of to 
 caufe Vegetation from a Seed to a perfed: 
 Plant or Tree. 
 
 Every Year, nay every Day, Experience 
 confirms us, that Heat and Cold, which are 
 the Signs of Light and spirit, are the operat- 
 ing Caufes of Vegetation. — Thus, on the 
 coming on of Winter, as the Heat of the 
 Sun decreafes. Vegetation languifhes in Pro- 
 
 portron
 
 LET. V. On VEGETATION. 17: 
 portion as he withdraws his Warmth. 
 
 .Thus, it the Autumn proves warm, Vege- 
 tation is carried O'l with greater Vigour, and 
 longer, than when, on the contrary, cold 
 prevails. — And in the gfeateft Cold, in our 
 W^inter, it is quite ftop'd and at a Stand; 
 and thus it continueb, till by the Increafe of 
 Heat in the Spring, the vegetable Juices are 
 again put into Motion, when Seeds, Plants, 
 and Trees begin to vegetate. — Therefore, in 
 Order to explain this Operation, I fhall take 
 the following Method. — ift I Ihall examine, 
 after a Seed is put into the Ground, what are 
 the Caufes which make it vegetate, and to 
 become a Plant : — 2dly, what are the Caufes, 
 when Spring comes on, that make Plants and 
 Trees to vegetate, and pu(h forth their Buds 
 and Leaves -, and 3dly, when Summer ad- 
 vances, what occaiions Trees to grow, to 
 bring forth their Fruits and Seeds to Perfec- 
 tion. 
 
 Thofe Perfons who have been mofl con- 
 verfant with, and who have made the greateft 
 Difcoveries in microfcopical Obftrvations, 
 
 alTert,
 
 172 On VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 afTert, that every Herb and Tree bear their 
 own proper Seed, after their Kind. — Thefe, 
 on being thrown into the Earth, which is of 
 a proper Heat, Moifture, &c. fpread forth 
 their Roots, and receive from thence their 
 Nourifhment and Support. — That the Li- 
 neaments of the future Plants, of every par- 
 ticular Kind, are in the Seed itfelf. — So is 
 the Form of every Shoot of a Tree in the 
 Bud, before it is forced open, and made to 
 grow by the natural Agents aifling thereon. 
 Thefe Buds, on the coming on of the cold 
 Weather in Autumn, are covered clofe, and 
 defended therefrom, by a thick mucilaginous 
 and gummy Juice, very obferveable in many 
 Trees, efpecially the Horfe Chefnut, Afh,&c. 
 and thofe Trees which fhed their Leaves firft, 
 and are lateft in the Spring before they Shoot. 
 This gummy Subftance continues thereon, 
 till the Warmth of the Spring, or fome arti- 
 Jicial Heaty diffolves it, and frees the Bud 
 from this obftruc^ing Matter. — The fame 
 Heat which diffolves the Gum, penetrates 
 the Bark of the Tree, thins and makes fluid 
 the Juices contained in the 'uafcular Series of 
 
 Veffels,
 
 LET.V. 0« VEGETATION. 173 
 
 VefTels, between the Bark and the Wood, 
 and expands thc^m.— The Manner and Power of 
 which may be underftood by the EfFedt 
 Warmth has on a Bottle of Ale, or other 
 Liquor, which it expands with fuch Force, 
 that unlefs it iinds a Paflage by the Mouth 
 of the Bottle, or fome other Way, it burfts 
 
 the containing Bottles. This cxpanfive 
 
 Force continually increafmg by the frefh ad- 
 dition of Heat, enters the Bud ; (a Paflage 
 being made through the Rind for that Pur- 
 pofej) where the Refliilance of the gummy 
 Subftance being taken away, it expands his 
 Parts, and fp reads open its Leaves. — When 
 this is done, it becomes in a growing State ; 
 the Method, of which will hereafter be ex- 
 plained; but before we do that, it will be 
 proper to examine the Make and Form of the 
 different Parts of a Plant or Tree which I 
 fhall now defcribe. 
 
 I ft. There is a thin outer Rind. 2dly. 
 The inngr Rind much thicker than the former, 
 though both thefe Rinds are in general but 
 thin, and of a rtticular Form, with a Series 
 
 of
 
 374 On VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 of VefTel s between them; all thefe expand 
 and dilate as the Tree increafes in Size. — — 
 Their Ufe feems to be for the fame Purp)ofe 
 as the Skin of Animals, either to inhale or 
 exhale, according to the Alterations of the 
 Weather, and alfo to dilate for the Enlarge- 
 ment of the Tree. — The '-^d is the Blea, of a 
 Jpungy Nature ; it is of a confiderable Thick- 
 r^efs, and Uniform in its Texture, compofed 
 of hexagenal Cells, which appear to be de- 
 llgned for Refervoirs, for containing the 
 watery and nourilhing Particles, abforbed 
 from the Atmofphere, under which lie the 
 4th Subftance, called the vafcular Series. — 
 Its Structure is extremely Simple, being a 
 fingle Courfe of greenifh Veflcls, lodged be- 
 tween two Membranes. — Thefe Veffels have 
 a free Communication with the Wood and 
 Blea. — Here are found the greateft Part of 
 the Juices for the Support of the Plant or 
 Tree, all thefe pafs upwards or downwards, 
 according as the Heat or Cold, Moiftnefs or 
 Drynefs prevail. — Here the Weather has a 
 great Influence, for as the Heat from the 
 Sun gets Strength, in the Spring of the 
 
 Year,
 
 LET. V. On VEGETATION. 175 
 
 Year, it thins and expands the mucilaginous 
 Juices here contained, and forces out the Bud. 
 On the contrary, as the Cold of V;' inter ad- 
 vances, tkefe Fluids are condenfed, thick- 
 ened, and become mucilaginous. — We come 
 next to the 5th, the Wood, and 6th, to the 
 pyramidal Veflels contained therein ; thefa 
 pyramidal VefTels are not continued Tube.s, are 
 feldom found many Inches long, (as may be 
 obferved in Oak, Elm, and Horfe Chefnut, 
 &c.) and refemble thefe in the Bones of 
 Animals. — A new circular Ring of thefe 
 Tubes arc formed every Year ; thefe which 
 are formed in Summer, are larger than thofe 
 formed in Winter. — Thefe Rings of lubes, 
 facing the South, are alfo larger than thofe 
 towards the North -, fo that moft Trees arc 
 eliptkal inftead of round, with the moft pro- 
 minent Side towards the South. — -A new 
 Root, a new Branch, and a new Circle of 
 Fibres are formed every Year : Thus it may 
 be obferved, that a Root or Branch of the 
 ' laft Year, has only one Circle of Fibres, 
 whilft the other Roots and Branches, as well 
 as the T runk, have as many Circles as they 
 
 are
 
 176 0?i VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 are Years Growth. — The Roots are puflicd 
 forward, and formed from a Subftince, found 
 at the Extremity of every fibrous Root, in 
 Form of a fpungy Nipple. — The 7th is the 
 P/>/6. — Whatever Part of the Plant we exa- 
 mine, we find thekjeven and no more.— The 
 Root, the afcending Stalk, and defcending 
 Fibre, are one and the fame, and not three 
 Subftances. — The Fibres of the Root are 
 fuppofed to be Jimple, capillary y Tubes -, but, 
 upon a minute Infpedtion, we difcover them 
 to confift of the fame component Parts of 
 the Plant. 
 
 The only Part remaining neceifary to be 
 defcribed are the Leaves, which are found to 
 be formed of a Number of VefTels, inter- 
 woven amongft each other, in a net-like 
 Form, very much refembling theAnaftomofis 
 of the Blood Velfels in the Lungs of Animals, 
 and appear to be of the fame Ufe to Vegeta- 
 bles, that the Lungs are to Animals, viz. 
 to throw ofiF the fuperfluous Moifture -, thefe 
 have innumerable Openings, which anfwer 
 both for the Difcharge of the fuperfluous 
 
 Moifture,
 
 LET.V. 6>7i VEGETATION. 177 
 
 Molfiure, and alfo for receiving the nutri- 
 tious Particles from the Atmofphere. — The 
 Leaves are formed by the expanding and un- 
 folding the Buds : thefe Buds make a Perfor- 
 ation through the feveral Integuments, where- 
 by an eafy PaiTage is given for the expanding 
 Sap, to enter, to enlarge, and unfold the 
 Leaves, which are fpread out thereby, and 
 being full of Pores, the Heat from the Sun 
 has an eafy Paflage through them, 2nd there- 
 by to enter their Fluids, and expand them, 
 till they are fpecijically lighter than the fur- 
 rounding Atmofphere, and are forced off by 
 it, — Thefe Pores alfo admit the defcending 
 Dew, when the Coldnefs of the Air is fo far 
 increafed as to overpower the internal Heat of 
 the Juices contained in the Plant. — Having 
 given an anatomical Defcription of the diffcrr- 
 ent Parts of a Tree or Plant, if you delire 
 any Thing farther on this Subjedl, I would 
 advife you to confult Malptghi and Grew, or 
 a more late Author, the ingenious Dr. Hunter, 
 
 In Order to prove my Theory on Vege- 
 tation, it ma/ be thought neceffary to pro- 
 Z duce
 
 178 On VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 duce fome Experiments, as well as the P/je- 
 nomena of Nature, to confirm it. — As I can- 
 not make, or find any more fit fi^r this Pur- 
 pofe, than thefe already made by Dr. Hales, 
 who, (as will be allowed by all) was accurate 
 in making, and faithful in relating them, 
 and had no farther Intention to anfwer, but 
 that Truth might appear ; for the above Rea- 
 fons I fhall take the Liberty to tranfcribe 
 fomc of them in his own Words. 
 
 Dr. Hales tells us, that in Order to be 
 informed how far Heat and Cold anfwered 
 the difi^erent Purpofes of Vegetation, ** He 
 " made ufe of fix Thermometers, the firfl of 
 " which was above Ground, in the open Air^ 
 " the fecond two Inches under Ground, in a 
 *' South Afped:, the other four at different 
 ** Depths, till the fixth was two Feet under 
 " Ground; (he tells us) that he kept a 
 ** Regifter of their Rife and Fall, during the 
 ** Month of Augufl, and obferved, that in 
 *' the greatefl Noon-Tide Heat, the Spirit 
 ** in that Thermometer, which was expofed 
 *• to the Sun, was rifen, fince early in the 
 
 ** Morning,
 
 LET. V. On VEGETATION. 
 
 179 
 
 ** Morning, from 21 to 48 Degrees. ^ — The 
 *' fecond Thermometer, whole Ball was two 
 *' Inches under Ground, was at 45 Degrees, 
 ** and the 3d, 4th, and 5th Thermometers 
 " were gradually of lefs and lefs Degrees of 
 ** Heat, as they were placed lower in the 
 " Ground, to the fixth Thermometer, which 
 " was two Feet under Ground, in which the 
 ** Spirit was 3 1 Degrees high -, the 5th and 
 ** 6th Thermometers, kept nearly to the 
 ** fame Height both Night and Day, till to- 
 *' wards the End of the Month ; when, as 
 *' the Days grew fhorter and cooler, they 
 ** then fell to 27 and 25 Degrees, (t) 
 
 " When in the coldeft Day in Winter, 
 *' the Frolfc was fo intenfe as to freeze the 
 " Surface of the ftagnant Water, near an 
 ** Inch thick j then the Spirit in the Ther- 
 ** mometer, which was cxpofed to the open 
 * Air, was fallen four Degrees below the 
 ** freezing Point; the Spirit of that Ball 
 ** which was two Inches under Ground, was 
 ** four Degrees above the freezing Pointy 
 
 '' the 
 
 (t) Halct's Staticks, Vol. I. Ex, XX.
 
 i8o 0?i VEGETATION. LET. V . 
 
 ** the 3d, 4th, and 5th Thermometers were 
 '* proportionally fallen, lefs and lefs, as they 
 ** were deeper to the fixth Thermometer ; 
 ** which being two Feet under Ground, the 
 ** Spirit was ten Degrees above the freezing 
 ** Point.^^ — In this State the Work of Vege- 
 ** tation feemed to be at a iland, at lead: 
 ** within the Reacn of the Froft. — But when 
 '* the Cold was fo far relaxed, as to have the 
 ** Spirit in the firft Thermometer, but five 
 ** Degrees above the freezing Point, the fe- 
 ** cond eight, and the fixth thirteen Degrees, 
 *' though it was fiill very cold ; yet this be- 
 ** ing fome Advance from Freezing towards 
 *' Warm^ and there being confequently fome 
 ** Exp an/ion in the Sap, feveral Evergreens 
 *' and hardy Plants grew," 
 
 The above Experiments of Dr. Hales, on 
 the fix Thermometers, from that in the Air, 
 to that which was two Feet under Ground, 
 fhow us the diifcrent Degrees of Heat at the 
 different Depths, and alfo the Manner in 
 which they retained it. — It mufi: alfo be re- 
 membered, that Solids and Fluids acquire 
 
 their
 
 LET.V. On VEGETATION. i8i 
 
 their Heat fooner, and retain it longer, in 
 Proportion to their Denlity. — Thus, put a 
 Piece of Metal in Water, and place it on the 
 Fills J the Metal will be (o hot as not to be 
 touched, by the Time the Water is warm :— 
 Alfo, if you fit near the Fire, with a Key in 
 your Pocket, the Key will be hot, and your 
 Cloths hardly warm. 
 
 The fame Thing may be obferved, where 
 the Sun Ihines upon a Piece of Metal ; this, 
 in a flrong Sun-fhiae, will be found to be 
 much hotter than the furrounding Atmof- 
 phere, — The fame Effed: may be obferved 
 with Regard to Cold, as has been by Heat, 
 viz, by expoling a Key to the Co/^ Either, in 
 a Froft, it will be found to acquire a Degree 
 of Coldnefs, much exceeding that of the At- 
 mofpherc. — Hence, (as will be explained 
 hereafter) as the Earth is 1500 Times denfer 
 than the Air, fo it will be found, by that 
 Means, to be very ufeful in carrying on Ve- 
 getation. 
 
 From the above Fads, I fliall endeavour 
 
 tQ
 
 382 073 VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 to draw proper Conclufions : In Order to do 
 this, I ihall obferve the different Changes a 
 Vegetable undergoes, from the Seed to a per- 
 fect Plant. — For this Purpofe I Ihall make 
 Choice of a Kidney- Bean ; as in that, thefe 
 different Changes, which the Seed undergoes, 
 will be more perceivable than in feme others. 
 
 By putting a Kidney- Bean into the Ground, 
 and covering it with a proper Quaatity cf 
 Mould, at a proper Seafon of the Year; in a 
 few Days, the warm afcending Vapour frcm 
 the Earth enters its Pores, and forcibly ex- 
 pands the Lobes of the Bean : — This expand- 
 ing Vapour, (from the make of the Bean,j 
 is forced from thefe Lobes into the capillary 
 Veffcls of the Radicle, which, by continually 
 receiving a frefli Supply, is forced out and 
 elongated, which when extended to a certain 
 Degree, refifts more than the Power from 
 above j at this Time, ffill receiving addi- 
 tional Nourifhment from the Earth, the ex- 
 panded Seed Leaves are forced out of the 
 Ground -, after this the Plume being unco- 
 vered, by the opening of the Lobes, the ex- 
 ^ p^nfive
 
 LET.V. 0/i VEGETATION. 183 
 
 panfive Force opens and unfolds its Leaves, 
 and when they are fiifficiently enlarged, fo as 
 to throv/ off the fuperfluous Moifture, be- 
 comes a perfed; Plant, an hydraulic Machine, 
 Sui Generis, and wants no more Affiftance 
 from the Lebes, which now drop off as ufe- 
 lefs. 
 
 Having now, according to my Propofal, 
 explained the Method whereby a Seed be- 
 comes a perfed: Plant, and, as my Letter is 
 already extended to a greater Length than, 
 perhaps, you will like to read at one Time, 
 I will leave the Confideration of the Means 
 and Caufes of its Growth and Support, to 
 my next Letter, which you may expecft to 
 receive foon after this. 
 
 Adieu, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE. 
 Oft. II, 1783.
 
 i84 a?z VEGETATION. LET. V. 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE, Esq. 
 
 "Experiments from Dr. Hales , which prove that 
 Vegetables infplre and expire according to the 
 Drynefs and Moijlure^ and the Heat and 
 Coldnefs of the Air. — T^he Method Nature 
 makes ufe of to perjorm Vegetation. — Threes 
 and Vegetables grow in the -Form of a P.yra- 
 mid, unlefs prevented. — ^he Caufe aj/igned 
 why Plants i?i a Green-houfey or other Roomy 
 point towards the Window.'-^'^The fuices of 
 Vegetables always in Motion y but do not cir- 
 culate like the Blood in Animals. — So?ne 
 more Rxperimmts from Dr. Hales, to ex- 
 plain the Method Nature makes ufe of in the 
 Bleeding Seafon, fin the Spring of the Tear) 
 to force out the Buds and heaves. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 IFinifhed my kft Letter with the Account 
 of the Progrefs of a Vegetable from a Seed 
 to a perfedt Plant ; and according to my Pro- 
 mife, I have fent you an Account of the 
 
 Methods
 
 LET. VI. On VEGETATION. 185 
 
 Methods Nature makes ufe for its future 
 Growth and Support. 
 
 Having received the greatcft Inforrmation 
 for doing it, from the Experiments of the 
 judicious Dr. Hales, I (hall now take the Li- 
 berty to make Ufe of fomc more of them, for 
 confirming what I Ihall now fend you. 
 
 The following Experiments were made in 
 Order to obferve the different Effects pro- 
 duced by the different Degrees of the Heat 
 by Day, and the Cold by Night; — on the 
 Growth of Vegetables j and alfo, the differ- 
 ent Effects produced on them, by the dif- 
 ferent Changes of the Weather. — For this 
 Purpofe he planted a Cabbage and a Sun- 
 flower, each in a Pot, which he conflantly 
 weighed every Day, for a Month.— He found, 
 ** that fome Days the Cabbage perfpircd, 
 ** when the Weather was hot and dry, more 
 ** than a Pound and Half. — That the Sun- 
 " flower, in twelve Hours, of a very warm 
 ** Day, perfpired one Pound and fourteen 
 ** Ounces ; the middle Rate one Pound four 
 A a " Ounces 5
 
 i86 On VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 '* Ounces ; — The Perfpiration of a warm, dry 
 ** Night, without any fcnfible Dew, was a- 
 " bout three Ounces ; but when any fenfible 
 ** but fmall Dew, then the Perfpiration was 
 *' nothing. — When a large Dew, and feme 
 ** little Rain in the Night, it increafed in 
 *' the V/eight two or three Ounces. H 
 
 From the above Experiments, it may be 
 obferved, that thefe Vegetables perfpired 
 more or lefs, according to the State of the 
 Atmofphere which fur rounded them, whe- 
 ther it was warm or cold, moifl or dry^ — 
 That they perfpired moil in a warm and dry 
 Air 5 on the contrary, in moift Weather, or 
 a large Dew, they injpired very confiderably 
 from the Atmofphere, as their Increafe of 
 Weight demonftrates. 
 
 Hence it is clear, from the foregoing Ex- 
 periments, that the Leaves of Plants arc 
 ferviceable towards carrying on the Work of 
 Vegetation, in bringing Nourifhment from 
 
 the 
 
 (u) Hales'« Stiticki) VoL I. Cxp. t.
 
 LET. VI. On V£GETATION. 187 
 
 the lower Parts and Roots -, — Plenty of Dew 
 is imbibed by them, by which Means they 
 receive a great Part of their Food from the 
 Atmofphere, which is always (locked with 
 vegetable Nourishment. — Hence we find, 
 that alter the Plume of the Seed, and the 
 Leaves are pufhed out, they perfpire or in- 
 ipire, according to the Heat, the CoMnefi, the 
 Drynefs^ or Moiftnefs of the Air; in the 
 Day-Time, when the Air is hot and dry, it 
 dilates, and expands their Pores, (more efpc- 
 cially when the Sun (hines) and rarefies their 
 Juices, whereby it afcends in the Atmofphere; 
 thus a Vacuum is made, and Room is given, 
 for the Sap afcending from the Roots ! 
 
 The fmall fibrous Roots act the Part of 
 Syphons, and the moid Vapour, afcending 
 from the Earth, is abforbed or fucked in, by 
 the Roots, fafter or flower, more or lefs, in 
 Proportion to the Number of Roots, and the 
 Rarefadion of the Fluids in them ; for thefc 
 Juices will recede and accede according to the 
 Heat and Rarefadion, or Cold and Compref- 
 fion, till an Equilibrium is formed :— When 
 
 that
 
 j88 On VEGETATION. LET.VL 
 
 that happens to be the Cafe, and every Pore 
 and Veficlc is filled, then the Moifture, Dew, 
 or Rain will remain on the Leaves, in the 
 fame Manner as it may be obferved to do on 
 oiled Paper, when every Pore of the Paper is 
 filled with Oil. — This may often be obfeived 
 in a growing Seafon, in the Morning, in the 
 Spring of the Year. 
 
 Thus, fo long as the Heat proceeding from 
 the Sun, is powerful enough to rarefy the 
 Juices, in the Leaves of the Plant, to a fuf- 
 ficient Degree, they continue to perfpire the 
 fuperfluous Juices, aicending from the Roots, 
 and what they fend up, as regularly continue 
 to fupply the Place of thofe perfpired -, unlefs 
 (as it fometimes happens) in a hot and fultry 
 Day, that there is more Moifture perfpired 
 by the Leaves, than the Roots cari fufiiciently 
 fupply, during that Time. — When this hap- 
 pens to be the Cafe, we obferve the Leaves 
 of the Plant to flag, and to continue in that 
 State till the Coldnefs and Moiilncfs of the 
 Air is fo far incrcafed as to prevent the Heat 
 from rarefying more Juices than can be fup- 
 plied in the fame Time from the Roots,
 
 LET.VL 0.>i VEGETATION. 189 
 
 As the Heat of the Sun goes off in the 
 Evening, and the Air becomes colder, and 
 loaded with Dew, the Perfpiration of the 
 Leaves abates, till the Coldnefs and Denfe- 
 nefs of the Atmofphere, together with the 
 defcending Dew, fill up the Pores of the 
 Leaves, flop the Motion of the Sap upvi^ards, 
 and by its Increafe of Gravity, makes the 
 Sap to defcend towards the Roots, and carry 
 with it from tlic Dew, fuch nutritious Par- 
 ticles of the Atmofphere, as it may contain : 
 thus it finds its V/ay to the mofl capillary 
 Roots, forces out the Sap that Way, and 
 elongates them 1 
 
 The Difference of Denfity between the 
 Earth and the furrounding Atmofphere, adds 
 greatly to the Growth or Elongation of the 
 Roots of Trees and Vegetables : The Earth 
 being fo much denfer than the Atmofphere, 
 it retains the Heat, it receives from the Sun, 
 a confiderable Time longer^ neither is it 
 fubjed: to the fudden and great Changes often 
 occafioned in the Atmofphere; indeed fomc 
 little below the Surface (as was proved by 
 
 the
 
 190 0?i VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 the Thermometers) it retains the lame Heat 
 great Part of the Summer, Night an(J Day, 
 
 It is the Nature of Trees and Vegetables, 
 (if their Growth is not prevented by other 
 Trees or Vegetables Handing too near them) 
 to take the Form of a Pyramid ; the loweft 
 lateral Branches being longer than thofe im- 
 mediately above ; and, as the Tree advances, 
 the lateral Branches fucceed in firil, fscond, 
 and third Order, &c. — -Thus they continue 
 to grow in this Manner, unlefs the Rarc- 
 fadtion and Perfpiration of thefe lateral 
 Branches are prevented by others growing 
 too near them, as may be obferved to be the 
 Cafe in thick Vv'^oods, Groves, Corn, and 
 other Vegetables, which ftand fo thick and 
 clofc to each other, as to {hade and hinder 
 the Expanfion and Condenfation by the Heat 
 and Air, and of Confequence the Perfpiration 
 of the lateral Branches. — When this happens 
 to be the Cafe, the Rarefadion and Perfpira- 
 tion can only be carried on in the upper Part 
 of the Tree or Plant : — Hence, by the Sap 
 being perfpired from the top Branches only, 
 
 the
 
 LET. VI. On VEGETATION. 191 
 
 the Tree is enlarged in no other Part, and 
 grows in Height onlvi thus, by the Per- 
 ipiration being carried on no where but the 
 Top, moft, if not all, the lateral Branches, 
 perifh for want of Perfpiration, and of Con- 
 fequence Nutrition. — Hence, the Reafon 
 why Trees grow upwards, for the Sun-Beams 
 defcend in ftraight Lines to the Earth, and 
 enter the Tree at its Top, whereby the 
 greatell Rarefadtion will be there, and the 
 Juices in the Tree, afcending from the Root, 
 will be forced thereto, and the Branches 
 will there be enlarged and lengthened; but 
 when Plants ftand fingle, or at a proper 
 Diftance, and furrounded with a Freedom of 
 Air, the lateral Branches grow in a juft Pro- 
 portion to the Top, as the AtmofpheUy and 
 all Fluids y prefs equally every Way, 
 
 Hence alfo is the Reafon why Plants, in a 
 Room or Houfe, where there is but one 
 Window, (efpecially if that Window faces 
 the South ;)-.the Plants placed therein will 
 always grow towards the Window, where 
 the Sun- Beams and Light enter: Thus, 
 
 Plants
 
 1^2 On VEGETATION. LET. Vl, 
 
 Plants which perfpire very plentifully, as the 
 Sun- flower, may be obferved in Height of 
 the growing Seafon, to follow the Sun, with 
 their Tops pointing to him ; in the Morning 
 they bend towards the Eall, at Noon South, 
 and in the Evening towards the Weft. — By 
 the fame Caufe, Trees or Plants, near a 
 Wall, always grow from it, pointing towards 
 the Sun ; nay if a Plant is placed in fuch a 
 Situation, that no Sun-Beams are fent on it, 
 its Growth will tend to the Place from 
 whence the Light proceeds 
 
 Thus, during the Summer Seafon, whert 
 there is Heat enough to make Vegetables 
 grow, their Juices are in continual Motion, 
 as well as the Blood in Animals, but with 
 this Difference; that the Blood in Animals 
 undergoes a continual Circulation, but the 
 Motion of the Sap in Vegetables, is only 
 from their Roots, through their whole Sub- 
 ftance, where, at particular Places, the plafack 
 Make of thofe Parts abforbs and retains fuch 
 Portions of the nutritious Juices, as are pro- 
 per for their Support and Licreafe. — Thus it 
 
 may
 
 LET. VI. On VEGETATION. 
 
 93 
 
 may be obferved, particularly in a Grain of 
 Wheat, which puts forth three different Suc- 
 ceffions of Roots, for the different Periods 
 of its Growth ; iirft, after putting a Grain of 
 Wheat in the Ground, three Fibres are iliot 
 from the Radicle ; upon the Wheit fpcaring, 
 freiTi Fibres are ftruck out ; foon after they 
 are eftablilhed, the three firfl Fibres, with 
 their Branches, gradually decay. — As foon as 
 it comes in Ear, frefh Fibres make their Ap- 
 pearance, foon after which the fecond decay. 
 The above Account of thefe three Sorts of 
 Roots, made by culmiferous Plants, i.re given 
 us by the ingenious Dr» Cullen, who tells us 
 it was a Difcovery of Bennet's, and are term- 
 ed by him, the Infancy, the Adolefcence, and 
 Maturity of the Plant. 
 
 Now let the Unbeliever, who makes an 
 Idol of his own Underftanding, meditate on 
 the Power given by God, to a Vegetable, to 
 enable every Part thereof to cull and appro- 
 priate fuch Parts only, of thenutritiousjuices 
 they receive, as are fitted for the Growth and 
 Support of thefe only,whcther it be for Leaves, 
 B b Roots,
 
 194 Ow VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 Roots, Stalks, Flower?, or Seeds. — If he 
 cannot underftand the A(flions of this Jimple 
 Machine^ let it humble his Pride fo far as 
 not to be Wife above what is revealed ! 
 
 Having explained the Method Nature makes 
 Ufe of to caufe the Vegetation and Growth 
 of Plants, I fhall now, as I propofed, en- 
 deavour to explam the Means whereby Trees 
 pufli forth their Buds, Leives, Fruit, and 
 Seeds* — In Order to do this, I fhall again 
 take the Lib ty to make ufe of fome more 
 of Dr. Hales' c Experiments, which he made 
 on Vines, to afcertain the Strength of tht 
 Expanfion of the S.ip, at the Bltecing Sea- 
 fon, in the Spring ot the Year. — ** April 6th, 
 *' at nine, A. M, Rain the Evening brfore, 
 •* he cut oiF a Vine, on a Southern Aipe<fb, 
 ** two Feet nine Inches from the Ground -, 
 ** the remaining Stem had no lateral Branches; 
 ** he fixed on it a mercurial Gage. — At 1 1, 
 ** A. M. the Mercury was rifen 15 Inches.— 
 " at 4, P. M. it was funk an Inch." M 
 
 *' April 7th, at 8, A. M. rifen very little, 
 
 •' a 
 
 (v) Halej'» Staticks, Vol. I. Exper, XXXVI.
 
 LET. VI. C>n VEGETATION. 195 
 
 "a Fog: — At 11, A.M. 17 Inches high, 
 ** the Fog gone." 
 
 *' April loth, at 7, A. M. Mercury rS 
 Inches high -, he then added more Mercury, 
 fo as to make the Surface 23 Inches high: 
 T^e Sap retreated a little into the Stem, upon 
 this additional Weight, which Jhews with 
 what an abjolute Force it advances. — At Noon 
 it was funk one Inch." 
 
 ** April nth, at 7, A.M. 24J Inches 
 high, Sun-fhine. — At 7, P, M. 18 Inches 
 high." 
 
 ** April 14th, at 7, A. M. 20^ Inches 
 high; at 9, A. M. 22i fine warm Sun- 
 (hine. — Here we fee that the warm Morning 
 Sun gives a frejh Vigour to the Sap^ — At 1 1, 
 A. M. the fame Day, i6i — ^he great Fer- 
 fpiration of the Stem makes it fink '* 
 
 ** April 1 6th, at 6, A. M. 19^ Rain.- 
 At4, P.M. ii^ Inches." — Though it had 
 funk fince Morning, he found by Exp. 34, 
 
 that
 
 196 On VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 that it had rifen fince Noon two Inches. — 
 Th's Difference he fays was accafioned^ in the 
 Jirji, by the Perfpiration of the »Stf/>.-— The 
 other Stem being fo very Jhort, there was 
 little Room for it." 
 
 "April 17th, at 11, A. M. 2\\ high, 
 
 Rain and W^arm ; at 7, P. M. 29^ fine 
 
 warm rainy Weather, which made the Sap rife 
 
 all Day, there being little Perfpiration by Rea- 
 
 fon of the Rain," 
 
 ** April 1 8th, at 7, A. M, 32^ Inches 
 high, a?2d would have rifen higher, if there 
 bad been more Mercury in the Gage. — From 
 this Time, to May the ^th, the Force gra- 
 dually decreafed. — The greatcft Height of the 
 Mercury being 32 i Inches, the Force of 
 the Sap was equal to 36 Feet, 5I Inches 
 Height of Water. 
 
 " Here the Force of the rifing Sap in the 
 Morning, is plainly owing to the Energy 
 (of the Sap) in the Root and Stem. — In ano- 
 ther mercurial Gage, (fixed under the Bot- 
 tom
 
 On VEGETATION. LET.M. 197 
 
 torn of the Vine, which ran twenty Feet 
 high) the Mercury was raifed by the Force 
 of the Sap, 38 Inches, equal to 43 Feet, 
 
 3 Inches I of Water. As the greateft 
 
 Height the Atmofphere will rife Water is 
 thirty-two Feet, fo this Force was about one 
 Third greater than the PreiTure of the At- 
 mofphere." 
 
 Dr. Hales tells us " That the Mercury 
 conftantly fubfided in a Gage, fixed on a 
 Branch of a large old Vine, by the Retreat 
 of the Sap, about nine or ten in the Morn- 
 ing, when the Sun was hot 5 but in a moift, 
 foggy Morning, the Sap was later before it 
 retreated viz. till Noon, or fome Time after 
 the Fog was gone."— About four or five 
 o'clock, P. M. when the Sun went off the 
 Vine, the Sap began to pufli afrefh into the 
 Gages, but it always rofe fafleft from the 
 Sun Rife, till nine or ten in the Morning. — 
 The Sap on the Branch of a large old Vine 
 played the moil freely to and fro, and was 
 therefore fooneft affedled with the Changes 
 from hot to cold, or from wet to dry, and 
 
 Vice
 
 198 On VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 Vice ver/a"{^) — He obferves that the great 
 Force, exerted by the Branch of this large 
 old Vine, ** was not from the Root only, 
 but muft alfo proceed from fome Power in 
 the Stem and Branches." — After the Leaves 
 are puihed out, no Trees will then bleed, 
 neither have they any Force to pufh out their 
 Sap; all is then perfpired by the Leaves. — 
 ** Moifture and Warmth made the Sap moft 
 ** vigorous, Ex. 38, but the Vigour of the 
 *' Sap would immediately be greatly abated 
 ** by cold Eafterly Winds." (x) 
 
 *' If, in the Morning, while the Sap is in 
 a riling State, there was a cold Wind, with 
 a Mixture of Sun-fhine and Cloud ; when 
 the Sun was clouded, the Sap would imme- 
 diately fubfide, at the Rate of an Inch in a 
 Minute, for fevcral Inches, if the Sun con- 
 tinued fo long clouded : But as foon as the 
 Sun-Beams broke out again, it would 'im- 
 mediately return to its then riling State, jufl 
 as any Liquor in a Thermometer rifes and falls 
 ^yith the Alternacies of Heat and Cold; 
 whence, fays he, it is probable, that the 
 
 plentiful 
 
 (wj Hales'* Exp. XXXVI.--[x} fixp, XXXVIII.
 
 LET. VI. On VEGETATION. 
 
 99 
 
 plentiful Rife of the Sap, in the Vine, in 
 the Bleeding Seafon, is efFedled in the fame 
 Manner. — When, fays he, three Tubes were 
 fixed at the fame Time to Vines on an eaflerft, 
 a font hern y and ivejiern Afpe(fl, round my 
 Porch, the Sap would begin to rife in the 
 Morning, firft in the eaftern Tube, next in 
 the fouthern, and laft in the weftern Tube : 
 and towards Noon it would acccdingly begin 
 to fubiide, firft in the eaftein Tube, next in 
 the fouthern, and laft in the weftern Tube." 
 
 ** Rain and Warmth, after cold and dry, 
 would make the Sap rife all the next Day, 
 without fubfiding, though it would rife then 
 lloweft about Noon. — The Sap begins to rife 
 focner in the Morning, in cool Weather, 
 than after hot Days." 
 
 ** When at the Diilance of four or five 
 Days, Tubes were fixed to two different 
 Branches, which came from the fame Stem, 
 the Sap would rife highefl; in that which was 
 laft fixed J yet, if in the fixing the fecond 
 
 Tube,
 
 20O On VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 Tube, there was much Sap loft, the Sap 
 would fubfide in the firft Tube/' 
 
 ** In very hot Weather, many Air -bub- 
 bles would rife, fo as to make a Froth an 
 Inch deep, on the Top of the Sap in the 
 Tube." 
 
 ** But when towards the latter End of 
 ^pril, the Spring advances, and many young 
 Shoots are come forth, and the Surface of 
 the Vine is greatly increafed and enlarged by 
 the Expanlion of the feveral Leaves, whereby 
 the Perfpiration is much increafed, and the 
 Sap more plentifully exhaufted, it then ceafes 
 to flow in a vifible Manner, till the Return 
 of the following Spring." 
 
 " And as in the Vine, fo is the Cafe the 
 fame in all the bleeding Trees, which ceafe 
 Bleeding as foon as the young Leaves begin 
 to expand enough to perfpirc plentifully, and 
 to draw off the redundant Sap. 
 
 Exp. 44, ** Since by other Experiments it 
 
 is
 
 LET. VI. On VEGETATION. 201 
 
 is found, that the grcateft Part of the Sap is 
 raifed by the Warmth of the Sun on the 
 Leaves, which feern to be made broad and 
 thin for that Purpofe ; for the fame Reafon 
 it is probable, it (hould rife alfo, in thofe 
 Parts which are moft expofed to the Sun, as 
 
 the Bark is " " ** It is found that 
 
 the Trunk and Branches of Vines were al- 
 ways in an imbibing State, caufed by the great 
 Perfpiration of the Leaves, except in the 
 Bleeding Seafon," (u) 
 
 Therefore to prove the great Power Seeds 
 receive, ( when fown ) from the expanlive 
 Power of a warm Vapour — Dr. Hales put 
 fome Peas into an Iron Pot, with fome Wa- 
 ter, and then fixed on it a Cover, and on that 
 1 84 Pounds Weight, which the dilating Peas 
 lifted up ; he alfo found they would lift up 
 any Weight that was not fufficient to prcfs 
 them together, (w) " We fee, fays he, by this 
 *' Experiment, the vaft Force with which 
 " Iwelling Peas expand; and 'tis doubtlefs 
 *' the fame Force which is exerted, not only 
 ** i" pujhing the Plume upwards into the Air, 
 C c " but 
 
 (u; Haks's Suticks, Vol. I. Exp. XI-VI.— H Vol. I. Exp. XXXII.
 
 202 On VEGETATION. LET. VI. 
 
 ** but alfo in enabling the firft Shooting of 
 " the Radicle of the Pea, and all its fubfe- 
 " quent tender Fibres, to penetrate and (hoot 
 " into the Earth." 
 
 Having now given the Experiments I pro- 
 pofed, with Regard to Vegetati(in, with fome 
 Obfervations thereon, in my next Letter, I 
 fliall endeavour to explain that Operation in 
 as fliort and eafy a Manner as I can. 
 
 AdieUt 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 StONEHOUSEi 
 
 oa. 18,1783. . 
 
 To
 
 LET. VII. On VEGETATION. 203 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE. Esq. 
 
 j4 Recapitulation of the Method Nature makes 
 uje of to carry on Vegetation. — T'he natural 
 Agents hot and cold Ether. — Fire and Mo^ 
 tion /ynommous. — The Phenomenon of Vege- 
 tation a proper one to explain the Agency of 
 Nature. — The Caufe why Trees Jhed their 
 Leaves in Autumn ; and the Means made 
 if e of to pujh jorth their Buds and Leasts 
 in the Spring. — The Scripture Account of 
 Vegetation perfeBly agreeable with Nature, 
 Cold and hot Ether, the Agents which fup^ 
 port and carry on Animal as well as vegeta^ 
 hie Life. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 IN my three former Letters, I defcribed 
 the Agents, and the Method Nature made 
 Ufe of to carry on Vegetation, which were 
 long, and which, I imagine, you thought 
 tedious, on Account of the many Phenomena 
 and Experiments there related, to prove that 
 
 what
 
 204 On VEGETATION. LET. VII. 
 
 what I faid was confirmed by Nature. — I 
 {hall now, in Order that you may have a 
 more clear Perception of it, recapitulate that 
 natural Operation in as ihort and clear a 
 Manner as I can. 
 
 j4 Recapitulation of what has been obferved. 
 
 In the firft Place I fliewed from Sir Ifaac 
 Newton's own Words, that he fuppofed 
 there was an ethereal Fluids -which filled the 
 Pores of all Bodies -, and alfo that this Fluid 
 filled all Space, from the Sun to the Orb of 
 Saturn, and beyond. 
 
 Secondly, That this Fluid aded in two 
 Conditions, one of which he called Light or 
 Heat, and the other Spirit or Cold. — That 
 thefe two were in continual Circulation 
 and Struggle, from the Sun to the Ex- 
 tremities of the Syftem.— The Light or Heat, 
 afcending from the Sun, opening and expand^ 
 ing; and, the Spirit defcending to the Sun, 
 contraSling and comprejjing every Thing. — 
 After this I gave Boerhaave^ Account of 
 what were the Agents Nature made Ufc of 
 
 in
 
 LET. VII. On VEGETATION. 205 
 
 in her Operations, which was " That Fire 
 ** or Motion were Jyf2onimous," for, fays he, 
 '* let an Iron Bar be heated, it increafes in 
 ** all Its Dimenfions, and the more fo as it is 
 ** farther and farther heated ; but on being 
 ** expofed to the CoIJ, it contra(5ls, and its 
 *' i^'arts are forcibly prelled together, and re- 
 ** turn through all the Degrees of Dilatation, 
 " till it comes to its firfh Bulk, or to the 
 ** fame Degree of Heat which it had when 
 ** the additional one was applied, being never 
 "two Minutes cf the fajne Dimenjions^--^ 
 ** Hence, fays he, if there were the greatcft 
 ** Cold, and ail Fire were taken away, all 
 ** Nature would grow into one concreate 
 *' Body, /olid as Goldy and hard as a Dumofid, 
 ** But upon the Application of Fire // wuuid 
 ** recover its former Mobility,'* 
 
 Finding that thefe two great Philofophers, 
 as well all the Ancients, attributed the lirft 
 Agent in Nature to be Fire; and that all 
 Nature were filled with an Ether, which 
 adled in two Qualities, viz. Light and Heat, 
 or Spirit and Cold -, and imagining that the 
 
 Phenomina
 
 2o6 On VEGETATION. LET. VII. 
 
 Pbemmina produced by natural Operations, 
 were more fimple, expreffive, and lefs equi- 
 vocal than Experiments produced by Art j I 
 endeavoured to find odc that would anfwer 
 our Purpofe; accordingly, that of Vegetation 
 appeared to be mofl likely to do it. — There- 
 fore I examined theObfervations and the Ex- 
 planations of diiFerent Philofophers thereon -, 
 and found little Ailiftance from any but the 
 ingenious Dr. Hales, who, from a Set of 
 well chofen Experiments, accurately per- 
 formed, and faithfully related, hath cleared 
 this fimple Operation from its Intricacy. 
 
 By which it appears, that a Seed is covered 
 with an outward Shell, which is of fuch ^ 
 clofe Contexture, as to prevent the common 
 Atmofphere from entering. 
 
 The Seed, by being put into the warm 
 Ground, is a(fted upon by the warm Vapour, 
 which is continually afcending into the out- 
 ward Atmofphere. — The Light or Heat of 
 this adive Vapour enters the outward Shell, 
 penetrates and expands the Lcjbcs of the 
 
 Seed
 
 LET. VIL On VEGETATION. 207 
 
 Seed (which Lobes anfwer the fame Purpofe 
 to Seeds, that the Placentia docs to Animals) 
 expands and enlarges them ; from hence, by 
 the plafiick Make of the Seed, it is forced 
 into the Radicle, which it alfo extends and 
 elongates, and pufhes into the Mould, and 
 by being continually adted upon in the above 
 Manner, it continually increafes, till by its 
 Number of Fibres, it receives a greater ex- 
 panfive Force, by the v^arm Vapour it re- 
 ceives from below, than what is fupplied by 
 the Lobes, which now burft the inclofing 
 Shell, and by this Force, from below, are 
 impelled above Ground, when the Lobes fc- 
 parate, and the Flume appears, which is now 
 enlarged, and its Leaves fpread abroad, and 
 becomes a perfed: Plant, and the Lobes or 
 Secondines drop off as ufelcfs. 
 
 A Plant and a Tree are hydraulick Ma- 
 chines, and are fupported and made to grow 
 by the two Agents Light or Heaty and Spirit 
 or Cold. — As either one of thefc adt upon the 
 Parts of the Plant or Tree, fo does its Growth 
 and Incrcafe go on,— A Tree is compofed of a 
 
 Root
 
 2o8 On VEGETATIOK. LET.VIL 
 
 Root which is in the Ground, a Trunk a- 
 bove the Ground, and Branches which are 
 fpread in the Air, anfwering to the Roots 
 below. — Now it is found by Ex;perience, 
 that you may pull up a young Tree by its 
 Roots, plant the Boughs or Branches in the 
 Ground, and let its Roots fpread in the open 
 Air, as its Boughs ufed to do, it will grow 
 in this Form, pufli out Leaves, BlolToms, 
 Fruit, and Seed. — The Leaves are formed 
 wide, thin, and full of Pores, and anfvver 
 the fame Purpofe to Plants, that the Lungs 
 do to Animals, to perfpire the fupciiiiuous 
 Vapour fent up from the Roots. — 1 hus, in 
 warm Weather, when the Sun fhines on the 
 Leaves, the Light or Sun- Beams enters their 
 Pores, expands their Juices, and as foon 
 as they are fpecifically lighter than the 
 Atmofpbere, are forced off by it. — Hence a 
 Vacuum is there formed, which is imme- 
 diate'/ filled up and fupplied by frefh Vapour 
 afcending through the Tree or Plant, from 
 the Roots. —In this Manner the Juices re- 
 ceived by the Roots, are carried throughout 
 the whole Plant or Tree ; and, after it has 
 
 colledcd
 
 LET. VII. On VEGETATION. 
 
 !09 
 
 colle(9:ecl fucli a Portion of it as is fit for the 
 Support of every Part, the fuperfluous Moif- 
 ture is perfpired by the Leaves :— This conti- 
 nues all the Day, till the Heat of the Sun- 
 Beams begin to decline in the Evening, and 
 the Cold increafes. — Thus, as that comes on, 
 the Cold condenfes fomc of the Moiflure in 
 the Atmofphere, and prelTes it down towards 
 the Earth, as the Pleat goes off. — The cold, 
 moift Air and Spirit enter the open Pores of 
 the Leaves, and as they overpower the Heat, 
 force the Juices through the whole Subftance 
 of the Plant, down to its fmalleft Roots, 
 which they force out and elongate. — In this 
 Manner the Plant grows and increafes in 
 Bulk, till the Cold is fo very powerful, to 
 contrad: or prefs the Juices into a Concreafe, 
 when all Vegetation ceafes, and the Leaves 
 drop off as ufeiefs. 
 
 Thus, as the Cold of Autumn comes on, 
 the Juices of the Tree are infpiffated, the 
 Buds and outer Rind are c<yvcred with a 
 gummy Subftance, in the fame Manner as is 
 %xi^d to cover the Silk of a Balloon, to pre- 
 D d vent
 
 210 On VEGETATION. LET. VII. 
 
 rent the common Air from having any accefs 
 within. — As foon as this is done, the Trees 
 which are ufed to fticd their Leaves, drop 
 them off as ulelefs, and continue in a torpid 
 State till the next Spring. — In April, the 
 Sun-Beams have fufficient Power to enter the 
 Bark of the Tree, which then expand its 
 Juices, and make them fluid -, and, by the 
 continual Increafe it receives every Day, it 
 acquires a Force one third greater than the 
 Prcffure of the Atmofphere. — The Wood of 
 the Tree being of a clofer Nature, and relift- 
 ing more than the Rind, the Juices are made 
 lo expand in xhc Series of Veffels between the 
 Bark and the Wood, which communicates 
 through every Part of the Tree, and parti- 
 cularly with the Buds, which have Openings 
 made for that Purpofc, through all the Inte- 
 guments of the Bark, 6cc. where this ex- 
 panfive Force enters, develops the Buds, and 
 forces out the Leaves ; and when they arc 
 quite expanded, the Tree becomes a perfect 
 hydraulick Machine, as was before defcribed, 
 and grows, and is fupported as above.— Thus, 
 as foon as the Leaves are pufhed forth, the 
 
 expanfivc
 
 LET. VII. On VEGETATION. 211 
 
 expanfive Force of the Juices is gone, the 
 Tree will no longer bleed, but infpires or 
 expires, and thereby keeps up a continual 
 Motion of the Juices, till they arc concreted 
 by the coming on of the VV'^inter cold. 
 
 Having explained the Operation of Vege- 
 tation, which Mofes tells us was performed 
 on the third Day, by the natural Agents al- 
 ready found to be good, and capable to do 
 the Office God affigned to them.' — He now 
 put them into Action, and by this Expreffion, 
 let the Earth bring forth Grafs ^ gave them 
 Power to do it. — T/^z^j- ended the third Day y 
 or the third Revolution of the Earth . 
 
 It gives mc Satisfacftion to find, that the 
 Method and Agency of Vegetation above de- 
 fcribed, are reprefented to be the fame in the 
 Scriptures, and that in this Inilance they 
 fpeak philofophically true : For Mofes in- 
 forms us, (w) that Vegetables could not grow, 
 till the Earth was fupplied with Water or 
 Rain, and that they were made to grow by a 
 
 luoiil 
 
 (w) Gen. II. 5, 6.
 
 212 0?i VEGETATION. LET. VII. 
 
 moift afcending Vapour, which watered the 
 whole Face or Surface of the Ground ; and 
 til at to tho/e who hearkened to the Voice of the 
 Lordy he will open his good ^reafure, the 
 Heavens, to give Rain to the Land, in his 
 Sea/on, and to biefs all the Work of their 
 Hands-, W and Job informs us, that Vege- 
 tables arc nourifhed and fupported by Earth 
 and Water ; and the Agents which perform 
 this Operation, are the folar Light and Heat 
 of the Day, and the Dew and Moon Shine ; 
 for, fays he, can the Rufi grow without Mire 
 or Mould? can the Flag grow without Wa- 
 ter? (y) Thus Mofes, in his BIcfTings on the 
 Tribes of Ifrael, telis the Tribe of Jofeph, 
 that the Blejfings fiall be on their Land, for 
 the precious Things of Heaven, for the Dew, 
 for the precious Fruits brought forth by the 
 folar Light, and for the precious Things put 
 forth by the lunar Light ; (^) and in Samuel 
 we arc informed, that the te?ider Grafs fpring- 
 eth out of the Earth, by clear Jhining after 
 Rain, (o And Job tells us, that though the 
 
 Root 
 
 (x) Deut. XXVIII, 12.— (y) Job. VIII, ii.— (z) Dcut. XXXIII. »2, 13. 
 (1) 2 Samuel XMXHI, l.
 
 LET.VII. On VEGETATION. 213 
 
 Roof of a 'tree wax old in the 'Earthy and the 
 Stock thereof die in the Ground, yet there is 
 HopCy f it be cut down, that it will fpr out out 
 again, and by the Scent ef Water or Vapour, 
 iffuing frojn the Earth, it will bud and bring 
 forth Boughs like a Plant, (2) 
 
 It may be remarked, that Animal Life is 
 carried on and fupported by the fame Agents 
 which carry on and Support the Vegetable, 
 
 viz. Light or Heat, and Spirit or Cold. 
 
 Some Years ago I had the Honour of be- 
 ing acquainted with a Lady of Fortune, who 
 lived in a large Houfe, but did not keep a 
 great deal of Company ; fhe had a large Par- 
 lour which was made but little Ufe of. — In 
 Odlober I was fhewn a Bat, who had taken 
 up his Winter Lodgings on one of the Cor- 
 nices. — I faw him many Times afterwards, 
 between that and Chriflmas, when he appear- 
 ed Motionlefs, as if dead. — At Chriftmas I 
 perfuaded the Lady to have a Fire in the 
 Room, to fee if it would procure Life to the 
 
 Bat. 
 (2) Job. XIV. r, 8, 9.
 
 214 On VEGETATION. LET. VII. 
 
 Bat. — She accordingly agreed that we fhould 
 fpend one Day in that Room, and have a 
 large Fire therein. --Some Time after Dinner, 
 when we did not think, of it, we were en- 
 tertained with the Flight of the Bat, who 
 flew round the Room with great Life and 
 Vigour. — But v/e found, the next Day, after 
 a cold Night, that he was returned again to 
 a torpid State. — The fame Thing may be ob- 
 ferved by bringing Flies into the Warmth 
 any Time in the Winter^ but what puts this 
 beyond Doubt is, the hatchiiig of Chickens 
 in Stoves. — The Egg, like the Seed of Ve- 
 getables, is covered with a Shell, and thefe 
 Eggs may be preferved in their prefent State, 
 a long Time, if prevented from having only 
 a proper Degree of Heat; but put them un- 
 der a Hen, or in a Stove, of a proper Tem- 
 perature, in three W^eeks a Chicken will be 
 produced, who will then break the Shell, 
 MyQy breathe, and feed, and be fo far a com- 
 pleat Animal as to feed itfelf. 
 
 On the 4th Day we are informed, that God 
 made two great Inflruments of Light, and 
 
 placed
 
 LET. VII. On VEGETATION. 215 
 
 placed them in the Firmament of Heaven, to 
 regulate or rule the Day and the Night ; that 
 they were to divide between the Day and the 
 Night — and that they were to be the identical 
 InJirumentSy to point out and divide the Sea- 
 fons, the Days, and the Years. — Thus it 
 may be obferved, that on this fourth Day, 
 the Motion of the Heavenly Bodies began, 
 and was carried on by the natural Agents ; 
 for God tells us, that he faw that they were 
 good, and capable to perform the Offices aj/igned 
 to them. — Here then, (as it is natural he 
 fhould,) Mofes begins his Chronology. (3) — 
 The firft four Days, till the Sun and Moon 
 were formed, the Rotation of the terraqueous 
 Globe was under the immediate Diredlion of 
 God ; but, now it was an Automatoriy under 
 his deputed material Agents, the Sun, (the 
 Moon, the Stars, and the Heavens,) uniefs 
 he thought proper, at any Time, by a Mi- 
 racle, to flop or to alter their Agency, and fo 
 to convince Ikeptical and unbelieving Men. 
 
 / awi, dear Sir. with the gresteji Sincerity, 
 
 Your obliged Friend, 
 
 F. P E N ROSE. 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 Oft. 25, 1783. 
 
 (3) Introdudion, P. 5.
 
 2i6 On VEGETATION. LET, VIII. 
 
 To F. PENROSE, Esq. 
 
 Mr„ Heavifide profeffes a great Inclination for 
 the Study of natural Fhilofophyy though he 
 had been prevented from attending to it fo 
 much as he wiJJjed. — He then puts the fol- 
 lowing Quere. — In that general Diffolution 
 of Subjlancesy which you fuppofe at the De- 
 luge, why ivhere not Shells, Bones, Shrubs, 
 6cc. dijfolved, as well as Rocks y Stones ^ C^c. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I Cannot but take Shame to myfelf, at Sight 
 of the Dates of the Letters you favoured 
 me with, which I am forry to fay is above 
 three Months ago ; more efpecially as they 
 were fuch as I felt, and ftill feel myfelf fo 
 much obliged to you for. 
 
 The only Apology I have to make, (and I 
 wifli I had not had it to make) is, that I was 
 not well during the whole Autumn. — I was 
 firfl feized with a Diforder in my Bowels, 
 
 (the
 
 LET. VIII. On the D E L U G E. 217 
 
 (the firfl I ever had) which continued three 
 Weeks, and left a low Fever upon me, which 
 continued as many Months. — I, however, 
 kept on Foot all the Time, but very un- 
 comfortably; till being quite weary of fo 
 long and difagreeable a Vilitor, I determined 
 to tike a Ramble, and try to lofe him, 
 which I put in Execution, and withSuccefs: 
 For having rambled, for three Weeks, thro* 
 the North of England, I returned Home very 
 much better, and have been very well, thank 
 God, for above a Month pad ; though, per- 
 haps the c nftant Hurry I have lived in, du- 
 ring that Time, may have contributed not a 
 little, to keep me well, 
 
 I employ this, my firft Plour of Lcifurc, 
 to acknowledge and thank you for the Trouble 
 you have been fo good as to give yourfelf, to 
 explain your Ideas of the Caufes of thofe Ap- 
 pcdrances we now fee on this terraqueous 
 tali. — But pray do not imagine, that be- 
 c.uir I have not made it fo much my Study 
 as yv>u have, th.tt therefore I take no Pleafurc 
 in iNa-Lural l^hilofophy, or that I am fo ealily 
 E e tired
 
 2i8 On the DELUGE. LET. VIIL 
 
 tired of the Subject, as not to wiili for the 
 Sentiments of fo ingenious and well-informed 
 a Searcher into Nature, as you are. — Far 
 othervvife; for though I have been debarred 
 of proper Opportunities of Information, and 
 my Habits of Life have been fuch, as to pre- 
 vent me from any clofe Application to Study, 
 yet I have always felt a Propenfity to know 
 and account for the Phenomena of Nature, 
 and the Caufes of thofe various Appearances, 
 which every Moment, and every where, ftrike 
 the Eye of the ieaft attentive Obferver. 
 
 But as my Inlets to Knowledge have been 
 feWj very few indeed, compared to yours, it 
 would be extreme Folly in me to contend 
 Jerioujly with you on this Subjedt; and there- 
 fore would wiili you to look on what I objed: 
 to your Syflem, as rather deiigned to draw 
 out Information^ than to produce Convi5iion, 
 In this Light, give me Leave to afk you, 
 why, in that general DifTolution of Sub- 
 ftances, which you fuppofe to have taken 
 Place at the Deluge, thofe Shells, Bones, 
 Shrubs, &c. that are undoubtedly found (as 
 
 you
 
 LET. VIII. 071 the DELUGE. 219 
 
 you fay) in all Parts of the World, both on 
 thebummits of Mountains, and In the Depths 
 of the Earth ; w&j were not thofe Suhjlances 
 dijfoh^d likewife? And what Reafon can be 
 given, why the Caufe, (whatever it was) 
 that could diflblve Rocks, and Marble, fliould 
 not diflulve thofe Subflances which are of fo 
 much loofer a Contexture ? This is a Quef- 
 tion which has juft now occured to me, on 
 looking into the Beginning of your Letters 5 
 and 1 mull confels, it feems to me as rather 
 favourable to my Hypothecs than yours. — I 
 fhail therefore be much obliged to you for 
 your Thoughts upon it ; and as my prefent 
 Lcifure will not allow me to enter further 
 into your Theory, at this Time, I fliall beg 
 Leave to defer my further Confideration of 
 it, till my Hurry is a little over, when I 
 fhall, with your Permiffion, trouble you with 
 what further Remarks may occur to me 
 upon it. 
 
 I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour very obedient. 
 And faithful Servant, 
 
 Prince's-Street, 
 
 J. HEAVISIDE* 
 
 Sunday, Jan, 11, i784»
 
 220 On the DELUGE. LET. IX. 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE. Esq. 
 
 Prejudices of Education hard to be overcome, 
 therejore many 'Things in Mr.. Penrofes 
 Theory may appear doubtful at fi'Jl, as they 
 differ from fome which are generally taught : 
 There may be Arcana in Nature^ whicL 
 hufnan Keafon may not be able to explain. — 
 Anfwer to Mr. Heavifide's laft ^ery. — A 
 Conjlitution andCuflom obferved by the Royal 
 Society t concerning Difquijitions.— The Waters 
 the Outjide of this terraqueous Globe, not 
 fiifficient for the Flood. — Centre of Gravity 
 altered at the Flood. — Caufes ajjigned why 
 Bones, Shells, &c. were not diffolved. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 YOUR Mind being prepolTeiTed with Ideas 
 very different from many Things in 
 my Theory, I doubt not but fome will flick 
 with you, at firfl, (whatever they may do af- 
 terwards) I am fure they did fo with me; 
 but as neither you or I are any further con- 
 cerned
 
 LET. IX. On the DELUGE. 221 
 
 cerned than for the Amufement of ourfelves, 
 and the Inveftigation of Truth ; £0 we fhall 
 be more likely to agree about them, than the 
 generality of Difputants ; whofe Endeavours 
 are often to explain the Truth away^ and I 
 truft, we ihall be both ready to embrace it, 
 let it be found by either of us. 
 
 In Order to get at Truthy we ought to fuf- 
 pe(fl our own preconceived Opinions, to di- 
 veft ourfelves as much as may be from our 
 Prejudices, and makeufe of the greateil Im- 
 partiality in Judgement ; for we mull: obferve, 
 how greatly all People are biajjed to the Ideas 
 which have been ingrafted on their Under- 
 jlanding, by Education and Ciijlom -y notwith- 
 ftanding fome of them may be the greateft 
 Abfurdities. — Thus, for Inftance, we find 
 many of the Wives of the Indian Kings are 
 brought to believe, that by Self Murder, (a 
 Crime which we think the greateji, and tnojl 
 contrary to Nature I ) they fhall inherit the 
 greateft Blifs.— Under this Perfualion, many 
 throw themfelves into the Funeral Pile with 
 their dead Huibands -, encouraged and ani- 
 mated
 
 222 
 
 On the DELUGE. LET. IX. 
 
 mated to it, by thofe who are believed to be 
 the beft and wifeft of their People. — We 
 may alfo obferve, that a Perfon educated in 
 Italy, will be a Catholick -, in England, a 
 Prote.n;ant ; in Turkey, a Mahometan ; in 
 India, a Gentoo. — Errors^ from the fame 
 Cciufe, reign in Philofophy as well as Divi- 
 nity; our philofophica* Opinions are generally 
 forn^ed in the fame Manner, from Education^ 
 and the Company we keep ; and often under 
 the Protedion of fome great ISiame, whofe 
 Notions few dare to oppofe^ or even to in- 
 veftigate or examine. — Thus the Earth, 
 Moon, and Planets were believed to circulate 
 round the Sun, by the Ancients, down to 
 Pythagoras.— hht^ that the Ptolemean Syftem 
 took Place, then the 'TychoniCf and now the 
 ancient Syilem is again recovered by Coper- 
 nicus, and his Followers, and dernonflrated 
 to be true by the immortal Newton, and be- 
 lieved by nearly All. 
 
 The above Obfervations fliew us how eafily 
 we are made to believe falfe Opinions by 
 Education, and with what Dilticulty they 
 
 are
 
 LET. IX. On the DELUGE. 223 
 
 are eradicated afterwards. — A great many of 
 them are often believed to be innate, and im- 
 planted in our Mind by God. — Hence, in 
 Matters of Conf'^quence, we Ihould not re- 
 ceive implicitly thofe Opinions we have been 
 taught, or are generally believed as true, 
 without Rxaminatioji ; wherever this is the 
 Cafe, it muft be a great Obftacle to Improve- 
 ments in Arts and Sciences* — For the above 
 Reafons, though I may obferve feme Things 
 which are contrary to your preconceived Ideas, 
 cr to general received Opinions, or what you? 
 may have been taught to be true; yet, I hope, 
 from your known Impartiality, you will not 
 difcard them without Examination. 
 
 You have chofen a Qiieftion, the Anfwer 
 to which will affiil: to elucidate my Theory, 
 and I hope my Explanation of it may prove 
 fatisfadlory to you ; although, as you obferve, 
 it has a contradictory Appearance. — '* Why 
 ** in that general DilTolution of Subftances, 
 " which you fuppofe to have taken Place at 
 ** the Deluge, thole Shells, Bones, Shrubs, 
 ** &c. that are undoubtedly found (as you 
 
 " (fay
 
 224 On the D E L U G E. LET. IX. 
 
 " fay) in all Parts of the World, both on 
 ** the Summits of Mountains, and in the 
 ** Depths of the Earth ; why were not thefe 
 *' Subflances difTolved, and what Reafon can 
 ** be given, why the Caufe (whatever it was) 
 " that could diifolve Rocks and Marble, 
 ** fhould not diifolve thefe Subftances which 
 ** are of a much loofer Contexture ?" 
 
 In the firft Place, I fhall beg Leave to ob- 
 ferve, that though the whole Operations of 
 Nature are ALL carried on in a mechanical 
 Manner, yet there may be fome Arcana which 
 may be out of human Power to explain. — 
 But it is the Duty of every Searcher after 
 Truth, not to evade the Queftion. — But if 
 he cannot explain it, to confefs it. — I hope, 
 from what follows, that you will think, that 
 I do not make the above Obfervation with a 
 Defire to get rid of your ^lery, but only to 
 lay in my Claim, left I fhould want it here- 
 after. — However, you (hall find that I will 
 anfwer quite to the Point in Qneflion, with- 
 out Evafion. 
 
 I fliall
 
 LET. IX. On the D K L U G E. 
 
 225 
 
 I fhall now purfue the fanne Method I did 
 in my former Letter, firft giving the hifto- 
 rical Account of the Event, and then prove 
 it to be true from Facts or Obfervations. 
 
 It may be obferved, that Mofes, in giving 
 us the Account of the Flood, (v/hich in Fa(fl 
 is the only one v^^e have, or can have) tells 
 us, that God faid ** /, even J, do bring a 
 ** Flood of Waters upon the Earth." — Ac- 
 cording to this Account, it was a Miracle, 
 performed by God himfelf, by altering the 
 Operations of Nature j but yet performed by 
 material Agents, in a mechanical Manner.— 
 Had it not been performed by material Agents, 
 it could not be Evidence to our Senfes, nei- 
 ther could we underftand it, whilft our whole 
 Machine, by which we receive our Ideas, is 
 material. 
 
 In Order to explain thefe feeming Con- 
 tradidions, I ihall obfervc the Method di- 
 reAed by the Royal Society. — ** The Con- 
 ** flitution and Cuflom of which are, that 
 •' every Difquifition mufl either terminate in 
 Ff "a
 
 226 On the DELUGE. LET. IX. 
 
 " a mathematical Demonftration, or be form- 
 " ed upon fome one or more Experiments, 
 " Obfervations, or Hiftories of Fa(5ts, for a 
 ** Foundation of Reafoning, and the Con- 
 ** cluiions drawn, muft necelTarily appear to 
 " flow from the Premifes ; and the Daneer 
 " of drawing general Conclulions in natural 
 ** Philofophy, and Phyfical Difquifitions, lies 
 " not in Arguments, a Pojierwn, from the 
 ** EffedT: to the Caufe; but in the hypothetick 
 ** Way, that is, by Parity or Similitude ^ to 
 ** Parity and Similitude of EfFeds, which 
 ** muft be often a fallacious Method, and the 
 ** Source of many Errors ; for this fame 
 ** Caufe, adling by one and the fame Power, 
 *' according to the fame Laws, is often made 
 ** to produce not only different, but even 
 ** contrary Effedis, according to the fpecifick 
 ** Differences of the Subjects aded upon. — 
 ** Thus Heat makes Clay hard, but foftens 
 " and melts Wax, Metals, &c." — The Cafe 
 before us is another Inflance of the fame 
 Kind. 
 
 Here we have two Fads open to our View, 
 
 (befides
 
 LET. IX. On ike D E LUGE. 227 
 
 (befides a Number cf others of the fame Ori- 
 ginal) viz the hardeil: Rocks fliew us, that 
 they were in a State of Solution, when the 
 Shells, Bones, &c. were mixed with their 
 very Subftance; on the contrary, that thefe 
 Shells, Wood, and Parts of Vegetables, are 
 almoft in a perfed: State, though of a much 
 loofer Contexture. 
 
 I believe all Philofophers, who have wrote 
 on the Flood, have allowed, that there was 
 not a fufficient Quantity of Water on the Out- 
 lide of this Globe, to cover it a tenth Part fo 
 high above it, as we are told the Waters pre- 
 vailed. — If this is fo, and the Fad: is true, we 
 muft fearch fome other Place for it ? none will 
 be found but within the Bowels of this Earth ; 
 accordingly Mofes tells us, that this Flood 
 was brought on ** by the breaking up the 
 " Fountains of the great Deep, and opening 
 ** the Windows of Heaven." — (Or, as it is 
 exprcfled in the Original) opening the Cracks 
 and Chinks, whereby Air palfes through the 
 Earth.— That Steam or Vapour is continually 
 palfmg through them, is at this Time ob- 
 ferved by Miners. It
 
 228 On the D E L U G E. LET. IX. 
 
 It appears, before this Phenomenon could 
 fucceed, that the Centre of GRAVITY (let 
 it be a Power inherent in Solids or ab extra) 
 and the Attrav5lion of Cohefion mull be al- 
 tered.-^Let us fuppofe (for fuppofc it we 
 mufl, as we are not informed of it) that God 
 by his own A(fl, (I even I, fays Jehovah) al- 
 tered the Place of the Centre of Gravity, from 
 within the Earth, to fuch a Diftance on the 
 Outfide 'y the Confequence would be as Mofes 
 has told us it was. — The Waters would flow 
 outwards by all the Fountains, Openings, 
 and Chinks of the Earth, Rocks, &c. (the 
 Number of which will be more ealily con- 
 ceived by viewing our Cliffs of Marble, than 
 can be defcribed ) which would make no 
 Reiiftance (Gravity being altered) but would 
 be diifoved and carried away by the Impetuo- 
 fity of the Efflux, and with many other Bo- 
 dies, make one common Colluvies. 
 
 It may be obfcrved in this common Def- 
 trudtion, that Earth, Rocks, Stone, &c. 
 (which were kept or bound together by Gra- 
 vity or AttraSilon of Cohefion ,) on the Alter- 
 ation
 
 On the DELUGE. LET. IX. 229 
 
 at ion of the Centre of Gravity, and the Ef- 
 fjiix, caufed thereby, of the Waters, mull: 
 be reduced, if not quite, nearly to their 
 fmalleft Parts.— On the contrary, Shells, 
 Bones, Shrubs, Leaves, &c. which are not 
 held together by Gravity, or Attraction of 
 Cohefion, but by Fibres, Sinews, Tubes, 
 Membranes, &c. tied, twifled, and compli- 
 cated together in a wonderful Manner, would 
 not be affeded by it; the Attradion of Gra- 
 vity would not untwifl their Fibres, there- 
 fore thofe Parts of Animals and Vegetables, 
 notwithilanding their foft Texture, wouid 
 remain as before. 
 
 After the Waters had prevailed God's ap- 
 pointed Time, Mofes tells us that God re- 
 membered Noah, and would not fuifer him 
 to be deftroyed, which he muft have been, 
 had the Waters not aiTuaged. — God, by his 
 own immediate Adt, by his Spirit , or what 
 may be called Ether, (this is the fame Word 
 as tranflated Spirit, Gen. 12.) reftored the 
 Power of Gravity to the Place appointed to 
 
 it
 
 230 On the DELUGE.- LET. IX. 
 
 it before the Flood; and the terraqueous 
 Globe was again reftored to its priftine 
 Form. (4) 
 
 From what has been oblerved, the follow- 
 ing Conciufion feems naturally to arife, that 
 Gravity was the Agent which forced off the 
 Waters, — If fo, is Gravity a material Power ? 
 If it i?, does it lie in Solids or Fluids ? — ^No 
 great Difficulty feems to be in giving an An- 
 fwer to the above Queftions ! 
 
 Farewell, my dear Friend, till I write you 
 again, which I will do foon.; 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSEj 
 Feb. 2, 1785. 
 
 (4( See Let. I. III.
 
 Let. X. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 231 
 
 To JOHN H E AV I S I D E, Esq. 
 
 As the fir jl inaterial Agents cannot come within 
 the K?iowledge of our Senfes, fo differtnt 
 Philofophers have formed different Opinions, 
 But Ajlronomy may be proved by mathema^ 
 t'lcal DemoJiJiration.—Hifiory is no more than 
 a Romance ^without Chronology i which is not 
 certain, unlefs proved by Afironomy .—Where 
 to begin our Afiroiiomical Epoch. — Mofes's 
 Account of the Place of the !Sun and Moon 
 at the Creation, proved by Mathematical 
 Demonfiration.-—Firfi Meridian proved by 
 an Obfervation of Dr» Bradley's. — As Mr. 
 Penroje is not fearful of being convicted of 
 'Error y Leave is given to Mr. Heavifide to 
 Jhew this Letter to any Proficient in Aftro- 
 nomy , and get their Criticifms on it, 
 
 ' Dear Sir, 
 
 I Thank you for your Prefent of the Book, 
 on the Deluge, which I have read al- 
 ready — It is coming down in Betfey's Box, 
 
 on
 
 232 On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. X. 
 
 on board the Rofe; when it arrives, I ihall 
 give it another Reading, and doubt not but I 
 fhall receive Satisfaction from fome Parts of 
 it; and I (hall, (which I alTure you I always 
 do) endeavour to diveft myfelf of all precon- 
 ceived Ideas. — As the firfl material Agents j 
 have not, neither ever can they come under 
 the Examination and Knowledge of ourSenfes; 
 fo different Sedts of Philofophers have form- 
 ed different Hypothefes about them, which 
 has been the Caufe of fuch a Variety of Opi- 
 nions.- — For fome Years pafl, my principal 
 Study has been Aftronomy. — A mofl fublime 
 Science! T\\tPhenomena of which may be prov- 
 ed from mathematical Demonjiration ; but even 
 this Proof will be of no Signification to thofe 
 who have preconceived Principles oi a dif- 
 ferent Nature, and are thereby prevented from 
 examining whether they be true or not. — 
 There is another Thing againft my Notions 
 in Aftronomy ; it requires fome Attention to 
 underftand them ; therefore few will be pr o- 
 per Judges of them; fome of them are con- 
 trary to the general preconceived Opinions, and 
 as popular Prejudices are difficult to be over- 
 come.
 
 Let. X. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 233 
 
 come, (o thefe Notions of mine will be op- 
 pofed. — This Study is certainly of great Ufe; 
 for Hiftory is no more than a Romance, with- 
 out Chronology, and there can be no Cer- 
 tainty in Chronology, unlefs proved by Aftro- 
 nomy : Indeed without fome fixed and aftro- 
 nomical Era^ to which hiftorical Narmtions 
 may be referred, however true in themfelves, 
 they will be deemed very little preferable to 
 Romance. — Tho' I have heretofore troubled 
 you with fome of my Notions on Philofo- 
 phical Subjects, which, perhaps, you may 
 have thought both a Wafte of Time and 
 Trouble to read over j yet, you fee I am fo 
 fond of fcribbling, that I cannot help perplex- 
 ing you with a brief Account of fome of my 
 aftronomical Ideas. 
 
 In the firft Place, I muft agree with Kgil, 
 who fays, ** As in the Heavens there are cer* 
 *' tain Points, from which Aftronomers bc- 
 *' gin their Computations of the Planets 
 " Motions, fo alfo there muft be certain 
 ** Points, or Inftants of Time, from which, 
 ** as from Roots, all Calculations muft begin . 
 Gg '* and
 
 2 34 On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. X. 
 
 " and all memorable Adiions are difpofed and 
 * recorded, according to the Scries of Years 
 ** which follows from that Root. Thcfe 
 '* Roots are called Epochs or Eras, from 
 ** which we generally count our Years or 
 Times." (5) 
 
 The Beginning of Time may be confidered 
 as an indivifihle Injlant ; but Time is a deter^ 
 minate fuccejjive 'Duration, meafured by Mo- 
 tion ', fo that Motion and Time are ccetaneous. 
 If we trace it back to the firft Moment, it 
 muft be the Inftant before planetary Motions 
 had any Exigence, or were Nothing; and 
 when planetary Motions fhall ccafe, then 
 Cometh the End of T ime. 
 
 If we know any thing when planetary Mo- 
 tion or Time began, (as moft Hiflorians pre- 
 tend tCj) it muft be difcovered, either by Ol>- 
 fervation or Calculation, or be revealed from 
 God. But as there was no human Witnefs 
 to the Creation, it could not be difcovered by 
 Obfervation, neither could it be difcovered 
 
 by 
 
 (5) Intvoduftion, Page 7,
 
 Let. X. On Chronology and Aflronomy. 235 
 
 by Calculation : But Mofes has revealed it ; 
 and I have certainly the Liberty to take 
 Mofes's Account as true, if I hereafter prove, 
 from Mathematical Demonftration, that it 
 is fo. 
 
 Hence I begin my Epoch of Aftronomy, 
 on the fourth Day of the Creation, when, 
 Mofes tells us, the Sun and Moon were for- 
 med and placed in the Heavens, to point out 
 Times and Sea/bns, Days and Tears. — Here 
 then we have one Datum or Root, viz. the 
 fourth D.iy of the Week, twelve ©'Clock, 
 (which it muil be on the Place in which the 
 Sun was in the Meridian.) "Jofephus tells us, 
 the Jews reckoned their Years by the Sun, 
 and their Months and Days by the Moon. 
 Mofes alfo orders the Ifraelites (lead they 
 fhould be at a Lofs when to begm their Days) 
 to keep their Sabbaths from Evening to Even- 
 ing. ^^^ Hence we find that the Chronology 
 of Time began, on the fourth Day, at Even-' 
 ing, which w^s the Day after the Moon's 
 Oppofitioii, or when (he was full; when they 
 
 (ViX. 
 (6) Levit. XXIII, 38,
 
 236 On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. X. 
 
 (viz. the Sun and Moon) enlightened the 
 
 whole Earth, as Mofes tells us That the 
 
 Ifraelites, and their Pofterity, might not be 
 at a Lofs to know the Time of the Year, and 
 alfo the Diftance of the Moon from the Sun, 
 JVIofcs inf^ituted the Feaft of Ingathering, 
 (after they had gleaned up their Olive and 
 Vi?ieyards) to be kept in Remembrance of 
 that great Event, — This Feaft was to be kept 
 on the 15th Day of the Moon ( as it is 
 in the Hebrew) or Month, in the Knd or 
 devolution of the f Solar J Year.^^) ^s every 
 Month was begun on the Evenine of the Vi- 
 fibility of the Moon, fo this 15th Day mud 
 be juft after fhc was paft the full. The Jews 
 keep their Feafls of Tabernacles and Ingather- 
 ing in this Manner, to this Day; and, ac- 
 cording to their Tradition, it is in Comme- 
 moration of the Creation of the World, 
 which happened at this Seafon -, viz. at the 
 autumnal Equinox, the Sun in Libra, at the 
 full of the Moon. To be fhort. ^^^ 
 
 I fliall now aflume the following Data, and 
 
 prove, 
 
 (7) Exodus, XXIII, 16— Deut. XV, 13 (8) ladroduaion, Page 6,
 
 Let. X. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 237 
 
 prove, by Mathematical Demonilration, that 
 they are true. Viz. ifl, that the Sun was 
 formed on the fourth Day of the Week, at 
 the Creation, at twelve o'Clock, in the iirft 
 Meridian, at the Autumnal Equinox, or the 
 Sun in Libra, tlie Moon 15 Days pad the 
 Conjund:ion, the Day after the Oppoiition. 
 
 Secondly.— That according to the Mofaic 
 Account, A. D. 1753, is in Conne<ftion 
 with A. M. 5760, and Time is meafured, 
 pofitively and abfolutely, by the Rotation of 
 the Earth round its Axi"^, or a natural Day; 
 and its annual Revolution thro' the Ecliptic. 
 If, therefore, I prove that A. D. 1753, is 
 the fame identical Year with A. M. 57O0, it 
 muft be mathematical Demonftration that the 
 above AiTumitions are true. Now, ^^^ 
 
 A. D, 1753, we know to be the fame 
 Yeaf as 6466, according to the Julian Period, 
 I fubflradl Mofes's Account of the Age of the 
 World, 5760, from 6466 of the Julian Pe- 
 riod, there remains 706, in Coincidence with 
 
 the 
 
 (9) Introduflion, Page 25.
 
 238 On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. X. 
 
 the Year of the Creation. — The Julian Year 
 is 1 1 Minutes longer than the Solar tropical 
 Year, by which Means the Equinox fell back 
 44 Days, and, according to the Julian Ka- 
 Icndar, from Od:. 25, to Sep. 22, N. S. 
 
 Multiply 5760 the Number of annual Re- 
 volutions, or Solar Years. 
 By 1461 the Number of Rofalions 
 
 of the Farth round its 
 
 5760 Axis, or natural Days in a 
 34560 Quadirennium. 
 23040 
 4760 
 
 Divide bythc Years 7 4'\84i536o / 2103840 Days in 5760 
 in a Quadriennium. J y \ Julian Years. 
 
 Days of Rfttrocefiion in576o JulianYears, 44 to be fubflrft. 
 
 Sunin Libra, A.D. 1753, A.M 5760, 2103796 A. I. P. 6466, 
 
 true Solar Days. 
 To know the Day of the Week, add 4 
 
 the extra Days before the Sun and 
 
 Moon meafured Time. 
 
 Divide b} 7 \ 2x03800 /300542 Weeks 
 fince the Creation, or in 5760 / (6)1 Saturday. 
 
 Solar Years, 
 
 TABLE. 
 
 A. L P. 
 
 706. 
 Sun in Libra. 
 Firfl Meridian 
 
 D. H. M. 
 Oft. 25. 00. 00. 
 
 Interval, 
 
 5760 Years, 
 
 2103796 Days. 
 
 A. L P. 
 
 6466. 
 
 Sun in Libra. 
 
 P'lrft Meridian. 
 
 D. H. M. 
 Sep. 22. 00. 00. 
 
 By
 
 Let. X. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 239 
 
 By a very accurate Obfervation, Dr. Brad- 
 ley obferved that the Sun entered Libra A.D. 
 1753, September 22, on a Saturday. This 
 had not happened before, fince the Creation, 
 neither can it happen again, on the fame 
 Hour and Minute, and Day of the Week, for 
 many Thoufand Years to come ; therefore 
 1753 mufh be in Conned:ion with A. M. 
 5760 ; this proves it to be as mathematically 
 certain, that the Year, Day, Hour, and Mi- 
 nute, and Day of the Week, happened at the 
 the Time when Mofes tells us it did, as it is 
 to meafure the Diftance from Hatfield to 
 London, by a Wheel : For Here are two 
 Points, viz Hatfield and London ; by run- 
 ning a Wheel from Hatfield to London, you 
 will know how many Rotations the Wheel 
 makes, between Hatfield and London : So 
 here you have two Points, viz. the Autum- 
 nal Equinox, A. L P. 706, or the Year of 
 the C reation, and the Autumnal Equinox, 
 A. \. P. 6466, in which Time the Earth 
 performed 5760 annual Revolutions, and 
 2103796 Rotations round its Axis, which 
 meafurcd the Interval, and united the two 
 
 Points
 
 J4o On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. X. 
 
 Points together. — Hence we have mathema- 
 tical Demonftration that Mofes's Chronology 
 is true; and alfo, we have an 'Epoch whereon 
 to begin our aftronomical Enquiries. — The 
 above is trifling Evidence, to what may be 
 brought by the Aftronomy of the Sun and 
 Moon, by all the Eclipfes, Equinoxes y Sol/ii- 
 cest newy and full Moons, which have hap- 
 pened iince the Creation. 
 
 I am not very fearful to be convidled of 
 Error, in what I have faid above, therefore 
 (as perhaps you may meet with Adepts in A- 
 Itronomy) I fhall have no Objedtion to your 
 fhewing them what I have faid; and, as 
 Truth is the Objed: fought, I fhould be glad 
 to hear their Criticifms on it. 
 
 I amy 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour obliged Friend, 
 
 And Servant y 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 Wedne/da^i Fcb,^, 1785,
 
 Let. XI. On Chronology and Aftronomy, 241 
 
 To F. PENROSE, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Tieavifide having Jljewed Mr. Penrofe s 
 Letter to fome emuient Ajironomers, Mem- 
 hers of the Royal Society ; they ** all agreed 
 ** that his Calculations were perfedlly right, 
 ** and proved what He intended they Jljould -, 
 *' and that they wf u)d haie dejired Leave to 
 *' have read the Paper at tht Meeting of the 
 '* Royal Society ; but that it was deemed to 
 *' be conneBed with religious Subjects, which 
 *' they never meddie with there." Queries 
 to Mr. Penrofe, occafoned by the of or ef aid 
 Letter. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I A M highly obliged to you for your kind 
 Letter, and for being fo good as to ftate to 
 me the Proofs of the Truth of the Mofaical 
 Hiftory of the Creation : They are certainly 
 very learned and ingenious ; I have read them 
 with great Pleafure,* and have only to lament 
 my own Ignorance, in not being able (for 
 H h want
 
 242 On Chronology and Allronomy. Let. XI. 
 
 want of more Science in Aflronomical Mat- 
 rers) to fully comprehend their Force. As 
 you have always been fo good as to make Al- 
 lowance for my Ignorance on any Philofophi- 
 cal Slibjed-s, and hear, without Offence, my 
 Objections to fomc of your Opinions ; fo, I 
 hope, you wil,l pardon me for afking you a 
 few Queftions, not in the Way of ObjzciionSy 
 but merely for Explanations, that I may the 
 better comprehend the Whole of your The- 
 ory; which, I prcfumc, is this, viz. that 
 according to Mofes's Account of the Creation, 
 and the Number of Yeirs he makes it from 
 thence to the Flood -, added to the Years i roni 
 the Flood to the coming of our Saviour ; and 
 from thence to the Year 1753 of our ^Era, 
 making up the Number 5760, the true and 
 real Age of the World, is thereby fully afcer- 
 tained, and Mofes's Hiftory proved to be a 
 true one of the Creation at that lime. 
 
 You have proved, from Dr. Bradley's Ob- 
 fervation, that the Whole Planetary Syftem 
 was in the cxad Pofition, in the Year of our 
 Lord 1753, that they were, and muft necef- 
 
 farily
 
 Let. XL On Chronology and Aftronomy, 243 
 
 farily have been at the Creation ; and that 
 they had not, nor could have been in the like 
 Situation for 5760 Years before ; nor will, 
 probably, be fo again, for as many to come. 
 I fha!l therefore call this 5760th Year, 
 the Year of the great Cycle of the Univerfe : 
 But whether I call it properly fo, or not, I do 
 not know ; nor docs it much fignify, if you 
 will give me Leave to ufe it as a Term, by 
 which you may underftand my Meaning. 
 Wow I would afk what Proofs can be addu- 
 ced, thdt the fame Cycle, or Number of Re- 
 volutions, may not have happened over and 
 over again, before Mofes's Date of the 
 Creation. 
 
 I muft alfo beg you to explain the Ufe of 
 your Table, and why in the one is 06t. 25, 
 and in the other Sept, 22. I fubjoin the Ta- 
 ble as I copy it from yours, 
 
 TABLE. 
 
 Interval. 
 
 A. I. P. 
 
 706. 
 S'*" in Libra. 
 FirU Meridan 
 
 D H. M. 
 Oct i -, 00, 00. 
 
 5760 Years. 
 2103796 Dayi, 
 
 A. L P. 
 
 6466. 
 
 Sun in Libra. 
 
 Firft Meridian. 
 
 D. H. M. 
 Sep. 22. 00. 00.
 
 244 (^^ Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. XI. 
 
 I know that I expofe my Ignorance in afk- 
 ing this, but I am not afhamed of doing that 
 to you, who already know it fo well. 
 
 The above I wrote (as what occurred to me 
 on the iirft attentive Perufal of your Scheme) 
 as foon as I had read it ; and, having your 
 Permiflion, I afterwards copied it, and ihewed 
 it to two or three of my Friends, whom I 
 thought better acquainted with Aftronomy 
 than myfelf. 
 
 One of thefe I knew to be intimate with 
 an eminent Afironomer, of the Royal Soci- 
 ety j and, as I wiflied, he afked my Leave to 
 ihew it to him, which I readily gave him. 
 He called on me a few Days ago, and told 
 me that that Gentleman was much pleafed 
 with it, and had kept it till now, that he 
 might fhew it to his Aftronomical Friends of 
 the Society ; and that they a// agreed that 
 your Calculation was perfe^ly rights and prO' 
 *ved what you intended it fliould do : But, at 
 the fame Time, they made the fame Obfcrva- 
 tion upon it that I had done, viz, that it did 
 
 not
 
 Let. XI. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 245 
 
 not prove that there had not been previous 
 Revolutions (or Cycles, as / call it) to that 
 mentioned above. You will not wonder that 
 I was both furprized and pleaied, to find that 
 7, who am z^;z-Iearned in fuch Subjed;s, 
 {hould thus have blundered upun what had 
 ftruck all thefe learned Men, 
 
 t 
 
 I mufi: add, that the Aftronomical Gentle- 
 man would have defired Leave to read the 
 Paper at the Meeting of the Royal Societ)^ ; 
 but that it was deemed to be connecfted with 
 religious Subjefts, which they never meddle 
 with there. 
 
 I find you will, in Time, give me an Itch 
 for Philofophizing likewife, which hitherto I 
 have only amufed myfelf with now and then, 
 as it has fallen in my Way. As a Proof of 
 this, I have lately often thought of our Con- 
 verfation at Hatfield, wherein you explained 
 Sir Ifaac Newton's Afiiimption of the inex- 
 plicable Terms of Gravitation and Attraction, 
 and in their Place, affirmed that Fire, or 
 Heat, anfwered all the Purpofe& equally, and 
 
 was
 
 246 On Chronology fln^^ Aftronomy. Let. XI. 
 
 was a Subftance, or Quality, known and al- 
 lowed by all. As we had not then Leifure to 
 develop the Whole of your Ideas on that 
 Subjed:, I fhould efteem it a 'great Favour if 
 you would be fo kind as to give me a general 
 View of your Opinions upon it, whenever 
 you have Leifure, and find Inclination to gra- 
 tify me with it. 
 
 lam. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour very obedient. 
 And obliged Servant^ 
 J. HE AVI SIDE. 
 
 Piiincs's-Strbet, 
 March 20, 1785.
 
 Let. XI. On Chronology and Artronomy. 247 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE. Esq. 
 
 Mofes's Hijlory of the Creation ought to be exa- 
 mined by Chronology and AJtronomy, which 
 is the true Teil of all Hijlory, — The Cycle 
 of Tears explained -y — Anfwer to Mr. Hea-^ 
 vifides lajl ^eries i — Ether the Caufe of 
 Gravitation ; — Gravity and Levity relative 
 Terms, — T'he Agency of the Ethers explai- 
 ned ', — they are the Caufe of Winds, Hur" 
 ricaneSy Earthquakes, &c. — they alter or 
 dejiroy Attradion, Gravitation, Cohefion, 
 &c. Is the Caife of the different Motions of 
 the Earthy and its fpheroidal Shape ; the 
 Caufe of Tides, &c. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 1 Thank you for your laft Letter, which 
 (by informing me, that what I had writ- 
 ten to you had received the Approbation of 
 fome eminent Aftronomers, Members of the 
 Royal Society) gave me great Pleafure, as 
 their Approbation does me a greater Honour
 
 248 On Chronology and Aflronomy. Let. XI. 
 
 than ever I expcffled to receive. — So learned a 
 Body of Men (by the Difcouragement they 
 have ^iven to Guefs, Speculation, and Hypo- 
 thefi^) have been the Means of thofe diftin- 
 guiihed Improvements, which the Sciences 
 have received: It being one of their Confii- 
 tutions to admit Nothing hit what muft ter- 
 minate in Mathematical Defnonjiratioriy cr what 
 is founded on FaBs, and Reajonings and Calcu- 
 lations which nect'Jfarily flow frotn them. — I 
 think we (hould pay th^fame Regard to Mo- 
 fes's Account of the Creation, as we would 
 do to any other Hiftorian. — For, as I ob- 
 ferved in my laft Letter, Hiftory, if not 
 proved by Chronology, is no more than a 
 Romance ; and there can be no Certainty in 
 Chronology, unlefs proved by Aftronomy.— 
 On the Contrary, Hiftory and Chronology, 
 which is proved by the Situation of the Sun 
 and Moon, at the Time thcfe Events hap- 
 pened, and confirmed by Eclipfes, when the 
 Moon interfe(5ls the Earth's Orbit j together 
 with her Oppofitions and Conjund:ions, 6cc. 
 muft be as true as that there is a Sun and 
 Moon; for their Conjuncflions and Oppfii- 
 
 tions
 
 Let. XII. On Chronology and Aflronomy. 249 
 
 tions will occur, at their appointed Seafons, 
 as long as Time fhall laft. — Thus we know, 
 by Calculation, that Ptolemy's Account of 
 the moil: ancient Eclipfe of the Moon to be 
 true ; as we find, by Calculation, it mufl: 
 have happened, at the Time He mentions, 
 either at Alexandria or Babylon : — I would 
 try Mofes's Account of the Creation in the 
 fame Manner. 
 
 The Gentlemen you fliewed my Scheme to, 
 as well as you, very juftly obferve, that the 
 Exad:nefs of it depended upon a Cycle of 
 Years, and tho' my Calculations were perfed:Iy 
 right, yet they did not prove but that there 
 might have been many Cycles before the Time men^ 
 tioned by Mofes. — In Regard to the Time of 
 the Creation ; it muft have been known, (if 
 known at all,) either, ill from Obfervation, 
 or, andiy, it muft be proved by Calculation j 
 or, 3d^y, it mull be revealed. — It could not 
 be obferved, as there was then no Human 
 Pcrfon to obferve it; neither could it be 
 found out by Calculation: But Mofes in- 
 forms us it was revealed, and to confirm his 
 I i Account,
 
 250 On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. XIL 
 
 Account, has given us the Situation of the 
 Sun and Moon, and Day of the Week, at 
 that Minute of Time. — Thefe are FaSis ! and 
 I think it cannot be imagined that Mofes 
 (who wrote at a Time when Aftronomy was 
 little known) fhould be able to calculate the 
 exa€t Place of the Sun and Moon, at the par- 
 ticular Inftant of Time of that Event, which 
 he tells us happened more than Two Thou- 
 fand Years before he was born. — I therefore, 
 think that if, on Calculation, we find that 
 his Aftronomical Account be true, we ought 
 to allow his Fidelity, as an Hiftorian, to be 
 confirmed. 
 
 In order to find the Cycle of Years, 
 
 Multiply 525949 the Minutary Meafure of a Solar 
 tropical Year, 
 Into 5760 the given Number of Solar tro- 
 pical Years. 
 
 Divide the Produft 
 
 By 2103796 \302946624o/i44oequatarftal Minutes fought. 
 The Number ) \ ^ Cycles. 
 
 of the Earth's Rotations 
 
 about its Axis. A. M. 5760 in Conneaion with A. D. 
 17535 when Dr. Bradley made his Obfervation at Greenwich. 
 
 In Regard to your other Qucilion, iV&y I 
 
 made
 
 Let. XII. On Chri)noiogy and ARronomy. 251 
 
 ma^e Tune to begin 0(5t. 2;, and the Cycle of 
 Tears to end Sept. 22 ? 
 
 To explain myielf as well as I can, why 
 thefe Cycles began Oct. 25, and ended Sept. 
 22. I obferve, that the 'Julian Year confifts 
 of 365 i Days, (or Rotations of the Earth,) 
 but this Quadrant, or Quarter of a Day, or 
 iix Hours, is not compleated on the fame 
 Meridian where the Rotation began, but 11 
 Minutes more Eaftward on the Equator. — 
 This Preceffion of 1 1 Minutes of Rotation 
 Eajiwardy makes 1 1 Minutes in 'Time Weft- 
 ward, (as in the Calendar) ; fo that the pre- 
 cife Length of the Year is 365D. 5H. 49M. 
 Thus, if the Solar Year began in any Meri- 
 dian, exad;ly at Noon, the fecond Year it 
 would begin 1 1 Minutes before fix in the 
 Evening; the third 22 Minutes before Mid- 
 night; the fourth 33 Minutes before fix in 
 the Evening, and end 44 Minutes before 
 Noon. — Hence a Day is added to every four 
 Years, and that Year is what we call Bijfextile 
 or Leap Tear : And in a Cycle of 1 440 Years, 
 having pafled every Minute on the Equator, 
 
 the
 
 252 On Chronology and Aftronorny. Let. XII. 
 
 the Year and Day will begin again together, 
 in the fime Meridian, but not on the iame 
 Day of the Week. — Hence the Day of the 
 Week, and not the Day of the Month, miifb 
 be the Chara5ierijiick to diftinguifli the Cycle. 
 
 The Julian Year (as obferved) being 1 1 
 Minutes longer than the folar tropical, the 
 Day of the Month, (according to the Julian 
 Calendar,) from the Year ot the Creationj or 
 the Year of the Julian Period 706, had re- 
 ceded 44 Days, which brought the Day of 
 the autumnal Equinox from Ocfl 25, which 
 it was in the Julian Year 706, to Sept. 11, 
 O. S. J but 1 1 of thefc Days being thrown 
 off, in the Year 1752, in Order to bring the 
 Equinox nearly on the fame Day of the 'Julian 
 Month which it was at the Nicene Council, 
 which was held 1439 Years before; it 
 brought the Day of the Month, (when the 
 Sun entered Libra,) from Od:. 25, at the 
 Creation, to Sept. 22, N, S. 1753. 
 
 In Regard to what pafTed between you and 
 tnc, about Sir Ifaac Newton's AlTumption of 
 
 Gra-
 
 Let. XII. Ow Chronology ^w^ Aftronomy. 253 
 
 Gravitation and Attradion, I think you mif- 
 underftood me : 1 did not oppofe them, as 
 EffeBs J but I would not have it underftood 
 that v/e ought n-jt to be fatibfied in g'>>ing thus 
 far, and no farther ; — I contended that we 
 ought to have Liberty to enquire what Agent, 
 or Agents, were the Caufe of thefe Fffdts; 
 and not to make Ufe of Words which feemed 
 to point out fome occult Quality, and that 
 it was the ne plus ultras and improper to en- 
 quire any farther. ■ — No ! We ought to ufe 
 thefe Words, as Sir Ifaac Newt o?i has dired:ed, 
 only to exprefs Phenomena in Nature, to 
 which he was going to apply his mathemati- 
 cal Demon ftrationb : Thus in his Optlcksy 
 (which was one of his lail Works,) fays he, 
 ** 1 would have Gravitation and Attrac- 
 ** tion to be underfluod as an BffeB only, 
 ** which might be occaji'jned by the Preffure of 
 '* a mojijubtle Ether, (with which the Space, 
 " from the Sun to the Extremity of the Syf- 
 •'* tem might be filled^ or tofomething which 
 ** he did not know'' 
 
 -Daily Experience fhcws us, that Gravita- 
 tion
 
 254 ^^ Chronology aiid Aftronomy. Let. XII. ' 
 
 tion and Attracftion are relative Terms only, 
 as Gravity and Levity, and are always in Pro- 
 portion to the Specific Gravity of the Body, 
 and the Denfity of the Medium that fur- 
 rounds it. As, for Inflance, drop a piece of 
 Cork out of your Hand, in the Air, it will 
 be forced to the Ground, by being of a 
 greater fpecific Gravity than the Atmofphere ; 
 put this Piece of Cork at the Bottom of a 
 Bafon, cover it with Water, and the Cork 
 will be forced upwards, and lie iniht Medium 
 between Air and Water, higher or lower in 
 Proportion to its fpecific Gravity. The Ex- 
 periments on Balloons greatly confirm and 
 explain the above Theory. 
 
 The following Axioms (I think) are al- 
 lowed by all Phylofophcrs : i ft, that Matter 
 connot a6t but when acfted upon ; 2dly, that 
 it occupies Space, and cannot ad: in two 
 Places at once, but only in the identical Space 
 it occupies ; therefore it cannot ad: at a Dift- 
 ance from itfelf, or in any Place it does not 
 occupy. Hence it muft be the furrounding 
 
 Medium which caufes the Gravitation of Bo- 
 dies.
 
 Let. XII. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 255 
 
 dies. — -Thus, as was obferved by the Cork; — 
 a Body, placed in any fluid Medium, will rife 
 or fall, in that Medium, in Proportion to the 
 fpecific Gravity of that Body, and the Den- 
 lity of the furrounding Medium. 
 
 My AfTumption is, that the Jirjl Agent in 
 Nature muft be the moft fubtik (or active) 
 and univerjhlly expanded ^ and capable of enter- 
 ing all Pores, and Interftices, of the moil 
 dtn^Q Subftances in Nature, even Adamant /— 
 And I fuppofe that the Ether, which Sir 
 Ifaac Newton imagined, ^^^ might, by its Pul- 
 iion, be the Caufe of Gravitation and Attrac- 
 tion, & be compofed of two Qualities ; which, 
 for the Purpofe of being underftood, (not be- 
 ing able to find more proper Names,) I will 
 call Heat and Cold. — I fuppofe this Ether to 
 occupy all Space, from the Sun, at the Cen- 
 tre, to the utmoft Extremity of the Syflem ; 
 which two Qualities are in continual Con- 
 flidl, in the Manner we have obferved ^'°^ the 
 cold and hot Air, or Atmofphere to be. — 
 Thefe Ethers, mixed with the Atmofphere, 
 
 being 
 
 {9) p. D.f. V, VIII Lib. I, Sec. II, 
 
 1*1 o) Sec Letter IV, Page 164.
 
 256 On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. XII. 
 
 being the Caufe of the Confllsfl, we always 
 obferve, between hot and cold Airj each en- 
 deavouring to polTefs the Place occupied by 
 the other j — the Heat expanding, and the 
 Cold compreiTing. IF they are the iirO: A- 
 gents, their Power will be indefinite, and ca- 
 pable of deftroying all material Subftances, as 
 we have numberlefs Inftances and Experi- 
 ments every Day, which confirm it. Does 
 not the Experiments in Electricity prove tiiat 
 it is univcrfally expanded and enters all Sub- 
 ftances, and that it is in all Matter, Ice not 
 excepted ? 
 
 Boerhaave, and a great many Philofophers, 
 have thought that Motion and Fire were fyno- 
 nimous Terms, as has been obferved.^''^ Viz. 
 where Fire abounds, there will be the great- 
 eft Motion, and Cold the oppofite. — Hence 
 we fee the Caufe of all Winds, Hurricanes, 
 Earthquakes, &c. which deftroy every Thing, 
 and force all before it : in thoje, the Fbeno- 
 mina of Attradion, Gravitation, and Cohe- 
 fion, are all loft. — Hence may be obferved, 
 that all Matter, by having Fire added to it, 
 
 is 
 
 (11) -Letter v. 169. 
 
 N
 
 Let. XII. On Chronology atid Aftronomy. 257 
 
 is expanded, and occupies more Space. Thus 
 the Sun Beams, ftriking againft the Earth, 
 a great Part of them are refleded, and of 
 Confequence there muft he a greater Quan- 
 tity of thefe Sun Beams, or Heat, at the Sur- 
 face, than at an Inch from it, and a greater 
 there than at two Inches, and fo on. — When 
 the Rarefadion is made on the Surface of the 
 Earth, the Cold, or more denfe Ether^ ruflies 
 towards the Earth, together with the Atmo- 
 fphere, and forces this lights Heat, or rarefied 
 Air, upwards from the Earth ^ and with it 
 every thing that is of lefs fpecific Gravity 
 than the Atmofphere. — The Earth, being 
 placed and furrounded with thefe Ethers, it 
 has no more Refiftance than a Body, of the 
 fame fpecific Gravity, placed in the middle 
 Part of a Tub of Water ; — it would neither 
 rife to the Top, nor gravitate to the Bottom, 
 but would remain in the Middle, and move 
 as the Body of Water moved; unlefs by Means 
 of Heat, or fome other Caufe, the watery 
 Medium, on one Side, Ihould be expanded, 
 & made to occupy more Space, and to be of 
 lefs fpecific Gravity than it was on the other : 
 
 Kk If
 
 253 On Chronology a?id Aflronomy. Let. XII. 
 
 If this was the Cafe, then the Medium, or 
 Water, on the other Side of the Body, having 
 greater Gravity or PreiTure, w^ould force it- 
 felf into that Place of lefler Gravity, and of 
 lefs Refiftance ; and, by that Preflure, would 
 force the Body to turn round together with 
 it. —- Thus the Earth, being placed in and 
 furrounded with Ether?, can have no Refift- 
 ance : 1 he fide of the Earth next or oppofite 
 the Sun, having the Atmofphere heated and 
 rarefied, and the other Side covered with cold 
 and denfe Ether j— this cold and denfe Air, by 
 forcing itfelf into the Place occupied by the 
 hot and rarefied, carries the terraqueous 
 Globe round with it. Thus, the Heat from 
 the Sun, and the Cold from the Extremities, 
 continually adling, caufe the perpetual Mo- 
 tion of the Earth. Hence, whilft thefe two 
 Motions remain a Ballance to each other, fo 
 long would the Earth go round the Sun ; go- 
 ing round its Axis alfo at the fame Time, — 
 Does not all Experiments in Electricity, 
 Gunpowder, and the late Experiments on 
 Balloons confirm it ? 
 
 Hence
 
 Let. XII. On Chronology and Aftronomy. 259 
 
 Hence, the greateft Heat, or Rarefadion, 
 being on the Earth, every Body of greater 
 fpeciiic Gravity than the Atmofphere, is 
 forced towards it; and contrary, all Bodies 
 of lefs fpecific Gravity, are forced from it. 
 hence the fpheroidicai Shape of the terraqueous 
 Globe; for if the Water, or fluid Parts, arc 
 prcfTcd by the cold at the Poles, more than 
 they are at the Equator, they muft form a 
 Spheroid, as Experiments on the Shape of 
 the Earth have proved it to be. — Hence alfo, 
 we are informed of the Caufe of the Tide, or 
 Sea, always flowing from the Poles to the 
 Equator j (as Cook, in his Voyage to the 
 South Pole, found they always did) ; and 
 this is alfo obferved at Nova Scotia, New- 
 foundland, that the Tide always flows from 
 the North Pole towards the Line ; which is 
 contrary to the Dodrine of Attraction ; for 
 the Earth being a Spheroid, longcft at the 
 Equator, the Tide flows uphill, or from the 
 Centre of Attradion, — The fall of Bodies is 
 alfo proved not to be in an cxad Perpendicu- 
 lar to the Place they fall from, but more to- 
 wards the Equator, or where the Rarefa<^ion 
 
 is
 
 26o On Chronology and Aftronomy. Let. XII. 
 
 is the greateft, and Refiftance the leaft. — 
 Another Experiment, which alfo fecms to 
 prove the above is, that when they drop a 
 Weight, or Lead, into the Sea, to try its 
 Depth, the Preflure, or Weight, on the 
 Finger, cannot be felt at more than Two 
 Hundred Fathoms, let the Weight be as 
 great as may be; and the PrefTure of the 
 Line, on your Finger, becomes lefs and lefs 
 every Fathom it defcends. — Was the Attrac- 
 tion the greater, the nearer it comes to the 
 Centre of the Earth, the contrary of this 
 would be the Cafe. — I ihould imagine, that 
 was a Barometer to be carried down Two 
 Hundred Fathoms, into fome of our deepeft 
 Coal Pits, the Quickfilver would fmk in Pro- 
 portion as you defcended, in the fame Man- 
 ner it does when you afcend into the Atmo- 
 lj)here : But this is a mere Hypothefib, 
 which I believe has never yet been tried; 
 but I much wonder at it, as we are fo curious 
 in Experiments. — If you have any inquifitive 
 Acquaintance amongft the Coal Miners, who 
 may be willing to make this Experiment, I 
 think it would be a ufeful one. 
 
 ^ Thus,
 
 Let. XII. 0« Chronology rt?Z(^ Aftronomy. 261 
 
 Thus, you fee, I do not oppofe any of 
 Sir Ifaac Newton's mathematical Demohftra- 
 tions, (who, perhaps, was the greateft Ma- 
 thematician that ever lived,) nor his Calcula- 
 tions of the Effe^s the Sun, Earth, and 
 Moon, &c. have on each other; — I only 
 lay a Claim for Liberty to explain the Caufes 
 of thcfe Effe^s, — The whole Difference lies 
 in 1 his ; whether the firft Ageiits in Nature 
 be Solids or Fluids : — Mod of Sir Ifaac 
 Newton's Followers believe that they are in 
 Solids. I, on the contrary, think they are 
 in Fluids ; the moft fubtile, the moft a(ftive; 
 therefore, as from Experiments, Fire feems 
 to be the moft fubtile and active ; of Confe- 
 
 quence the jirji material Agent. Indeed 
 
 there was one Thing elfe, which was con- 
 tended for a great While ; but, I believe, is 
 now given up : Viz. that the Space between 
 the Sun, Moon, and Earth, vt'as void oi Mat- 
 ter, a Vacuum-, otherwife, fay they, if it 
 contained Matter, it muft have Rcfiftance, 
 which, on thefe Principles, would have over- 
 came all Motion before now. — For, fay they, 
 a Body once put in Motion, will allways 
 
 continue
 
 *6i Ott Chronology fl«J Aflronomy. Let. XII. 
 
 continue in Motion, if it meets with no Re- 
 fiftance, but if it meets with Refiftance, it 
 would be continually lofing Part of its Mo- 
 tion, every Minute, and in Time ftand ftill ; 
 which muft have been the Cafe with the 
 Planets, before now, if they met with any 
 Refi (lance. 
 
 I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour obliged and 
 Faithful Friend, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 
 Uonday^ April lit 1785.
 
 Let. XIII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 263 
 
 To F. PENROSE, Esq. 
 
 Doubts propofed concerning fome Parts of Mr, 
 
 Penrofes Phihfophy, in Order that Truth 
 
 may be a/cert ained. ^eries concerning cold 
 
 Ether 5 and the Prejfure of that cold Rt her 
 
 into the Hot, or where it is more rare,--' 
 
 IVhat is the Caufe of the Motion oj the 
 
 Earth ? — What is the Caufe that the Earth 
 
 does not fall into the Sun ? — Do you impute 
 
 it to a Current of Ether ? — An/wer to the 
 
 lajl ^eries conclufve, if it be allowed that 
 
 Mofes was fo far ignorant of AJlronomy, as 
 
 to be incapable of calculating the Eclipfes 
 
 which preceded his T^ime, — He is faid to 
 
 Jjave been learned in all the Learning of the 
 
 Egyptians -, — State of the Sciences in Chal- 
 
 dea and Egypt, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 IS H O U L D have thanked you for your 
 obliging Letter fooner, but that I have 
 been a good Deal out of Town ; and I have 
 
 had
 
 264 On 72^/:.'?'^/ PHILOSOPHY. Let. XHI, 
 
 had a lurking Sort of rheumatic Fever hang- 
 ing upon me for more than a Month paft, 
 which broke my Reft and Spirits very much, 
 and thereby made me relu(5tant either to write, 
 or to fet about any Thing elfe. Thank 
 God, I have almoil: got rid of it within the 
 laft Fortnight, fince the Weather has been 
 warm. I am greatly obliged to you for the 
 Trouble you have been lb good as to take, to 
 inform me of your phllofophical Principles, 
 and niall make no Apology fur offering feme 
 of my Doubts to your Coniideration ; becaufe 
 without a fair and candid Difcuffion, of any 
 Subjedl, Truth cannot be afcertained. In 
 ftri(5t Propriety indeed, I ought rather to fay, 
 I muft beg fome farther lUuflration, on fome 
 Points which I do not underftand, nor fee the 
 Ccnfequences which you draw from the Pre- 
 mifes, 
 
 I have lived a Life of fuch Hurry lately, 
 that the above has been wrote at twice, and 
 each Time a Week from the other, tho' I 
 have taken every probable Opportunity of ha- 
 ving Half an Hour to myfelf; and 'tis odds 
 
 whether
 
 Let. XIII. Ojinalaral PHILOSOPHY. 265 
 
 whether I (\\i\\ not be interrupted now, in 
 five Minutes. 
 
 To begin — Heat and Cold are certainly re- 
 lative Terms, as up and down are -, and fomc 
 Philofophers deny them totally : But I do 
 not mean to quibble about Terms ; for no 
 Doubt there are fuch Effcdis produced as we 
 call by thofe Names. — Nor have I any Ob- 
 jedlion to your Ether ^ for I think there pro- 
 bably may be fuch a fubtile Matter, which 
 pervades every fenfible Subflance that we arc 
 acquainted with. — But when you talk of the 
 cold Ether driving out the hot, do not you 
 recur to that Gravity which you want to ex- 
 plode ? For by faying that the Denfity of the 
 former caufes it to rufh into the Place of the 
 latter, becaufe it is there more rarefied, &c. 
 is allowing of a Principle, little if at all dif- 
 ferent from our Ideas of Gravity. — The In- 
 ftances of a Cork, or Piece of Wood put into 
 Water; the Air Balloons, &c. &c. all go to 
 the fame Principle ; for they will all of them 
 reft when they come into a Medium of equal 
 Denjity with themfelves ; and in this Cafe, 
 L 1 Denfity
 
 266 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XHL 
 
 Denfity and Gravity feem to me fynonimous 
 Terms. 
 
 I will alfo readily grant you, that the Sun 
 Beams a(5ting flrongly upon that Surface of 
 the Earth, which is oppofite the Sun, will 
 rarefy the Atmofphere there, and that the 
 denfe cold Air on the oppofite Side the Earth, 
 will then pufli it forward into that rarefied 
 and lighter Atmofphere : Nay, I will grant 
 you that it will caufe the Motion round the 
 Axis of the Earth, (though I by no Means 
 think that a rotary Motion muft necejfarily 
 follow from it,) yet I would afk why the 
 Earth did not proceed in a fl:raight Line di- 
 rectly to the Sun .? We will fuppofe 
 
 the Earth this Inftant formed, and at refl : 
 The Sun Beams play upon it, and rarefy the 
 Air on that Side which is oppofed to them ; 
 (I fhall take the Liberty of ufing the Word 
 Air, as a fhorter Word, inftead oi Atmofphere) 
 the dcnfc Air on the other Side will pufh it 
 forward into that lighter Air mofl certainly ; 
 but I do not fee why it fhould caufe a rotary 
 Motion round the Axis ©f the Earth ; much 
 
 lefs
 
 Let. XIII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 267 
 
 lefs can I fee any Reafon for its elliptick, an- 
 nual Motion from this Caufe ; Recourfe mufl 
 therefore ftill be had to an original Impulfe, 
 or trajecftile Force, for its annual Motion; 
 and then what is the Power that brings it 
 back from that immenfe Diftance at which it 
 is, in the Summer Solftice ? or prevent its 
 flying off in a Tangent ? If the mere Rare- 
 fadion of the Air was fufficient for this, 
 would it not caufe the Earth to fall plump 
 into the Sun, and not take that circuitous 
 Courfe which we fee it does ? Would you 
 impute it to fome Current of the fubtile 
 Ether ? We know and allow that there is fuch 
 a Current from North to South, which is the 
 Caufe of Magnetifm ; but that will not ferve 
 to carry the Earth round its annual Orbit. — 
 Or would you affign various Currents for that 
 Purpofe ? If fo, there mufl likewife be a 
 Caufe afligned for them, which I fear will be 
 flill more incomprehenfible than Sir Ifaac's 
 Dodtrine of Gravitation and Propulfion. — 
 In {hort, this is the great Dejideratum in your 
 Theory, which puzzles me, and to which 
 you have not fpoke at all in yoHr Letter. — I 
 
 readily
 
 268 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XHL 
 
 readily affent to the Idea that Motion and Fire 
 arc the fame Thing ; / /jave always thought it 
 fo: For Fire or Heat has no Exiftence till 
 Motion is excited. — The Principles of Fire, 
 I prefume, lye in Steel and Flinty but it 
 muft be drawn out, and put into Action by 
 Colliiion, and then there is evident Motion. 
 I will not difpute theCaufe you allign for the 
 fpheroidical Shape of the Earth ; though I 
 think that Shape is fufficiently well accounted 
 for by the centrifugal Force, (which cannot 
 be denied to exift) adting upon the Globe 
 while yet moift, during its rotary Motion 
 round its Axis. — I dare fay that your Hypo- 
 thecs, that Quickfilver would fall in Pro- 
 portion to the Depth it was carried into a 
 Coal-pit, would prove true; and I will en- 
 deavour to get a Trial made of it; for I think 
 it would be curious to know whether it falls 
 in the fame Ratio beneath, as above the Sur- 
 face of the Earth, and I have a Friend in the 
 North of England, whom I can truft, and 
 hope he will get the Experiment made for 
 me.
 
 let. XIII. Gn nalural PHILOSOPHY. 269 
 
 I give you many Thanks for the Expla- 
 nations you favoured mc with, refpe(5ting the 
 Queries in my laft; they are very concluiive, 
 provided that it be ailov/ed that Mofes was 
 lb fi^r ignorant of Aflronomy as to be incapa- 
 ble of calculating the Eclipfes which had pre- 
 ceded his Time.— For though he is faid to 
 have been learned in all the Learning of the 
 Egyptians, who were at that Time the moil 
 learned People in the World : And though 
 the Ifraclites were originally from Chaldea, 
 (if I miflake not) who were the lirft People 
 who ftudied Aflronomy ; yet I am willing to 
 allow that neither of thole Nations were ca- 
 pable of calculating a Scries of Eclipfes for 
 two thoufand Years backwards. — The Con- 
 fequence is, that Mofes mull have wrote from 
 Infpiration, and that his Account is a true 
 one. — Yet if I had Lcifure, I Ihould like to 
 ftate fome Difficulties which arife from the 
 State which the Arts were certainly in, fome 
 hundred Years ago in China; the long Du- 
 ration of that Empire, (I do not mean their 
 fabulous one) and the numerous Strata of Lava 
 which are found one under another, to great 
 
 Depths
 
 270 07inatural FUILOSOFRY . Let. XIII. 
 
 Depths under the Earth, and which niufl: 
 have been vomited out many Ages before 
 hii]:oricaI Times; (perhaps before the In- 
 vention of Letters) and which would feem to 
 carry us back to Times long before Mofes's 
 Account of the Deluge. — But this I mud 
 leave to fome other Opportunity, having no 
 prefent Profped: of more Leifure than I have 
 now ; and I have had fo little lately, that 'tis 
 above a Fortnight fince I began this Letter, 
 and have hardly been able to write five Lines 
 at a Time ; fo that I fear you will find it a 
 very confufed and unconnedted one ; which I 
 trufi; you will excufe, as it arifes from a Wifh 
 to fhew the Senfe of your Favour, the firfi: 
 Moment it has been in my Power, rather 
 then defer it longer in order to write a more 
 corredl one. 
 
 / aniy 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour 'very obedient y 
 
 And obliged Servant ^ 
 J. HE AVI SIDE. 
 
 Prince's-Street, 
 hlay i6j 1785.
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 271 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE. Eso. 
 
 Mr. Heavifide s ^ere anfwered. — Calculations 
 of the Motions of the Heavenly Bodies de- 
 rnonjlrably true -y but the Principles of na- 
 tural Philofophy cannot be demonftrated with 
 that Clearnefs and Preci/ion as tho/e in AJiro- 
 tiomy. -'Three Principles of Matter.— Gravity 
 explained. — Cold and Hot Ether defcribed 
 according to Sir Ifaac Newton. — Centre of 
 Gv2iviiy fuppofed Jormerly to be placed in the 
 Centre of the Earth, but late Experiments 
 prove that Gravity does not tend to the Centre 
 of the Earthy but to the Superficies y and to 
 the Place where there is the great ejl expan- 
 five Heat. — Gravity proved to be increafed 
 or leJJ'ened in Proportion as Heat and Cold 
 prevail.' — The FrefTure of the Cold Ether or 
 Gravity aBs exaBly in the fame Proportion 
 on the Poles and the Equator, as the fphe- 
 roidical Shape of the terraqueous Globe Jhews 
 it does. —The Centre 0/ Gravity proved to be 
 near the Surface of the Earth, where every 
 Thing tends. 
 
 Dear
 
 272 On natural PHlLOSOf HY. T.ot. XtV. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 BY your laft Letter, we were forrj to he 
 informed that your Conllitutiori had 
 been fo much dilbrdered both in Health and 
 Spirits; but as you found Benefit from the 
 Change of the Weather from Cold to Warm, 
 we hope that the late fine Weather has made 
 a perfed; Cure. — I am afraid my long and te- 
 dious Letters difturb you, and put vou to 
 great Inconveniencies, both by reading and 
 writing Anfwers to them. — Notwithflanding 
 I imagine this to be the Cafe, I will trouble 
 you with One more ; as, what I am going to 
 obferve may, perhaps, appear fatisfa6lory to 
 fomey that the World was created at the Time 
 Mofes informs us it was. — There may be 
 others who imagine, or pretend to imagine, 
 that the World is eternal-, fuch Perfons, I 
 apprehend, neither mathematical Demon- 
 ftration, nor any Thing elfe will convince. 
 
 In your former Letter 'you fay, that not- 
 withftanding the Sun and Moon were in the 
 Places Mofes records them to have been at 
 
 the
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 273 
 
 the Time he mentions the Creation to have 
 happened ; yet, fay you, ** may there not 
 have been many Cycles before that Time ?" 
 And you obferve, that the Chinefe Hiilory 
 mikes that Empire to have been in Being 
 fome hundreds of Years before. — In Anfwer 
 to this I fhall again remark, that Hiftory, 
 without Chronology, is little better than a 
 Romance ; and there can be no Certainty 
 that Chronology is true, unlefs proved by 
 Aftronomy ; but when the Sun and Moon 
 give their Teftimony to it, there cannot re- 
 main a Doubt, they are two faithful Wit- 
 nelTes. 
 
 Now, Sir, as to this Queflion, I obferve, 
 that I never undertook to prove, by Mathe- 
 matical Demonftration, that there might not 
 have been a Series of Years before the Time 
 in which Mofes places the Creation. 
 
 To prove a Negative is always attended 
 
 with great Difficulty, and often impoffible ! 
 
 What I attempted was to try Mofes's Hiftory 
 
 and Chronology, by the Evidence of Aftio- 
 
 M m mony.
 
 274 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 nomy, and to examine whether the Sun and 
 Moon were in the fame Places in the Hea- 
 vens, as Mofes tells lis they were, at the Time 
 when the Creation happened; which your 
 aftronomical Friends allow I have done, — 
 This appears to me to be Evidence fufficient 
 to eftablifh any other Hiftory : If fo, why 
 fhould it not Mofes's Hiftory .? — And it is 
 not credible that he would have calculated 
 thofe Places of the Sun and Moon, two 
 thoufand Years before he was born, — If he 
 could not, and we find it in his Hiftory, it 
 muft be revealed from God, as he tells us it 
 was ! 
 
 As I obfcrved to you before, I aft'ume, 
 (from Mofes's Hiftory, and Dr. Bradley's 
 Obfervations) that the Moon was Full, and 
 iniier Node, A. I. P, 706, Oft. 24th Day, 
 loth Hour, 24th Minute, at Night, in the 
 Meridian of Greenwich Obfervatory; be- 
 tween that Time, and the Year 6490, which 
 is in Connedion with A. D. ^1783, when, 
 on a Wednefday Night, the third Year after 
 Bifl*extile, there happened an Eclipfe of the 
 
 Moon,
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 275 
 
 Moon, Sept. loth Day, 12th Hour, 40th 
 Minute. — Between thele two Points of Time 
 the Earth made 5789 Revolutions through 
 the Eciiptick, and was interfered in her 5790 
 Revolution, by the Moon, 12th Day, i6th 
 Hour, 14th Minute, before llie entered Li- 
 bra; during this Time fhe made 21 14741 
 Rotations round her Axis. — While the Earth 
 was performing thefe Rotations, the Moon 
 performed 71,612 fynodical Revolutions, and 
 interfe(5led the Earth as above. — Here we 
 have two Points of Solar Time, Od:, 25th 
 706, Julian 'Period, the Sun in Libra, and 
 Sept. 22d Day, i6th Hour, 54th Minute, 
 6490, L P. the Sun in Libra, meafured by 
 the Number of Rotations the Earth made 
 between them. — We have alfo Od:. 24th Day, 
 loth Flour, 24th Minute — 706, when the 
 Moon was in Oppolition to the Sun ; and 
 Sept. 10th Day, i6th Hour, 40th Minute, 
 6490, when the Moon was obferved to be in 
 her Node, and exactly oppofite to the Sun, 
 (by the Eclipfe which then happened.) — 
 T tw en thele two Points, the Time is mea- 
 ii / the Number of Rotations the Earth 
 
 has
 
 276 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 has made, witb as much Eafe, and as great an 
 Exa5i?2efSf as the Diilance between any two 
 Places are by a Surveyor's WheeL 
 
 Hence alfo by knowing the Quantity of 
 the Motion of 71,612 Lunations, we fhall 
 have the precife Length of Time of one Lu- 
 nation. — Here you have mathematical Preci- 
 Jionl As the Interval which lyes evenly be- 
 tween thofe two Points, is meafured by the 
 Number of Rotations the Earth has perform- 
 ed during that Time ; and alfo the Point of 
 Interfedlion where the Moon ends her 7 1 6 1 2 th 
 fynodical Revolution, meafured with the 
 fame Exadlnefs, and alfo the Diftance be- 
 tween that Point of Interfe<5lion, and that 
 other, when the Sun entered Libra.— Hence 
 I remark, that the Revolutions of the Moon, 
 when compared to thofe of the Earth, are fo 
 complicated, fo curious, various, and exad;, 
 that it requires 7,948,800 fynodical Revolu- 
 tions, which arc more than 600,000 Years 
 for Her to go through all her Variations, and 
 to caufe the Moment of her mean Oppofition 
 to fall again on the fame Point of the Equa- 
 tor,
 
 Let. XIV, a;i ?i^/«r^/ PHILOSOPHY. 277 
 
 tor, in the fame Meridian, on the fame Day 
 of the Week, and the fame Year of BifTex- 
 tile. ("^ — -This appears to me to be fafficient 
 Evidence, that the World was created at the 
 Time when Mofes informs us it was, and 
 that the Kiftory of the Duration of the Em- 
 pire of China is fabulous. 
 
 I have teafed you thus far on a Suhjed: 
 that muft appear dry to any one who does not 
 take a particular Pleafure therein -, with a De- 
 fire, (if it is not too troublcfome,) that you 
 would fliew it to thofe Gentlemen who join- 
 ed with you in Quering whether there might 
 not have been Solar Cycles before the Time 
 when Mofes places the Creation to have hap- 
 pened. 
 
 In Order to give you fome Satlsfadion for 
 this Trouble, I will promife that I will afk 
 no more fuch Favours ; for I am fatisfied, 
 the Trouble of perufmg and making Re- 
 marks thereon, mufl: be very vexatious to one 
 who has fo little Time to fpare. — If you 
 
 iliould 
 
 (a) Kennedy's Cliron, P. 196.
 
 278 On7iatural^KlLOSO?nY. Let. XIV. 
 
 fhould have an Opportunity of {hewing the 
 above to the Gentlemen who faw the other, 
 be pleafed to inform them, that the above 
 Calculations were made without Tables, Equa- 
 tions , or Anamolies, after a moft eafy and 
 fimple Manner; by the firll four Piules of 
 Arithmetic only. ^"^ 
 
 I obferved. to you in one of my Letters 
 fome Time ago, that as the firfl Principles 
 of natural Philofophy could not be demon- 
 ftrated with that Clearnefs and Precifion as 
 thofe of Aftronomy, I deferred entering up- 
 on them. — In Aftronomy we only calculate 
 and demonftrate the Phenomena of the Mo- 
 tions, which the Heavenly Bodies are known, 
 and obferved, to have. — Sir Ifaac Newton, in 
 his Philofophical Calculations, went no far- 
 ther than this, and therefore they are certainly 
 true: But if we Philofophize, or draw In- 
 ferences from them, we muft always take 
 Care that they flow eafily from, and are not 
 in the lead contradidory to the known Prin- 
 ciples of Matter. — Now, Sir, the following 
 
 are 
 
 (b> Introduftion, P. 8».
 
 Let. XIV. Oa natural PHILOSOPHY. 279 
 
 'are Principles cf Matter, which I believe are 
 allowed by all Philofophers, — ift, that Mat- 
 ter occupies Space, and has Refiftance. — 2d, 
 that no two Particles of Matter can occupy 
 the fame identical Space, at one and the fame 
 Time. — 3d, that it can only adl where it is 
 prefent, not the leaji Diflance from the Place 
 it occupies. 
 
 Now, I believe, you and I, and all Phi- 
 lofophers, have feen and obferved the EF- 
 FECTS which the Heavenly Bodies have on 
 each other, known by the Name of Gravity. 
 I endeavour to account fur thefe Effedis by 
 the Ethers, or the Matter which fills the 
 Heavenly Space, in the fame Manner as Sir 
 Ifaac Newton fuppofed, and confequently is 
 in Contact wi th them. ^^^ This is my Theory 
 and my Ideas of it. — Without this Ether 
 occupying the Space between them, I fhall 
 be glad to be informed how they a(ft on each 
 oth^r, in a Mechanical Way^ asd not by fay- 
 ing that Gravity is the Caufe of it -, which is 
 no more than faying that a Ship failed from 
 
 London 
 
 (c) Sec Let. IV. P. 162.
 
 28o On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 London to Plymouth, without telling us that 
 the Air was a continued Medium hetween 
 the two Places, and that a Current of that 
 Air or Wind carried her there. — Do vou 
 fuppofe that Gravity is (as it is often ex- 
 plained) fomethlng fuper added to Matter? If 
 fo, is it fpiritual or material ? If material, it 
 muft ad; according to the known Laws of 
 Matter.- — If you fay it is fpiritual, there muft 
 be an End of the Controverfy, for it is what 
 I don't underfland, and mud not pretend to 
 explain. — I fliould alfo be glad to be inform- 
 ed, that if the Motions of the Earth or Pla- 
 nets are occafioned from an original Impulfe 
 or trajeBile Force, hew this Force is continued 
 and fupported^ l"or if you allow Matter to 
 reach from the Planets to the Sun, and to 
 the End of this Syftem, it muft rejijiy and if 
 it refifts, it muft have taken oiF fuch a Quan- 
 tity of the trajedile Force, that they muft 
 have ftood ftiil Ages ago j when, in Fa6l, we 
 know their Motions are the fame they Were 
 feme thoufand Years ago. — Thefe are Diffi- 
 culties which I think will not be furmounted, 
 till we allow the Jirjl Agency in Matter to be 
 
 in
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 2Sl 
 
 in Fluids, and not in Solids, and the more 
 Subtile the Fluid, the greater the Agency. 
 
 In my laft Letter, when I mentioned the 
 different Modificatio is of Ether, I told you 
 th,t I ufcd Heat and Cold, (if poflible,) to 
 explain my Ideas of them, though I did not 
 think them proper ones, but I could find no 
 better ; but then I did not join the Ideas of 
 the Senfations which Heat and Cold have on 
 our Bodies, but pure elementary Heat and 
 Cold, fuch as may be obferved from the Ef- 
 feds of Lightning, and eled:ncal Experi- 
 ments. 
 
 Tht ft Ethers T endeavoured to explain by a 
 Quotation from Sir lliiac Newton, who calls 
 theni .>>/r/> and Light ; I there defired to be 
 ur.derttuc;a in the fame Manner whenever I 
 
 r -> ■ ie of them. ^^^ 
 
 T - 
 
 is Year's Philofophical Tranfadlions, 
 
 ic l-'.if >ry of Experiments made on 
 
 ence of Cold on the Earth, and, at 
 
 N n the 
 
 (d) Leuer IV. P. 163.
 
 282 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 the flime Time, at different Heights from it ; 
 which arc curious and worthy to be read : 
 The Gentleman that made them, (whofe 
 Name, if I remember right, is Cavendifh,) 
 obferves, that Cold is reflected, rifes or flies 
 off from the Earth, as well as Heat. — Ac- 
 cording to my Theory, both Heat and Cold 
 mufl be intercepted by the Earth, and be 
 refle6ted from it, by interrupting their Paf- 
 fage, whereby they are made to rebound from 
 it. 
 
 As you feemed to be puzzled by the Ufe I 
 made of Heat and Cold, snd that you under- 
 flood thereby, that I wanted to explode Gra- 
 vity -, I fhall therefore endeavour to explain 
 my Ideas of that Phenomenon of Nature, 
 which is certainly a juft and true one, and 
 not to be difputed ; therefore, I hope, you 
 will not imagine I wanted to explode it. — 
 My Defign is to clear it from fome Difficul- 
 ties attributed to it, and to elucidate its 
 Power. — In Order to do this, I fhall take the 
 immortal Newton for my Guide, who tells 
 
 us,
 
 Let. XIV, Oiinalural PHILOSOPHY. 283 
 
 us, ^^) " That the El&er which fills the 
 ** heavenly Spaces, is a Medium which pcr- 
 " vades all Bodies, and that there is no Va- 
 " cuum but what it fills ; that it readily per- 
 ** vades all Bodies ^ and by its elaftic Force, 
 ■ ' is expanded through the whole Heavens, 
 *' and that it may fiiffice to impel Bodies from 
 *' the denfer Parts of the Medium to the 
 *' Rarer, with all that Force or Impulfe which 
 " we call GRAVITY," (^^ He alfo defcribes 
 this Medium to adl with a two-fold ^ality, 
 which he calls Light and Spirit. — The one 
 expanding itfelf from the Sun, and the other 
 condenfing and preffing this expanded Etber 
 towards the Sun. — That thefe oppofite 
 Forces are carried on in a vibrating Manner, 
 being alternately in Fits of eafy Reflexion, 
 and eafy TranfmifTion. — In Order to fhew 
 the Place where the Centre of Gravity is 
 fuppofed to be, and hov/ it a6ts, I Ihall give 
 you the Defcription of it by Mr. Fergulon. 
 *' Bodies, fays he, are heavier near the Poles, 
 " than thofe towards the Equator, becaufc 
 ** they are nearer the Earth's Centre ^ where 
 
 ^^ the 
 
 ;e) Optkk, P. 323, 325.— (f) Letter IX. P. ^■f^.
 
 284 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 * the whole Force of the Earth's AttraBion 
 ' is accumulated. — Bodies carried from the 
 
 * Poles towards the Equator, gradually lofe 
 
 * their Weight. — Experiments prove that a 
 
 * Pendulum, which vibrates S.^conds near 
 
 * the Poles, vibrates flower near the Equa- 
 ' tor, which ihews us that it is lighter or 
 
 * lefs attracted there. — To make it ofcillate 
 
 * in the fame Time, it is found neceflary to 
 
 * diminifli its Length. — By comparii^g the 
 
 * different Lengths of Pendulums fwinging 
 
 * Seconds at the Equator, and at London^ 
 
 * it is found that a Pendulum mufl be 160 
 
 2 — 
 
 1 fOO 
 
 * Lines fhorter at the Equator than at the 
 
 * Poles." (s) It is alfo obferved that the cold 
 Ether at the Poles, gives 2l gravitating Power 
 to Bodies removed there from the Equate r, 
 
 nearly as 1 Does not this P'ad; fhew us 
 
 222 
 
 that the cold Ethers or, as Sir Ifaac Newton 
 calls it. Spirit, makes Bodies to gravitate, 
 and is the Caufe of Gravity as he fuppofed it 
 did ? Thus we find that the cold Ether prcfles 
 at each Pole, juft in the fame Proportion, 
 
 more 
 
 (g) Fergufon. P. 50, S. 117.
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 28.^ 
 
 more than the ^ot Ether at the Equator. 
 As the equatorial Diameter of the Earth ex- 
 ceeds t le p jlar D'nrpptpr in Meafure. — By 
 the Experiments of Mejfrs, Maupertids, &cc. 
 in the Years 1736 and 1737, the equatorial 
 Diameter of the Earth was found to be - '""^ 
 
 Miles more than the Polar, which is ' 
 
 nearly. 
 
 Hence it may be obferved, that the fphe- 
 roidal Shape of the Earth is exad;]y according 
 to Gravity or the ethereal Prejfure, — For the 
 cold Ether is found to prefs or make <?// Bo- 
 dies to increafe in Gravity there, juft by the 
 fame Proportion as the Equatorial Diameter 
 of the Earth is longer than the Polar. 
 
 Now, Sir, if the cold Ether gravitates in 
 that Proportion, more at the Poles than it 
 does at the Equator, the terraqueous Globe 
 muil be in the Shape it is found to be. — For 
 it is the Property of Fluids to move eafily in 
 every Diredion, and to acquire a uniform 
 Surface in Proportion to the Prcflure on it. 
 
 Thus
 
 286 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 Thus the Air is a fine elallick Fluid, fur- 
 rounding this terraqueous Globe, and is found 
 by Experience, to be compreiTed or condenfed 
 by Cold, and expanded or rarefied by Heat. 
 The Seas are a watery Fluid, giving Way to 
 Frefiure, and furround this Globe ; there- 
 fore if they are prefTed more at each Pole, oc- 
 caliuned by the Cold, than at the Equator, 
 where they are expanded by Heat, they muft 
 be in the fpheroidal Shape as _ i— nearly. 
 
 Having fhewn that the cold Fjher, prejfing 
 more at the Poles than at the Equator, is the 
 Caufe of the fpheroidal Form of the Earth, I 
 fliall endeavour to find, from Experiments 
 and the Phenomena of Nature, where the 
 Centre of Gravity is, or the Place where it 
 tends. 
 
 It was obferved in my lafl Letter, that Dr, 
 Halley, many Years ago, found that a Weight 
 dropped from above, does not defcend accord- 
 ing to the Perpendicular of that Place, but a 
 little to the Eaflward of the South, tending 
 to the Place on the Globe where the Rare- 
 
 fadion
 
 Let. :?^V. On natural PHILOSOPIIY. 287 
 
 fadtion is the greateft, and the Heat the 
 flrongeft. — The Tides at Newfoundland are 
 found to tend in the fame Manner a little to- 
 wards the Eaftward of the South. — In like 
 Manner later Experiments have proved, that 
 a Plumb Line placed on each Side of a Moun- 
 tain, will not defcend Perpendicular to the 
 Centre of the Earth, but, on both SideSy tends 
 towards the Mountain ; the Place where the 
 greateft Number of the Sun Beams are re- 
 medied, and where the Heat is the greatell:. 
 
 It has long been an Obfervation amongft 
 Sailors, that Gravity was loll: about Two 
 Hundred Fathoms under the Surface of the 
 Sea : That when they founded with a Line 
 longer than that, they could feel no EfFedt 
 from the Weight, let it be ever fo great -, 
 and by a late Experiment it has been found, 
 that if you fufpend a Pound Weight at one 
 End of the Scale Beam, and at the other 
 End hang another Pound Weight, by a fine 
 String, over a Shaft or Mine, and let it de- 
 fcend gently below the Surface of the Earth; 
 it lofes Part of its Gravity as it defcends, 
 
 till
 
 288 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XTV. 
 
 till it comes to Nothing ; and the Weight 
 muft be lefTened in that Scale above Ground 
 continualy, to make an Fquipoize,— From 
 the fame Caufe it is found by Experience, 
 that Candles will not burn but about "■ wo 
 Hundred Fathoms under the Earth's Surface. 
 
 The above Experiments (hew us, that the 
 Force of Gravity does not tend to the Centre 
 of the Earth, as has been imagined, but to 
 the Place where the expanfive Force ajtd Rare- 
 faction frojn Heat, are the greatefl — Thus, 
 where the Sun Beams are mod reflected, and 
 their expanfive Force the greateft, there the 
 Preffure of the cold Ether or Gravity will 
 tend. — They alfo fliew us the Reafon of the 
 fpheroidal Form of this terraqueous Globe, 
 and why the Waters or Tides are always flow- 
 ing from e:ich Pole, towards the Equator. — 
 Hence it may be obferved, that Heat and 
 Cold are the Caufes of Gravity and Levity ; 
 Heat enters, projed:s, and expands the Parts 
 of Bodies, and makes them fpecincally lighter. 
 On the contrary. Cold prelfes them clofer to- 
 gether, and increafcs their AttraBioii of Co- 
 
 hefon.
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 289 
 
 he/ion^ and adds to them Gravity, — Do not 
 the above Experiments (hew us the Caiife of 
 Gravity^ and how it afts ? — Thus, Sir, you 
 may obferve it is not my Defign to deprive 
 Gravity of any of its Powers, I only mran to 
 endeavour to point out the Caufe of that 
 Phenomenon, 
 
 From what has been ob{erved, it appears, 
 that as Heat is the Caufe of Projection and 
 Expanlion, fo Cold is the Caufe of Com- 
 prcifion and Gravity : That thele two Ethers 
 are in a continual Conflid: or Vibration ; each 
 endeavouring to joftle the other out of its 
 Place. 
 
 You alfo imagine that Denjity and Gravity 
 were fynonimous Terms. The Ideas I ufed 
 them for is quite oppofite : I fuppofe Gra- 
 vity an Agency, forcing every Thing towards 
 the body or Place to which it gravitates : 
 On the contrary, I fuppofe the Denfity of the 
 Medium between two Bodies, the Refifting 
 Quality. — 1 never did or ever will make Ob- 
 jections to Author's Terms, fo he does but 
 O o explain
 
 290 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XIV. 
 
 explain what he means by them. — The Earth 
 cannot fly off in a Tangent, no more than a 
 Balloon can fly into the Sun. The Earth is 
 placed in 2iMedlumy (furrounding the Sun,) of 
 the fame Specifick Gravity with it, therefore 
 it cannot depart from, or approach nearer 
 to the Sun, than that Medium reaches, in 
 the fame Manner as a Balloon or a Cloud ; it 
 muft continue at the fame Diftancc from 
 the Earth, unlefs its fpecific Gravity is altered, 
 by throwing out Ballafl:, or letting out fomc 
 of the light inflammable Air. — By thefe 
 Adions the Balloon will either rife or fall, 
 as its fpecific Gravity is leflened (in Propor- 
 tion to the Atmofpherc) by throwing out 
 Ballaft ; or its gravitating Quality is increafed, 
 by letting out inflammable Air. — Hence, 
 as you jufl:ly obferve. Heat and Cold arc 
 relative Terms, as all Parts of Matter are to 
 each other. 
 
 I return you many Thanks for the Trouble 
 you have taken, in Order to get the Expe- 
 riments on the Barometer tried, in fome of 
 our deep Coal Pits ; I wifh you had joined 
 
 the
 
 Let. XIV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 291 
 
 the Thermometer with it. — I am much fur- 
 prifed they have never yet been tried, as we 
 live in an experimental Age. 
 
 lam. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 lFif& great KefpeSl, 
 
 Tour obliged humble Servant, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 
 Junt 18, 1785, 
 
 To
 
 292 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XV. 
 
 To F. PENROSE, Esq. 
 
 Stafe of the Sciences about two thoufand Tears 
 ago. — T^hejormer ^ery repeated: ** If the 
 Earth, &c. were Jirjl put in Motion by the 
 Heat of the Sun, rarefying the Atmofphere 
 between thefe Bodies, why did not the Earth 
 immediately gravitate into the Sun f-^Muft 
 not a trajeSiile Force have been at frjl ne- 
 cejfary to caufe its annual Orbit T* 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 '/ I ^ I S now above ten Weeks fince I was 
 X favoured with your laft; a flmmeful 
 Time I confefs ! And yet I wifh thai 1 had 
 not fo good Reafons to give for my feeming 
 Negligence. — The Illnefs of a particular 
 Friend confined me here in Town, during all 
 the hot Weather, till near the Middle of 
 Auguft; by which I was reduced to fuch 
 Weaknefs and Langour, that I could neither 
 write, or do any Thing clfe ; and if my Con- 
 finement here had continued much longer, I 
 could not have fupported it j for never having 
 
 got
 
 Let. XV, On natural PHILOSOPHY. 293 
 
 got rid of the Illnefs I had laft Autumn, the 
 clofe warm Air of this Town, for fo long a 
 Time, quite overfet me ; fo that when I was 
 at Liberty to get out of Town for a few 
 Days, I was not able to ride on Horfe-back 
 more than fix or eight Miles at a Time ; nor 
 have yet been able to ride from hence to Pot- 
 terels, without taking a Pofl-Chaife at Barnet, 
 Afc»out three Weeks ago I fet out, (but in a 
 (ingle Horfe Chaife,) on a little Ramble thro' 
 Norfolk and SufFclk, which has done me a 
 great deal of good, and enabled me to ven- 
 ture on a little Sea- Bathing, fo that I Ihall 
 fet out for Margate to-morrow Morning, 
 where I hope to recover fome Part, at leaft, 
 of the Strength I have loft. — However, my 
 own Illnefs has not been the fole Caufe of 
 my having fo long deferred to thank you for 
 your lafl: obliging Letter. 
 
 Since I was favoured with your laft, I have 
 had no Opportunity to fee any of my Mathe- 
 matical PVitnds, they having left Town long 
 ago ; I muft therefore wait for their Opinion 
 till Winter brings them back again ; confe- 
 
 quently
 
 294 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XV- 
 
 quently I can only give you a few of my own 
 trivial Remarks upon it. 
 
 Firft then, I entirely afTent to what you 
 fay, as to the Time of our Saviour's Birth, 
 stdly, I think there is very great Probability 
 that you have alfo fixed the Creation of the 
 World rightly, and proved that the Mofaic 
 Hiftory is true, — I fay, very great Probabi- 
 lityy becaufe it is flill pojjibhy that the World 
 may have exifted 600,000 Years, which you 
 fay it would require to complcat all thofe va- 
 rious Revolutions among the Heavenly Bo- 
 dies, which arc nccefiary to bring them again 
 into the identical Situation they muft have 
 been in at the Time of the Creation. — What 
 ftrongly induces mc to believe the World 
 cannot have exifted fo long, is, the very low 
 State that all the Arts and Sciences, (parti- 
 cularly the former) are well known to have 
 been in 2000 Years ago : Aftronomy being 
 almoft the only Science that feems to have 
 been cultivated prior to that Period. — Indeed 
 about that Time the Mathematicks and Me- 
 chanicks fecm to have made a prodigious Pro- 
 
 grefs
 
 Let. XV. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 295 
 
 grefs under Archimedes ; but I think it ap- 
 pears that they were not generally underftood, 
 for tis plain the Romans were totally igno- 
 rant of them. 
 
 Another Proof, I think, is the total Want 
 of Civilization among Mankind, at that Pe- 
 riod; a very few Nations (if any) perhaps 
 excepted. — So that you fee I am far from 
 objeding to your Opinions, though I am 
 forced to draw my Reafons for approving 
 them, from other Fountains than you do, 
 and by no Means fo good ones. — I am not fo 
 perfe6ily well fatisficd with your Natural Phi- 
 lofophy, though I acknowledge that you 
 Support your Ideas well ; but being now up- 
 on the Wing, I have not Time to ftate and 
 explain my Objed:ions io thoroughly as I 
 wifli to do. 
 
 In the firft Place give me Leave to obferve, 
 that you have given me no Anfwer to the 
 Query I put in my laft, viz. That if the 
 Earth, &c. were firft put in Motion by the 
 Heat of the Sun rai efying the Atmofphere 
 
 between
 
 296 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XV. 
 
 between thefe Bodies, why did the Rarth not 
 immediately gravitate and lalJ in:© the Sun, 
 as the Medium between them muft have been 
 much more rarefied then it could be any 
 where elfe, or in the Courfe they took ? And 
 if fo, muft not a trajedile Force have been 
 at firft neceffary to caufe its annual Orbit ? 
 For I will allow that the Sun's Heat might 
 caufe the diurnal Motion, as you explain it 
 in your former Letter, provided t&at Heat 
 did not caufe the Earth to fall directly into 
 the Sun, as I faid above. 
 
 You did not rightly apprehend my Mean- 
 ing, I fee, when I faid that Gravity and 
 Denlity were fynonimous Terms ; I only 
 meant that Bodies gravitated through any 
 Medium, in Proportion to the Denfity or 
 Clofenefs of the Matter of which they arc 
 compofed ; as that a Pound of Lead will gra- 
 vitate fooner than a Pound of Feathers, and 
 fo forth ; but did not apply it to the Me- 
 dium through which they were to fall, for 
 t^at will certainly obftrudt the fall of both, 
 in Proportion to its Denfity, and the Bu/k of 
 the falling Bodies, After
 
 Let. XV. On natural FKILOSOFKY, 297 
 
 After all, I fancy that I do not fully com- 
 prehend your Ideas of Heat and Cold, as to 
 the Degrees and Situations of them. — I know 
 that you fuppofe that the greateft Degree of 
 the former is on the Surface of the Earth ; 
 in which you, no Doubt, are perfedly right : 
 Acii it juft now occurs to me that you drop- 
 ped a Hint one Day at Hatfield, (which you 
 did not purfue, or farther explain;) that you 
 did not know but all the fuperior Regions of 
 the Air were perfect Ice. — If I am right in 
 this, perhaps fome Conclufions may be drawn 
 from this Coldncfs in the Upper Regions, in 
 Anfwer to my Query 3 but I have not now 
 Time to confider them properly, as the Time 
 of fending to the Poft is now at Hand, for 
 Letters muil, by the laft Regulations, be 
 {<:nt to the receiving Houfes by Five o'Clock, 
 which is very inconvenient. — However, I 
 cannot at prefent fee how this Coldnefs a- 
 bove can prevent the Defcent of the Earth 
 to the bun ; bccaufe the Air being rarefied 
 near its Surface, would move that Way 3 and 
 s it advanced further and further, would 
 rry the fame Degree of Heat before it, till 
 
 pp it
 
 298 Onnatural ?lllLOSO?HY. Let. XV. 
 
 it arrived at the Source of Heat, the Sun. — 
 I write this, (efpecially the latter Part,) in 
 great Hurry, and therefore hope you will al- 
 low for the Imperfedlions of all Kinds ; but 
 I would not go again from Town without 
 telling you how much I think myfelf obliged 
 to you for the Trouble you take in anfwering 
 my idle Queries 5 and afluring you, that your 
 Letters give me infinite Pleafure ; I there- 
 fore hope you will never erTtertain an Idea 
 that they can be too long. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour much obliged. 
 
 And very humble Servant, 
 J. HEAVISIDE. 
 
 Prince's-Street, 
 Sept, 12, 1785.
 
 Let. XVI. Onnatiiral PHILOSOPHY, 299 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE. Esq. 
 
 Heat and Cold Ether frft Agents, according to 
 Sir Ilaac Newton, Boerhaave, 6fr,— - /«- 
 ternal Make of this terraqueous Globe de- 
 fcribed. — - The Thicknefs of the Shell of 
 Earth.'— 'The confu/ed Appearances on this 
 terraqueous Globe, prove that it has under* 
 gone /ome tremendous Convulfons from with- 
 in, and that the earthly Shell has been burjl 
 into Millions of Pieces. — Earthquakes exa^ 
 mined, and their EffeBs defcribed. — Thefe 
 EffeSfs occajioned by Fire. — The Cau/es of 
 Earthquakes explained^ — which prove that 
 there is an immenfe ^antity of Fire within 
 the Earth. — The above Account agreeable 
 with what is given in the Scriptures. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 IVv^AS forry to be informed by your laft 
 Letter, that you had been fo ill, but was 
 glad to find you had nearly got the better of 
 it; I hope the Sea Bathing will perfectly re- 
 flore you to your former State of Health, 
 
 As
 
 30O On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XV L 
 
 As you obferve, I did not perfecflly ex- 
 plain myfelf, with Regard to all the Motions 
 of the Earth. —It will reqaire a long Tetter 
 or two to do it ; but as you defir*^ it, you 
 mud thank yourfelf for the Trouble they 
 will give you. — ^You want in particular tu be 
 informed, *' why, according to my Expla- 
 ** nation, the Earth does not proceed in a 
 ** ftrait Line to the Sun, &c." — And you 
 fay that Heat and Cold are relative Terms. — • 
 They certainly are, with Regard to that Ef- 
 fe(5t on our Senfes ; but when we mean by 
 them Sir Ifaac Newton's Ethereal Medium, 
 Light and Spirit. ^^^ We mean firfl Agents, 
 which, according to his Definition of them, 
 ** fill all the Space between the Sun and Sa- 
 ** turn, and beyond; that it is rarer at the 
 ** Sun, than in the celeftial Spaces, and 
 ** rarer there than at Saturn, and beyond ; 
 ** and may impel Bodies from the denkr 
 ** Parts of the Medium, towards the rarer, 
 " with that Force we call Gravity." — This 
 compreffing Agent he calls ** Spirit or Weight ; 
 ** which, fays he, may condenfe thofc Va- 
 
 " pours 
 
 (h) See Letter IV. P. 163.
 
 Let. XVI. 0;rn^^ur^/ PHILOSOPHY. 301 
 
 " pours and Exhalations afcending from the 
 ** Sun, and make them fall back into him 
 ** again, and by that Adlion increafe his 
 ** Heat, after the fame Manner as it increafes 
 " a culinary Fire." — Hence it may be ob- 
 ferved, that Sir Ifaac Newton fuppofes a Cir- 
 culation from the Sun, to the Extremities of 
 the Syftem, by two vibrating Agents. — ^he 
 "Eithers j— the one, going out, iffuing from the 
 Sun, in Form of Lights and the other re- 
 tur -ing in Form of Spirit. — And, as was be- 
 fore obferved, Boerhaave has proved by the 
 heating and cooling of an Iron Bar, &c thqt 
 Heat is the firft Agent or Mover, and Cold 
 the Compreffor, Contractor, or Gravitator.^ 
 But before I explain myfelf any farther, it 
 will be neceflary to get the heft Information 
 we can, concerning the internal Make and 
 Contents of this terraqueous Globe : This 
 appears to be a difficult Tafk ! and if you re- 
 member, when we firfl entered on thefe Dif- 
 quifitions, I entered the following Caveat, 
 **viz. ^'^ ** That there may be fomevfrrj;^^ in 
 the Mechanifm of Nature, that may be be- 
 yond 
 
 (i) Letttr IX. P. 224,
 
 302 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVL 
 
 yond our Power to explain ;" for it cannot be 
 thought that we can give a mechanical Solu- 
 tion of all its Operations. — However, I ihall 
 not J20W take any Advantage from it, but en- 
 deavour to anfwer your Queftions in the 
 clearefl Manner I can. 
 
 It is related in the Hiftory of the Deluge, 
 that the Waters were fifteen Cubits above 
 the higheft HiDs j and that there was an Ex- 
 panfion in the M^dj? of the terraqueous 
 Globe ; and that the Flood was occalioned 
 by the Waters proceeding through the Foun- 
 tains and Openings from the great Deep. — 
 After the Waters had prevailed the Time 
 God appointed them, he caufed a Wmd or 
 Spirit to force them back again from whence 
 they proceeded, whereby the Earth became 
 Dry. And Job tells us, W that God had 
 made the Spirit the Inftrument of Gravity. 
 
 Now in Order to conjedure the Thicknefs 
 of the earthy Shell, we will allow, three 
 Miles above the Earth (which, is generally 
 
 reckoned) 
 
 (k) Job XXVIII. 25.
 
 Let. XVI. On natural PHILOSOPHY, 303 
 
 reckoned) to be the Meafure of the highefl 
 Mountains; four Miles for the Thicknels of 
 the earthy Shell, and other three Miies for 
 the Waters within the Shell ; all this will be 
 but ten Miles. — But what will ten Miles be 
 to nearly 4000, the fuppofed Number of 
 Miles from the Surface to the Centre.' — This 
 is but as one to 400, which will be as thin a 
 Shell or Covering, in Proportion, as what is 
 made ufe of to cover a Balloon, 
 
 It feems reafonable to conjedlure, (as an 
 ingenious Author has obferved,) from the 
 natural Appearances of this terraqueous Globe, 
 that it has been burft to Pieces by an ex- 
 pan five Steam from within ; for we oblerve 
 on it Mountains, broken Clifts, craggy 
 Rocks, angular and impending Shores, fub- 
 terraneous Caverns ; together with a vaft Va- 
 riety of FifTures, Cracks, 6cc.— All thcfe are 
 particularly to be obferved in the Marble or 
 Lime Stone about Plymouth ! — And, fays 
 this Author, that ** without farther Inquiry, 
 ** thefe romantic Appearances are not the 
 ** EffeA of a regular, uniform Law, but of 
 
 ** fome
 
 304 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVL 
 
 *' fome tremendous Convulfions, which have 
 '* burft its Stratay and thrown their Frag- 
 '* ments into all this Confulion and Diforder : 
 ** Nay, fays he, the very Reprefentation of 
 *' Sea and Land, upon a Geographical Chart, 
 ** fcems alone fufficient to eftablifh the Truth 
 ** of fuch a Conjed:urc.— The Mountains in 
 ** Derbyftiire, and the Moorlands in Staf- 
 ** fordfliire, appear to be fo many Heaps of 
 ** Ruins : — The Strata lye in the utmoll 
 " Confufion and Diforder ; broken, dillo- 
 ** cated, and thrown into all Dired:ions; 
 ** and their interior Parts are no lefs rude 
 *' and Ton\7in\.\c, full of fubterraneous Caverns, 
 *' with every pofTible Mark of univerfal Vio- 
 ** lence — Alfo Blocks of Stone fcattered over 
 " the Surface of mountaneous Countries, 
 ** and blended with Soils to very confiderable 
 ** Depths, as if they had been originally 
 *' ejected from their native Beds, by fubter- 
 **■ raneous B lofts, as Stones from Vefuvious 
 "andiEtna. ^^^ 
 
 ** The Fragments near the native Beds are 
 
 «♦ too 
 
 (1) Whithuift, P. 21.
 
 Let. XVI. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 305 
 
 '* too numerous and mafTy for the Hand of 
 ** Man to have placed theni there, and are in 
 " as much Diforder as Stones cafually thrown 
 *' together. — The Banks on the Eaft Side of 
 ** the River Derwent, from Crick Clift, for 
 ** twenty Miles up the River, are thus co- 
 ** vered; and the fame may be faid of many 
 *• other Mountains in Derbyfhire and Staf- 
 ** ford ill ire. 
 
 ** Thefe Stones lying fo near their original 
 ** Stratum, we may eafily fatisfy ourfelves 
 ** that they are detached Parts thereof; and 
 ** by Analogy, the more diftant Fragments 
 *' may be afcertained with equal Certainty, 
 ** though at the Diftance of ten or twelve 
 *' Miles. 
 
 " In the Neighbourhood of Utoxeter, in 
 " StafFordfhire, Blocks of Lime Stone are 
 *' frequently dug up, of four or five Hundred 
 *' Weight each; and yet there are no Quar- 
 ** ries of the fame Kind nearer than four or 
 '' five Miles. 
 
 Q^q ** Fragments
 
 3o6 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVI. 
 
 ** Fragments of Stone, perfectly analogous 
 " to the former, were dug up at Etwall, in 
 " Derby flnre, — A Well being funk to the 
 ** Depth of eleven Yards, many of thefe 
 ** Stones were found, intermixed with other 
 *' adventitious Bodies , from the Surface of 
 " the Earth, to that Depth ; fome of them 
 ** were fix or eight Pounds Weight, and 
 ** fome fmaller.^ — Now although Etwall can- 
 *' not be lefs than fifteen or twenty Miles 
 " from any known Quarry of the fame Kind^ 
 ** we cannot help concluding, that they were 
 ''originally ejed:ed to thatDiftance; fince 
 ** fuch Eifedls are frequently produced on 
 " fubterraneous Explofions." ^'"^ 
 
 The above accurate Defcription of the na- 
 tural Phenomena of this terraqueous Globe, 
 (as the Author obferves,) appears to be Evi- 
 dence, that the Shell of the Earth was burfl 
 and broken into Millions of Pieces, by an 
 expanfive Explofion from within ; and thefe 
 Pieces could not poffibly fall together again 
 into their primitive Order and Regularity, 
 but mull leave an infinite Number of Ca- 
 verns, 
 
 (m) Whitehuift, P, ji3.
 
 Let. XVI, On natural PHILOSOPHY. 307 
 
 verns, many Miles, probably many Hundreds 
 of Miles in Length, below the Surface; and 
 I think we may juftiy conclude, that this 
 happened at the Reformation after Noah's 
 FJood. — Now in Order to fliew that there 
 flill remains a violent expanfive Force, oc- 
 calioncd from the internal Fire, I fliall give 
 an Account of the moft remarkable Pheno- 
 mena of late Earthquakes, from the above 
 Author. 
 
 At the Earthquake at Lifbon, which hap- 
 pened Nov. I, 1755, ** The Mountains of 
 *' Arrabida, Eftretta, Julio, Marvan, and 
 ** Cintra, being fome of the largeft in Por- 
 " tugal, were impetuoufly fhaken to their 
 *' very Foundations, and fome of them open- 
 ** ed their Summits, fpiit and rent in a wond- 
 *' erful Manner, and huge MalTes of them 
 *' were thrown down into the adjacent Val- 
 ** lies. (""^ This Earthquake was more dread- 
 " ful in Barbary than at Portugal ; at Me- 
 ** quinez, that Part of the City where the 
 *' Jews refided, was entirely fwallowed up.— 
 
 ** The 
 
 (n) Hift, and Phil. Earth, P, 317.
 
 3o8 Onnacural?mLOSO?HY. Let. XVI. 
 
 ** The Mountains were fo ftrangely torn, 
 " that they feemed to be different Shapes 
 '* now from what they were.— A large Moun- 
 *' tain near Portmorant, near a Day's Jour- 
 *' ney over, is faid to be quite fwallowed up; 
 '' and in the Place where it ftood, there is 
 '* now a great Lake, of four or five Leagues 
 *' over. ^"^ In this memorable Earthquake at 
 ** Lifbon, not only the Sea, but Lakes and 
 " Ponds were violently agitated all over 
 " Europe.— Now as Mr. Whitehurjl obferves, 
 ** as one of the Properties of the Steam is 
 ** Condenfation by a fmall Degree of CoU, 
 *' the farnc Degree of cxpanfive Force, can 
 ** only exift during the fame Degree of Heat, 
 ** therefore the incumbent Weight cannot 
 *' become elevated to any greater Diftance 
 ** than the fubterranean Fire is continued. — 
 ** But on Nov. I, 1755, the Waters were 
 *' agitated through an extenfive Country, not 
 " lefs than 3000 Miles -, fo that the Steam 
 *' mull be in one continued Body thus far."^P^ 
 
 Mr. Hook, in his Pofthumous Works, P. 
 
 302, 
 
 (o) Philof. Tranfaa. Low. Abrid. Vol. II. P. 417. (p) Whitehurft, P. 94.
 
 Let. XVI. Oh natural PHILOSOPHY. 309 
 
 302, informs us, ** That from Sept. 24, to 
 ** Od:. 9, 1650, the Ifland of Santitirum 
 *■ was dreadfully fhaken with. Earthquakes, 
 ** but the People were more amazed to fee a 
 ** horrid Eruption of Fire break out at the 
 " Bottom of the Sea ; — previous to the Ap- 
 ** pearance of Fire, the Water was confider- 
 " ably elevated in that Place, and the Wave 
 ** fpread itfelf round every Way ; overturn- 
 ** ing every Thing it met, deflroying Ships 
 ** and Gallies, in the Harbour of Candia, 
 *' which was eight Miles diftant. ^"^ 
 
 ** The Earthquake filled the Air with 
 ** Alhes, and horrible fulphurous Vapours, 
 *' and dreadful Lightnings and Thunder fuc- 
 *' ceeded,— All Things in the Ifland were 
 ** covered with a yellow, fulphurous Crufl; 
 ** Multitudes of Pumice and other Stones, 
 ** were thrown up, and carried as far as Con- 
 ** ftantinople, and to Places at a great Diflance. 
 
 ** Nov, 20, 1720, a fubterraneous Fire 
 ** burfl out of the Sea, near Tarcara, one of 
 
 *' the 
 
 (q) Whitchuvft: P. 64.
 
 310 Onnatural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVL 
 
 " the Azores, which threw up fuch a vaft 
 *' Quantity of Stones in the Space of thirty 
 ** Days, as formed an Illand about two 
 *' Leagues Diameter, and searly round. 
 
 *' In the Year 1767, a folid Stone, meafur- 
 ** ing twelve Feet in Height, and forty -five 
 ** in Circu7nference, was thrown a Quarter of 
 ** a iVIile from Vefuvius.'* 
 
 Now, Sir, in Order to confirm my Theory, 
 I have extracted fome Obfervations from Mr. 
 Whitehurft\ State and Formation of the Earth, 
 (the Book which you were fo kind as to fend 
 me lately, as a Prefent,) he appears to me to 
 be a diligent Inquirer into the component 
 Parts of this terraqueous Globe, and a faith- 
 ful Relater of the Obfervations he made him- 
 felf, or received from others. — I ihall there- 
 fore take his Advice, and follow his Exam- 
 ple, viz. *' "Not to fnd Faults with other 
 Syjiems -, but to avail myfelf of fuch Parts of 
 the7n as are applicable to my own Defgn,'' but 
 mufl beg Leave to differ from him in Defign-, 
 for he tells us, ** That hiti Inquiry was after 
 
 " the
 
 Let. XVI. O/zw^^wr^/ PHILOSOPHY. 311 
 
 ** the Laws by which the Creator chofe to 
 ** form the World, and that the only natural 
 ** Datum required, was the oblvUe, fpheroidal 
 ** Form of the Earth." — My Defign is to en- 
 quire after, and point out, the phyfical 
 Caufes, how one Part of Matter, adts by 
 mechanical Laws y on another. 
 
 From the above Obfervations we may na- 
 turally conclude, that all the apparent Con- 
 fufion and Diforder of the Strata, are un- 
 doubtedly Convullions and EfFed:s occalioned 
 by FIRE, and fiery Vapours continued with* 
 in this terraqueous Globe, — But when we 
 compare thefe tremendous Operations of 
 Earthquakes, with thofe which the Earth 
 underwent at the Deluge, when the Alps, 
 the Andes, &c. were formed, it will hardly 
 bear a Comparifon. 
 
 Hence, as M.^ .Whitehurji obferves, ^"^ ** their 
 *' Effeds leave no Room to doubt the Exijl- 
 " e7ice, Force, and Immenjity q^ fubterraneous 
 *' Fires; not onlv under the Bottom of the 
 
 " Ocean, 
 
 (r) P. 84.
 
 312 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVI. 
 
 ** Ocean, but likewife unJer Mountains, Con- 
 *' tinejits, &c. in ail Parts oj the World,'' 
 
 Thus, if the expanfive Power, (within 
 this terraqueous Globe, which is occafioned 
 by Fire ailing in the fame Manner as has 
 been obferved,) is continually increaling, it 
 will gradually become equal to the incum- 
 bent Weight or Bond which furrounds it^ 
 thefe fame Caufes flill continuing, they will 
 become fuperior to the PrefTure of Gravity 
 from without : — It will then, by Degrees, 
 expand and diftend the incumbent Strata, 
 and caufe an Earthquake, and find a Vent to 
 mix itfelf with the furrounding Airs without. 
 After this, the Fire and Steam from within 
 the Globe, having expanded themfelves, and 
 being mixed with the Atmofphere, (which 
 they will foon do ;) the Gravity and PrefTure 
 from without, will again take Place, and 
 cofnprefs ■Sind force the Parts of the terraque- 
 ous Globe towards the Centre, with the fame 
 Power it did before this Phenotnenon happened. 
 But fince the aftonifliing Cataftrophe at the 
 Deluge, which made fuch Alterations in the 
 
 terreftrial
 
 Let. XVI. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 313 
 
 terreftrial Globe, it cannot now be afFeded 
 to Co great a Degree as it was then : — For by 
 the confufed Manner the Fragments were 
 forced back again into the great Deep, Moun- 
 tains were formed, which we may conjedlure 
 to be nearly equal in Height to the whole 
 Thicknefs of the earthy Shell ; and, it is pro- 
 bable, that fome of thefe huge Fragments 
 may reach as much below the Deep, or Wa- 
 ters within the earthy Shell, as the Hills and 
 Mountains do on the Outiide; and as is ob- 
 ferved, have left innumerable and large Ca- 
 verns and FifTures, which reach from the 
 fiery Expanfion within, to the Tops of our 
 higheft Mountains without; where many of 
 them, in different Parts of the World, have 
 Vulcanos on their Tops, *and therefrom dif- 
 charge their Juperjluous Fire, as Occafion may 
 require. — By thefe Vents, whenever the in- 
 ternal Exoaniion is arrived to a Strength 
 fuilicient to overcome the outward Preffure, 
 it forces itfelf up through thefe Vents, and 
 expands itfelf into the common Atmofphere 
 wiUiout; but if it happens to make its Way 
 iiuo any of thofe Caverns, that have not the 
 R r aforefaid
 
 314 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVL 
 
 aforcfaid Vent', it there diftends the incum- 
 bent Stratdy and forms Earthquakes; and 
 after it has found a PaiTage into the Atmo- 
 fphere without, thefe Fragments are again 
 forced together as before, but in a confufed 
 Order. — Hence it may be obfervcd, that as 
 foon as it arrives at a certain P'orce, it then 
 fpreads itfelf, and the Equilibrium is again re- 
 ftored. 
 
 Thu?, as has been remarked, there will be 
 left an internal Void of Space nearly 8000 
 Miles Diameter; which, from the above ()b- 
 fervations, may be fuppofed to contain Fire 
 and inflammable Air, and Steam. — Hence, 
 this terraqueous Globe will be of no greater 
 Specijick Gravity than the Ethers wherein it 
 is placed ; and that this is fo, is confirmed 
 by the Alterations made on the Flux and^ 
 Reflux of the Sea into the Abyfs ; and this 
 only by the Moon's intercepting the Preflure 
 from the Extremities ; fo that this terraque- 
 ous Globe will be carried round the Sun, 
 (and not fall into it) in the fame Manner as 
 Clouds, or in particular a Balloon, which is 
 
 kept
 
 Let. XVI. On w^ftir^/ PHILOSOPHY. 315 
 
 kept fufpended at fuch a particular Diftance 
 from the Earth, viz, till its Specifick Gravity 
 is altered, either by throwing out Ballaft, to 
 lelTen that Gravity, and make it afcend higher, 
 or by letting out fome of the inflrrmnnable 
 Air, and thereby increafing its Gravity. — If 
 neither of thefe are done, or happens, by Ac- 
 cident or otherwife, the Balloon will continue 
 at the fame Height from the Earth, and be 
 carried by the Current of Air wherein it 
 fwims, either North, South, Eaft, or Weft; 
 as that Current goes. — Heat and Cold are 
 now allowed by all to be the Caufe of the 
 Current of Air we call Wind ! — And what is 
 very remarkable, the Perfon therein, let him 
 be carried ever fo fall:, feels very little Effed: 
 from it. 
 
 Now it may be afked how is this Fire fup- 
 ported .'' If it does not receive fome Pabulum^ 
 it muft lofe its Strength ! — Certainly ! — ijut 
 it receives this Support by Circulation from 
 without ; as the Sun does by the cold Ether 
 prelTing into it from the Extremities of the 
 Syflem. — For the expanfive Power from 
 
 within
 
 3i6 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVL 
 
 within the Shell of the Earth, may be ob- 
 ferved to be in an exad: Equilibrium with the 
 compreffive Power without. — For it has been 
 often obferved by Navigators, that at parti- 
 cular Places in the Ocean, there are certain 
 Gulfs by which the Sea communicates wi:h 
 the great Deep below the Earth, particularly 
 that Whirpool called MaeJJlroom, or Navel of 
 the Sea, upon the Coaft of Norway, where, 
 fays Gordon, in his Geographical Grammar, 
 ** The Sea, for upwards of two Leagues round, 
 ** makes fuch a terrible Vortix, that the Force 
 *' and Indraught of the Water, together with 
 *' the Noife snd Tumbling of the Vv^aves upon 
 ** one another, is rather, to be admired than 
 *' exprelTed. — But, as in the Time of Flood, 
 *' the Water is drawn in with a mighty 
 "Force, fo during the Time of Ebb, does 
 ** it throw out the Sea with fuch Violence, 
 ** that the heavieft Bodies then call into it, 
 *' cannot fink, but are tofied back again by 
 " the impetuous Stream which rufheth out 
 " with incredible Force." — Hence may be 
 obferved, that there is a continual Circulation, 
 or alternate Flux and Reflux, between the 
 
 Seas,
 
 Let. XVI. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 317 
 
 Ser.s, without the earthy Shcii, and the y^fyjs 
 within; and that the expanjlve Fon c within 
 is in fo exad: an Eqmiibrii,7fi with the Com- 
 frej/ion without, that no greater Force is re- 
 quired to caufe this Flux and Reflux, than 
 the Dlfl^erence the Moon makes by her inter- 
 cepting fome of the Preflure from the Extre- 
 mities, when fhe is either over, or at a great 
 DIftance from the Part. — Now the Waters, 
 in running into the Abyfs, carry with them 
 Air enough for the Fabulwn, or Support of 
 the internal Fire. — On the Return of the 
 Waters to the Expanlion within the earthy 
 Shell, they are again, by the Fire there, ex- 
 panded into Vapour, which Vapour is forced 
 up through the Caverns and Fiflures from 
 below, to the Tops of the higheft Mountains, 
 where by the Cold it there meets with, is 
 again condenfed into V/ater, falls into the 
 different Cavities of the Earth, and is forced 
 out in Springs, from thence into Rivers, and 
 thence into the Sea. — Thus, as the Preacher 
 tells us, ** All the Rivers run into the Sea, 
 ^^ yet the Sea is not full : Unto the Place from 
 
 ivhence
 
 3i8 0?iw^.'Mr^/ PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVL 
 
 whence the Rivers come, thither they return 
 again." ^^) 
 
 It gives me Satisfadion to find that the 
 Scriptures confirm the above natural Ob- 
 fcrvations, and that they fpeak phyfically 
 true concerning them. — Thus Job tells us ^'^ 
 ** That the Earth is fafpended on the conJlriSi- 
 " ing Mixture of Ethers ; the Place in the 
 Heavens where thefe two ethereal Agents are 
 in a jufi; Proportion to each other, and of the 
 fame fpecifick Gravity with the Body of the 
 
 Earth ; 
 
 ( r ) Ecckf. I. 6.— [t) Job, XXVI. 7. 
 
 (t) "What I have trunflated the conjlricling Mixture of the 
 Ethers, in the EngUfh Bible is tranilated Nothing, but that 
 cannot be the Signification of this Word : It isBaLIMaH, 
 from BaLaM, which according to all Lexicons, fignifies to 
 conJlriEf, to hind, to rejirain^ as the Violence of an Horfe or 
 Afs is by a Bridle ; and is to be found but once more in 
 the Bible, which is Pfalm XXXII. 9, whejeit is maae ufe 
 of as a participle paflive, for the reftraining an Horfe or Afs 
 with a Bridle ;— without the final Mem, it is often made ufe 
 of as a Mixture of difFerent Things, as dry and wet, &c. — It 
 is probable that the Englifh Tranflators were led into this 
 Error, by following the Latin Tranflatio n too clofely ; which 
 at that Time, was by many of the Church of Rome believed 
 to be more infallibly true than the original Hebrew,
 
 Let. XVI. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 319 
 
 Earth j in which the terraqueous Globe is 
 carried on in them, with as much Eafe as a 
 Cork is on the Water, or as if the whole 
 Body was compofed of Ethers ; having nei- 
 ther ProjeBion nor Gravity, — Hence, not- 
 withftanding the terraqueous Globe is carried 
 on by thcfe Ethers, at the incredible Rate of 
 more than one thoufand Miles every Hour ; 
 yet the Inhabitants on it meet neither with 
 Refiftance or PrefTure from thefe Ethers, and 
 therefore find Nothing of this almofl incon- 
 ceivable quick Motion. — Much the fame 
 Thing has been obferved by thofe who have 
 been carried with the greatest Celerity in a 
 Balloon ; not finding any Thing of the Quick- 
 ncfs of the Motion, or how it went. — T^hefe 
 Ethers compofe the Swadli?ig Band that fur- 
 round it : ^"^ Thefe are the Pillars which [up- 
 port it ; ^"^ when he gave his Decree that the 
 Seajhould not pafs his Command, ^"^'^ 
 
 Having now been forced to write a long 
 Letter, in order to explain my Conjed:ures 
 about the internal Make of this terraqueous 
 
 Globe, 
 
 (u) Job, XX>;Vin, 9,— fv) Job, IX, 6~(w) Prov. VIII. 27, 28, 29.
 
 320 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVI. 
 
 Globe, I fliall defer pointing out the Agents 
 Nature makes Ufe of, and the Method they 
 ad by, in order to carry on the diurnal Ro- 
 tation, and the annual Revolution, to my 
 next Letter, which you will receive foon. 
 
 AdieUf 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 Qa,i^, 1785.
 
 Let. XVII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 321 
 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Heavifides ^e/iiony '^ Why does not the 
 " Earth gravitate into the Sun, Gfr." an- 
 /wered,^ All Space filed with ETHERS, 
 which reach from the Sun, to the Extremi- 
 ties of this Syjlem^ and are in continual Con- 
 flidi, and caufe a vibrating Motion, by their 
 Endeavour of getting the better of each other. 
 Thefe Ethers the Caufe of Projedtion and 
 Gravity. — T^he Earth and Planets of dif- 
 ferent fpecifck Gravities, according to their 
 Dijlance jrom the Sun. — "The diurnal and 
 annual Motion of the Earth accounted for, 
 The Phenomena of Nature, and the Scrip' 
 tures, confirm the Tefiimony of each other. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 IN the laft Letter, I fent you my Conjecftures 
 on the Make and Form of this terraqueous 
 Globe; by which you may obferve, that I 
 fuppofe the Thicknefs of the earthy Shell to 
 be but fmall, in Comparifon with the inter- 
 S s nal
 
 322 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVIL 
 
 nal Void or Hollow in the MidJ} of it. — By 
 the Phenofncna of Earthquakes, &;c. it ap- 
 pears that this Hollow is filled with Fire, 
 inflammable Air, and Steam. — Thus the 
 whole Body of the terraqueous Globe v/ill 
 be of no greater fpecifick Gravity, than the 
 Ethers which furround it. — If this was not 
 the Cafe, and it was folid to the Centre, it 
 feems probable that it would be forced into 
 the Sun : But, as it is of the fame fpecifick 
 Gravity with the furrounding Ethers, they 
 keep it at the fame Diftance from the Sun, 
 and it fwims therein with as much Eafe as a 
 Balloon does in the Air, above the Earth. 
 
 Having mentioned thus much, I fliall now 
 endeavour to anfwer the two Queftions you 
 were fo anxious about, which you propofcd 
 in your Letter dated May i6 ; and again re- 
 peated in your laft. — Firfl, ** If the Earth, 
 '' &c. were put in Motion by the Heat of 
 ** the Sun, rarefying the Atmofphere between 
 *' thefe Bodies, why did the Earth not im- 
 *' mediately gravitate into the Sun, as the 
 ** Medium muil be there more rareiied than 
 
 ** anv
 
 Let. XVII. On natural PMILOSOPKY. 323 
 
 * any where elfe ?" — Sccondlv, " V/hat is 
 ' the Impulfe or trajectile Force for its an- 
 ^ nual Motion -, and then, vvhat is the Power 
 
 * that brings it back again from the immenfe 
 ' Diftance at which it is at the Summer 
 ' Solftice ; or prevent it from flying off in a 
 
 * Tangent V 
 
 In fome of my former Letters ^'^ ' I obferved 
 it was the Opinion of the ancient Phiiofo- 
 phers, that the Heavens were filled with Fire 
 or Light and Air, and that thefe were, the 
 Agents which governed all other Things: 
 Sir Ifaac Newton feems to think fo too, '>^for 
 he fuppofed** that Light and Ether lay hid 
 *^ in all Bodies ; that t\\^ Light proceeded from 
 *' the Suriy and the Spirit J rom the Extremities I 
 *' That if their eladic Force were exn.nded 
 *' through the whole Heavens ; and that if 
 ** this Medium be rarer at the Body of the 
 '* Sun, than at its Surfiice, and rarer a): the 
 " Surface, than at the hundredth Part of an 
 *' Inch from the Body of the Sun; and rarer 
 ^* there than at the fiftieth Part of an Inch 
 
 *' from 
 
 '\) Letter IV. Iiitroclu^lion.. P. 60.— fy) Opt. P. 32.1, j2j.
 
 324 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVU. 
 
 ** from its Body j and rarer at this Place, 
 " than at the Orb of Saturn; I fee no Rea- 
 ** fon, (fays he) why the Increafe of its Den- 
 *' fi ty fhould ftop any where, and not rather 
 ** be continued through all the Diftances, from 
 ** the Sun to Saturn, and beyond. — Then, if 
 *' we fuppofe two vibrating Mediums, the 
 " one rarer at the denfe Bodies of the Sun, 
 ** Stars, Planets, and Comets, than in the 
 " celeftial Spaces between them ; fo that if 
 *' the elaftic Force of this Medium may be 
 ** exceeding great, it may fuffice to impel 
 ** Bodies Jrom the den/er Parts of the Medium, 
 *' towards the rarer, with all that Force or 
 ** Impulfe which we call Gravity, 
 
 Hence we find, that it was the Opinion of 
 Sir Ifaac Newton, and the ancient Philofo- 
 phers, that there was an ethereal Fluid, 
 which filled all Space, from the Sun to the 
 Extremities of this Syflem. — That what :f- 
 fued from the Sun, in Form of Light, was 
 more rare than that which was returned from 
 the Extremities to the Sun, which he calls 
 Spirit.— By thefe Agents, (the ETHERS) 
 
 all
 
 Let. XVII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 325 
 
 all Motion was performed, and by the Spi- 
 rit, everv Thing was forced to the Sun, with 
 that Power we call Gravity. — That the Mix- 
 ture of thefe two E tilers was of a different 
 fpecinck Gravity, in Proportion as one or 
 other abounded. — Hence, that the Bodies of 
 the Earth, Planets, &c. circulating rouiid 
 the Sun, mufl be of different fpecifick Gravi- 
 ties, agreeing exacTtly vvith tiie fpecifick Gra- 
 vity (/f the Medium (Mixture,) wherein they 
 were placed. 
 
 Thus the Earth mull be of lefa fpecifick 
 Gravity than Venus -^ Venus i\\in Jupiter, ^c. 
 This may be explained fo far, as to ui^^dcr- 
 ftand my Meaning, by placing a Glafs or 
 Metal Bubble, of the exadl fpecifick Gravity, 
 between Water and Spirit of Wine — If wg 
 place this Bubble at the Bottom of a Glafs 
 Tube, and pour on it an Inch of Spirit of 
 Wine, it will be forced and kept at 
 Bottom by its own Gravity ; if we add an 
 Inch of Water, it v/ill then remain at Reft, 
 in any Part of the Fluid : — If vvc again add 
 another Inch q^ Water by Degree?, we d^iall 
 
 perceive.
 
 326 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVIL 
 
 perceive, that the Fluid, by this Means, will 
 acquire a greater fpcciiick Gravity than the 
 Bubble, and will then, (according to the 
 Laws of Hydroflaticks,)be forced, by Gravity, 
 down to the Bottom, and will then force the 
 Bubble of lefs fpecifick Gravity, to afcend to 
 the Top. — This Motion of the Bubble in the 
 Fluid, may be made to move or change its 
 Place, in the fame Manner by Heat and Cold. 
 Thus by applying Heat to the Top, or any 
 Side of the Fluid, it will expand its Parts, 
 and thereby make it to occupy more Space : 
 Hence its Pores being filled with Heat or 
 Fire, it will refifl: lefs, and the cold and denfe 
 Parts of the Fluid wall prefs it towards, and 
 into that Part which is more rare, and of lefs 
 fpecifick Gravity, and refiftslefs. — Hence we 
 may obfcrve, that Gravity and Levity are re- 
 lative Effeds. 
 
 Thus, the Earth being of the fame fpe- 
 cifick Gravity, with the Mixture of the fur- 
 rounding Ethers; thefe Ethers keep it at the 
 fame Diftance it is from the Sun, and pre- 
 vent it being projeded farther from the Sun, 
 or forced nearer to it» Having
 
 Let, XVII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 327 
 
 Having obferved thus much, that the Af- 
 cent from the Sun, and the Defcent to it, 
 are occafioned by the Rarity and Dendty'bf 
 the different Mediums, as the different Mix- 
 lures of the Ethers, between the Sun and the 
 Extremities, according as the Quantity of 
 either one prevails^ I fhall row endeavour 
 to point out the Caufes of the diurnal and 
 annual Motions of the Earth ; hut before I 
 do this, let it he remembered, that Bodies of 
 different Denfities, are a longer or a fliorter 
 Time heating, and alfo that they retain their 
 Heat a longer or a fliorter Time, according 
 to their Denfities. ^^^ — Thus, Water will ac- 
 quire a greater Heat than Air, and Earth 
 than Water, &c. — This is obferved to be the 
 Caufe of different Winds j for it is a known 
 and invariable Quality of the Air, for the 
 Cold to endeavour to force out the Hot, and 
 the Hot to open and expand the Cold. — 
 Thus the Earth being denfer than Water, it 
 will acquire a greater Heat than the Sea. — 
 ** It is obferved, that the Sea Breezes blow 
 *' towards the Land, in the Middle Part of 
 
 ** the 
 
 (z) Src Let. V. P. «8i. 189.
 
 023 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVIL 
 
 ** the DaV, in every Direction; and in the 
 ** Middle or coldefl Part of the Night, the 
 *' Land Breezes blow towards the Sea, and 
 '* thus alternately they fucceed each other. — 
 ** Hence the Equilibrium of the Preflure of 
 " the two Atmofpheres being deftroyed, and 
 *' the Land Atmofphere, by the Lleat being 
 ** rendered fpecifically lighter than the Air at 
 ** Sea, the former afcends by the fuperior 
 " Preflure or Weight of the latter; therefore 
 *' the Sea Breezes i?/ow towards the Land, in 
 ** every pojjible DireSlion.—V^hQn Night comes 
 " on, the Sun's Heat abates, until the Land 
 *' Atmofphere becomes equally denfe with 
 ** that at Sea. — The Equilibrium of PreiTure 
 ** being thus reftored, the Sea Breezes totally 
 ** ceafe. — Thus, Cold increafing by the Ab- 
 ** fence of the Sun, and its fudden Departure 
 *• below the Horizon, accumulates on the 
 ** Surface of the Illands, and condenfes their 
 *' incumbent Atmofphere more than that at 
 *' Sea." 
 
 I (liall now apply Dedu6lions from the 
 Phenomena obferved, and by them I iliall en- 
 deavour
 
 Let. XVII, On n^^wr^/ PHILOSOPHY. 329 
 
 deavour to explain the Motions of this terra- 
 queous Globe, — Firft then, I fuppofe, there 
 is a hot 'Ether or Light continually ifiuing 
 from the Sun at the Centre, which is the 
 Caufe of Proje5lmiy Rarefadlion, Expanfiori, 
 and what we call a centrifugal Force y &c. and 
 a cold Ether or Spirit continually defcending 
 from the Extremities of this Syftem, to the 
 Sun at the Centre, which is the Caufe of 
 Attradion, Cohefion, PrefTure, Gravity, and 
 what is called a centripetal Force, 
 
 Thus, Light or one Moiety of the celeftial 
 Ethers, (which is the rarer or finer Part,) is 
 in continual Motion, from the Sun to the 
 Circumference; and the other Moiety or 
 Spirit, (which is the groffer Part,) is in con- 
 tinual Motion from the Circumference or 
 Extremities of this Syftem, to the Sun in the 
 Centre ;— that thefe two Forces, by Mixture, 
 exa(5tly balance each other at the Morning 
 and Evening Edge of the Earth, and parallel 
 with the Ecliptic. — The Motion of thefe ad- 
 verfe Forces caufes an Expanfion, and lays a 
 Strefs or Preflure on every Body, and every 
 T t Particle
 
 330 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVH. 
 
 Particle of the ethereal Fluid, (and is the 
 Caufe of Cohefion,) and forces the Bodies 
 contained therein, either nearer or farther 
 from the Sun, according as the different 
 Mixture of thefe two Particles prevail, and 
 the fpecific Gravity of the Body. — Thus, 
 when an Equilibrium is formed round that 
 Body, it remains at Reft, and continues fo, 
 till by Light or Pleat an Expanfion is made 
 on one Side, or Part of it; when Motion en- 
 fues, and continues fo long as the PrefTure 
 behind is of greater Force than the Projed:ion 
 or Expanlion before. 
 
 The Mixture of thefe two Qualities of 
 Ethers, being rarer or denfcr in Proportion 
 to the Diftance between the Sun, and the 
 Extremities of the Syftem. — Thus the Bo- 
 dies of the Earthy and all the Planets, are 
 formed of different fpecifick Gravities, accord- 
 ing as they are placed either nearer or farther 
 off from the Sun, and are placed in a Mixture 
 of Ethers, of the fame fpecifick Gravity with 
 the Planets placed therein ; and are thereby 
 prevented from approaching nearer, of re- 
 ceding
 
 Let. XVIL On natural PHILOSOPHY. 331 
 
 ceding farther from him. — Thus the Light 
 projedting on one Side of the terraqueous 
 Globe, and Spirit prcffing in at the oppofite, 
 caufes the Earth's Motion round its Axis, in 
 the fame Manner as a Cork or Piece of Wood 
 may be obferved to circulate round, when a 
 River is obflru6ted by a Bank, 2nd the Water 
 made to circulate round. 
 
 We will now fuppofe the Sun to be placed 
 in the Firmament or Expanfion, and the 
 Earth in the fame Place it now occupies; I 
 will then fuppofe, (as Mofes informs us) 
 that it was firft made to turn on its Axis by 
 the immediate Power of God -, after that, 
 having finifhed his Work, it was an .Auto- 
 matoriy and he faw that it was good, and 
 every Part of it capable to perform the Office 
 he defigned it for. — Thus he left Nature, or 
 the material Agents, to perform their own 
 Work ; tinlefsj by a Miracle, he ftopped or 
 altered them, to fl:iew his Power over them.— 
 Thus, as has been obferved, the projeBile 
 Force of the Light from the Sun, on th..:: 
 Side of the Earth oppofite to it, was exa<5liy 
 
 counterbalanced
 
 332 On natural PHlLOSO?HY. Let. XVII. 
 
 counterbalanced by the gravitating Force of 
 the Spirit on the Backfide of the Earth, op- 
 politc to the Extremities. — Now, it is well 
 known, and has already been obferved, that 
 Bodies receive and retain their Heat, in Pro- 
 portion to their Denfities, and that this has 
 been proved to be the Caufe of Winds, Hur- 
 ricanes, &c.— Thus, that Side of the terra- 
 queous Globe, oppofite the Sun, having its 
 Parts greatly heated, and being more than 
 one thoufand Times more denfe than the At- 
 mofphere, it retains it a great While longer ;- 
 Thus, the Atmofphere at the Evening Edge of 
 the Earth, is more rarefied and expanded by 
 this Heat, and the denfe Air or Spirit pref- 
 fing in from behind, (and alfo from that Side 
 oppofite the Extremities) to form an Equili- 
 brium, forces it round its Centre, towards 
 the Morning Edge, or from Weft to Eaft. — 
 Hence the diurnal Motion 5-the lateral Rare- 
 fadion being greater on this Quarter from 
 Noon to Evening, or between South and 
 Weft, than on its oppofite, receives a diiferent 
 Impulfe, in a Diagonal of thefe two Forces, 
 viz. that cf the projedile, on that Side the 
 
 Earth
 
 Let. XVII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 333 
 
 Earth next the Sun, and the gravitating, on 
 that Side oppofite the Extremities. — Hence, 
 the annual tapulfe through the Ediptick, 
 which rnakes an Angle of 23 D. 30 M, with 
 the diurnal ; and as thefe Forces are conti- 
 nually ading, fo the Earth will continue her 
 Motion round her Axis, from Weft to Eaft, 
 together with that through the Ecliptick; — 
 As thefe Etliers are of diirer^nt Qualities, both 
 nearer or farther from the Sun ; and as the 
 terraqueous Globe is exactly of the fame fpe- 
 cifick Gravity with this Mixture of the Ethers, 
 wherein fhe is placed, (which is in a con- 
 tinual Current or Circulation round the Sun,) 
 fo muft the Earth be carried round the. Sun 
 with it. 
 
 We may form fome Conception how thefe 
 two oppolite Forces a(5l by the xMotions of a 
 Pendulum, or a Weight lufpended by an in- 
 flexible Rod on a Pin, as its Centre of Mo- 
 tion. — ** Its Weight or Gravity will hinder 
 ** its approaching any nearer to the Centre, 
 '* and the Rod or Projection will prevent its 
 ^' Weight or Gravity from carrying it farther 
 ** from the Centre; but, neverthelefs, it is 
 
 ^' capable
 
 334 On natural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVH. 
 
 ** capable of being put in Motion by a fmati 
 *' lateral Impulfe, and will defcribe not a 
 *' ftrait Line, but Arcs of a Circle, whofe 
 ** Centre is the Pin from whence it is fuf- 
 *' pendcd. — And as the two Forces are fup- 
 ** pofed equal, the Cafe of the Earth will be 
 ** exaftly analogous to that of the Pendulum!" 
 
 Thus the progreffive or lateral Impulfe be- 
 ing always exerted in the Direction of the 
 Plane of the Earth's enlightened Hemifphere, 
 where the mixt Force of thefe confliding 
 Ethers is equal, and Refiftence nothing. — 
 Which Plane is always perpendicular to the 
 Rays drawn from the Sun to that Place. — 
 If in any Part of the Earth's Orbit, the Fref- 
 Jure or Gravity be greater than ordinary, or 
 the FrojeSiion of the Light lefs ; the Earth, in 
 either Cafe, will be made to approach in that 
 Part of its Orbit, nearer to the Sun : Or, if 
 the lateral Impulfe be ftronger or weaker 
 than ordinary, the Earth will be forced far- 
 ther oft, or nearer to the Sun : And as the 
 Moon and Planets are fometimes fo fituated, 
 that if, by the Intervention of their Bodies, 
 
 they
 
 Let. XVII. On natural PHILOSOPHY. 335 
 
 they interrupt the Acftion o^ Spirit or Light ; 
 this Interruption may leiTen or increafe their 
 Force, either to bring the Earth nearer to, 
 or farther from the Sun. — Witnefs the 
 Moon's Influence on the Tides ! 
 
 The foregoing Account of the Phenomena 
 of Nature, feems to confirm and explain to 
 us the fhort Hints thereof given in the Scrip- 
 tures, 
 
 I fhall therefore fubmit to your Judge- 
 ment and Candour, whether what I have faid 
 may not illuftrate the Mofaic Account of the 
 Formation of the Earth, and Reformation of 
 it, at the Deluge ; and then conclude, that 
 as the Phenomena of Nature, Reafon, and 
 Revelation fo perfe<ftly agree, whether that 
 Coincidence may not be confidered as a Tefti- 
 mony of the Truth 0^ each. 
 
 Thus we are informed, that the all- wife 
 Creator has obferved the moft exad; Propor- 
 tions, and has made ALL Things in Number^ 
 Weight f and Meafiire : — Who made Weight 
 
 for
 
 qi5 On nitural PHILOSOPHY. Let. XVIL 
 
 oo 
 
 for the Winds or, (which is more literal) 
 'who made the Spirit the gravitating Injlrn- 
 mentf and weighed the Waters hy Meafure. ^^^ 
 Who hath meafured the Waters in the Hol- 
 low of his Hand; and meted (or fpread) out 
 the Heavens with a Span, and comprehended 
 the Dull of the Earth in a Meajure; — who 
 weighed i\\Q Mountains in Scales, and the Hills 
 in a Babnce. ^'^'^ *' Who hath bound the Wa- 
 ters \n 2i Gar?ne72t ; who hath eftablifhed all 
 the Ends of the Earth : ^'^ W^ho fliut up the 
 Sea with Doors, and made the Cloud the 
 Garment thereof, and thick Darknefs a Swad- 
 ling-Band for it; and faid hitherto flialt thou 
 come, but no farther; and here (hall thy 
 proud Waves be flayed. ('^^ The North de- 
 clines, (or gravitates J to the empty Place, 
 (or South) and hangeth the Earth upon No- 
 thing, (in Hebrew) (the Mixture of Ethers,) W 
 Thefe, as wc are informed, ^^^ are the Pillars 
 of the Earth, and the Lord has fet the World 
 
 upon them. 
 
 AdieUy 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONE HOUSE, 
 on. 20, 1785. 
 
 (a) Job, XXVIi:. 25.— (b) Ifalh, XL. 12.— (c) Proverbs. XXX. 4.— (d) 
 Job, XXXVIII. 8, 9, 10, :i.— (e) Job, XXVI. 7-— (^ ) ^- Sani. II. 8.
 
 Let. XVIII. 6>w ASTRONOMY. 337 
 
 To JOHN HE AVI SIDE, Esq. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 IN your laft Letter, you were fo complaifant 
 as to alTure me, that my long Letters gave 
 you infinite Pleafure, and that I had not an- 
 fwered your former Queflions. — In my two 
 lad, I endeavoured to do it in as clear a 
 Manner as I could ; I hope they will 
 find your Health quite refiiored, by your 
 Journey into NorfiDlk and Suffolk, together 
 with your Sea Bathing, 
 
 I herewith fend you a New Year's Gift, 
 for A. D, 1786, in Hopes to profit by the 
 Remarks of yourfelf and Friends. 
 
 It is two Diagrams, (an original Defign of 
 my own) conftrudted to Ihew the Places of 
 the Sun and Moon, for every Day next Year, 
 according to the Julian Calendar. — You will 
 find fome Part of it to differ from what is 
 generally taught in Aflronomical Ledlures, 
 and received as true, viz. the Divifion of the 
 y u Ecliptick
 
 338 0;z ASTRONOMY. Let. XVIII. 
 
 Ecliptick,and the Preceflion of the Equinoxes, 
 but thefe appear to me contrary to the Ope- 
 rations or Laws of Nature ; I therefore wifti 
 to have them examined by Perfons well verfed 
 in thefe Sciences ; and as the Improvement of 
 Knowledge is the fole End of my Delign, fo 
 if you will fend me the critical Remarks of 
 your Mathematical Friends thereon, I doubt 
 not but all thefe Difficulties will be cleared 
 up. 
 
 / am, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 Tour faithful 
 
 And obliged Friend, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 S T O xN E H O U S E, 
 
 Dec. 26, 1788.
 
 Let XIX. On ASTRONOMY. 339 
 
 To F. PENROSE, E s o. 
 
 I'he Obfervations of Mr, Heavijides ajirono- 
 mical Friend^ on Mr. Fenrofes "Diagrams ^ 
 not conchjive. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 YOUR laft Favour founci me very early 
 in the new Year at Potterels, where I 
 had been for two Months, fo far from well, 
 as not to have ftired out of Doors hardly in 
 all that Time. My little Excurlion into 
 Norfolk and Suffolk, was of fome Service to 
 me for a While, but I foon grew worfe a- 
 gain, and was unable to ftir^ indeed I have 
 not been able to ride ten Miles on Horfeback, 
 in any one Day, for near a Year and Half 
 Daft; however, I have been recovering full 
 as faft as I can expe(fl, for the laft five or fix 
 Weeks, and have got up my Flefh and 
 Strength again amazingly, if I can but keep 
 free from Colds, to opprefs my Lungs, whick 
 are ftill in a Situation too fufceptiblc of In« 
 jury. — This State of Health has detered me 
 
 from
 
 340 C?w ASTRONOMY. Let. XIX. 
 
 from ftaying in London more than a Day or 
 two at a Time, when Bufmefs obliged me to 
 it, till very lately; when, upon Trial, I 
 found myfelf, thank God, equal to ftaving 
 here without Prejudice. — For thefe Reafons 
 I had no Opportunity till very lately of {hew- 
 ing your Diagrams,(vvith which you favoured 
 me, and for which 1 think myfelf very highly 
 obliged to you) to any of my learned Friends; 
 but I do alTure you, that I did not negiecfl 
 the very firft I had ; and this very Day the 
 Gentleman called, when I was out, and left 
 it for me,with a Note, of which you will lind 
 a Copy in the Margin ; I would have fent 
 the Note itfelf, but that it would have made 
 it a double Letter. 
 
 As I do not think he has entered fo deeply 
 into this Bufmefs as he fhould have done, I 
 am by no Means fatisfied with the little he 
 has faid, and therefore ihall endeavour to find 
 out fome other Aflronomer, who will give it 
 more Confideration than I fear he has done ; 
 I fhould therefore have defered writing till 
 then, but that as I think it probable you may 
 
 wifli
 
 Let. XTX. (9?i ASTRONOMY. 341 
 
 wifh to have the Plate engraved foon ; I 
 trouble you now, to beg you will give me 
 your immediate Direcflions for having it done, 
 if you widi to have it done noWy 2.nd I v^'ill 
 ufw my bed Endeavours to find cut a good 
 Engraver. — Pray vv'hat think ycu of this 
 Gentleman'i> Idea on that Subjed: } 
 
 On the other Side you will likewife find 
 what my Friend Dr. Alexander, (to whom I 
 wrote fome Time ago, to get fome Experi- 
 ments made relative to the Weight of Bodies 
 at different Depths in Mines,) fays on that 
 Head : His Account feems in fjme Meafure 
 to contradi(fl your Opinion as well as my 
 own. — ^If you are not fatisfied with this An- 
 fwer, and would put any more particular 
 Queftions to him, pray fend them to me, and 
 I will endeavour to procure an Anfwer to 
 them; for it will give me great Pleafure to 
 procure you any Information or Satisfaction 
 in your laudable Purfuitb after Knowledge 
 and Philofophy. — Nor would I iiave you 
 think, that becaufe I am too idle a Fellow 
 myfelf, to apply clofely to the Study of Phi- 
 lofophy
 
 342 0?j ASTRONOMY. Let. XIX. 
 
 lofophy as you do, that therefore I take no 
 Pleafure in fuch Enquiries; far otherwife; I 
 really have great Pleafure in it, and Ihould 
 follow the Purfuit clofely had I Leifure, and 
 any Friend near me to afTifl or join me in it. 
 
 The aftronomical Gentleman who had the 
 Examination of your Diagrams, prefents his 
 Compliments, and has returned it, and ob- 
 ferves, that *' He fears fome of the Pofitions 
 *' it contains will not be found to have been 
 ** correcfled up to the latefl Difcoveries, or 
 ** rather neweji Opiniojis.'' 
 
 I anjy 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour 'very obedient , 
 And obliged Servant, 
 
 J. HE AVI SIDE. 
 
 Prince's-Street, 
 
 Id, 22j 1786.
 
 Let. XX. (9;i ASTRONOMY. 343 
 
 To JOHN HE AVI SIDE, Eso. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 YOUR laft very kind and obliging Letter 
 came to Stonehoufe when I was in 
 Cornwal], where I had been a great Part of 
 the Pvlonths of February and March : — For 
 this laft Month I have been confined with 
 the Gout : — I thank God, I am now able to 
 walk agam. — It gave us very iincere Pleafure 
 to be informed, that you were recovered from 
 your late Indifpofition. 
 
 I am greatly obliged to you for the Trouble 
 )^ou have taken, in confulting your Aftrono- 
 mical Friends, about my Diagrams. — As I 
 differ therein from what is generally taught 
 by Aftronomers, about the Diviiion of the 
 Ecliptick, the Preceffion of the Equinoxes, 
 which appear to me to be Things of great 
 Importance, I did hope that they would have 
 thought it a Matter worthy their Examina- 
 tion, and that I fliould be confirmed either 
 that I was right, or that my Errors, if any, 
 
 w^ould
 
 344 On A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XX. 
 
 would be pointed out and corrected.—I there- 
 fore join entirely in your Opinion concern- 
 ing it, viz. that they have not entered fo 
 deeply into the Bufinefs as I could have 
 wiflied they had done. — For, as they obferve, 
 *' the Pofjions therein differ from the lateji 
 *' DifcoverieSy or rather the newejl Opinions^ 
 For that Reafon I wiOied to have them tho- 
 roughly examined, as Truth is my Objed:. 
 
 If you have not yet met with an Aftrono- 
 mer, vvhofe Opinion may be depended on, I 
 hope, from your great Acquaintance, you 
 foon will have an Opj)ortunity of doing it. — 
 I have fent one of thefe Diagrams to Oxford, 
 with a Defire that it might be examined by 
 the Geometricians and Aftronomers there, 
 but I have not yet received any Intelligence 
 concerning it. — I am afraid that many Teach- 
 ers of Science go on by Rote, with the fame 
 String of Experiments and Arguments that 
 they have been taught, without giving them- 
 felves Freedom and Trouble to examine the 
 Truth of them. 
 
 I
 
 Let. XX. 0« ASTRONOMY, 345 
 
 I give you and Dr. Alexander many Thanks 
 for the Intetligence he fent you, concerning 
 the Rife and Fall of the Mercury in the Ba- 
 rometer, when under the Earth.— I am afraid 
 that Dr. Alexander, by confulting Miners, 
 who had the 'Rudiments of Fhilofophyy has 
 anfwered the Inquiry from Theory and not 
 from Experiment, — All Experience tell us, 
 that the deeper we dig under the Surface of 
 the Earth, the Heat is the greater, and of 
 Confequesce the Air is the rarer; — therefore, 
 for that Reafon, I am fearful that thofe Per- 
 fons, whom Dr. Alexander applied to, have 
 impofed on him, and anfwered his Queries 
 from the Ideas they had of the Matter, and 
 not from Experiment. — If they had madeUfe 
 of a Thermometer, inflead of a Barometer, I 
 believe their Theory would prove true. — I 
 could only wiih for an Experiment without 
 Theory,. — Let a Barometer be carried down 
 into a Mine, mark the Height of the Quick- 
 filvcr on the Surface of the Ground, and alfo 
 every thirty or forty Fathom you defcend.— 
 \i they had alfo a Quickfilver Thermometer, 
 and iikewife mark the different Heights of 
 Xx the
 
 346 0?? ASTRONOMY. Let. XX. 
 
 the Mercury, it would be more fatisfadory. 
 I am forry that you and Dr. Alexander fhould 
 have had lb much Trouble, and that he 
 Ihould have met with fo many Difficulties 
 about it.— All this I can moft readily believe, 
 as I have met with the fame. — It might be 
 imagined that I could get a Thing of this 
 Kind eafily done in Cornwall. — I have ap- 
 plied to many of my Acquaintance for that 
 Purpofe, and told them that I fliould be glad 
 to pay a Man for his Trouble in doing it. — I 
 have been often promifed it, but have never 
 yet been able to get it performed. — If I could 
 go down in a Mine myfelf, I could eaiily get 
 it done ! A Gentleman, when I was laft in 
 Cornwall, promifed me to get it done, but I 
 am fearful it will be fome Time before it will 
 be brought about. 
 
 I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour obliged and faithful Servant, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 
 April lo, 1786.
 
 4 
 
 Let. XXI. 0;i ASTRONOMY. 347 
 To F. PENROSE, E s o. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 1A M afhamed to fee that It is now fix 
 Weeks fince I was favoured with your 
 very kind Letter, and that I cannot even now 
 anfwer it fatisfadiorily, either to myfelf or to 
 you; for having been fo much out of Town, 
 (in which I dare not flay long at a Time, on 
 Account of my Cough,) and having had fo 
 very much to do when I am here, and now 
 finding that real deep Philofophers and 
 Aftronomers are much more thinly fown than 
 I apprehended, I have not been able to get 
 at any one who has ventured to give me any 
 decided Opinion upon your Diagrams. — I 
 want much to get them fhewn to Dr. Maf- 
 kelyne, but have not yet been fo luckly as to 
 meet with one Acquaintance of mine that 
 knows him enough to do it ; however, I do 
 not yet defpair of finding fuch a one, if your 
 Friends at Oxford fail you. 
 
 I have wrote again to my Friend, Dr. Al- 
 exander,
 
 348 Ow ASTRONOMY. Let. XXI. 
 
 exander, to try if he can procure a more cxad 
 Experiment to be made with a Barometer, in 
 a Coal-Pit ; which I dare fay he will do if 
 he can -, but I need not tell you how difficult 
 it is to put thofe Miners, (or indeed any 
 Body elfe) out of the Way in which they 
 have been ufed to tread, unlefs it were poffi- 
 ble to imprefs them with a Deli re of real 
 Knowledge, unadulterated with Prejudice, 
 or make it their Intereft, 
 
 I am. 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Very truly, 
 
 Tour Friend, and obedient Sernjant, 
 
 J. HE AVIS IDE. 
 
 Prince's-Streit, 
 jfunei% 1786,
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 349 
 
 On thi MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS, 
 
 To JOHN HE AVI SIDE, Esq. 
 
 I'he Moon not a Pla?jef, but a Satellite attend^ 
 ing the Earth, — 'The recorded Obfervations 
 of Aft rammer Sy concerning Her, colleBed. — 
 Her Make and Motions deft:ribed. — The 
 Chaldean Cycle, with the Methods they made 
 ufe of for calculating their Eclipfes. — The 
 fhyfcal Caufes of thefe Motions explained, 
 and confirmed by the Obfervations of Mr, 
 Herfchel, and the French AJironomers. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I GIVE you many Thanks for the Trouble 
 you have taken to get a decided Opinion 
 on my Diagrams, &c. — As you exprefs a 
 Hope, in your lafl Letter, to get Dr. Maf- 
 kelyne's Opinion on them, I have herewith 
 fent you my Theory on the Moon, and the 
 lunar Motions, in Hopes that you may, at 
 the fame Time, get his Sentiments on the 
 
 lunar
 
 350 ASTRO^^OMY. Llet. XXII. 
 
 On the MdOi/'and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 lunar Motions alfo, and perhaps he will let you 
 know what Objedions he has to any of them. 
 
 The lunar Pvlotions are called irregular; 
 but, on Examination, we fliall find no Irre- 
 gularity belonging to the Moon or her Mo- 
 tions, but all of them performed according 
 to the moft exad; and perfe(5l Harmony and 
 Pvlechanifm -, and that their apparent Intricacy 
 proceeds from our Incapacity to comprehend 
 their almoft innumerable Variety of Motions. 
 If we fludy them with a proper Attention, 
 we fliall find, that, inftead of being irregular, 
 they are performed with the greateft Har- 
 mony and Regularity, according to the moft 
 ftrid: Laws of Geometry, Number, Weight, 
 and Meafure ; and though their Number and 
 Variety exceed the Power of comprehending 
 them, or even of believing their Regularity, 
 unlcfs by thofe who make them their parti- 
 cular Study i for though the Moon i-equires 
 7,948,800 fynodical R^evolutions, (which are 
 mere than 600,000 Years) for to go through 
 
 all
 
 Let. XXII. A S T R O N O M Y. 351 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 all her Variations, and finifli her Period or 
 Cycle ; ^°^ yet all thefe various Motions are 
 carried on in the mofl: curious, exad:, and 
 mechanical Manner, according to Number, 
 Weight, and Meafure, and cannot be calcu- 
 lated or underflood by no other Method; 
 therefore if any Theory concerning them will 
 not bear the Tefl: of Geometry and Numbers, 
 it mud be difcarded. — Having premifed thus 
 much, I fliall, in the firfl Place, colle(fl the 
 recorded Fafts and Obfervations of Aftrono- 
 mers concerning them ; from which I fliall 
 endeavour to draw the moll: natural Inferences, 
 to explain thefe various Motions, and to 
 point out their phyfical Caufes. 
 
 The Moon is not a Planet but a Satellite, 
 attending the Earth ; which, together with 
 the Sun, are allowed to be the principal Caufe 
 of her Motions, — Thefe Motions are gener- 
 ally divided in a three- fold Manner; which 
 are not only connedled with each other, but 
 are alfo conneded with thofc of the Earth's, 
 
 in 
 
 (g) Kennedy, P. uj6, 210.
 
 352 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On tht MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 m a moft wonderful Manner. — In the iirft 
 Place, flie has a Motion round the Earth 
 from Change to Change j or, from Sun to 
 Sun, which fhe performs in 29 D. 12 H. 
 44 M. I S. 45 T. which is called a Lima- 
 tion, — 2dly, She has a forward Motion, com- 
 pounded with this Lunation, from Wefl to 
 Eaft, attending the Earth through the Eclip- 
 tick, round the Sun ;— this fhe performs in 
 twelve Lunations, 10 Days, 21 Hours, and 
 39 Seconds. — Thefe twelve Lunations are 
 called a lunar Tear, and the 10 Days, 21 
 Llours, and 39 Seconds, are the Time re- 
 quired for her to get up with the Sun again. 
 Thefe 10 Days, 21 Hours, and 39 Seconds, 
 are not dropt or loft, but go on as Part of 
 the next Lunation, and is called the EpaB, 
 and is the Difference between the lunar and 
 folarYear.— She does not keep the Earth's Path 
 round the Sun, through the Ecliptick, but 
 goes round the Earth in a progreffive Circle, 
 like a Screw, and forward, through the 
 Ecliptick, at the fame Time, together with 
 
 the
 
 Let. XXIL ASTRONOMY. 353 
 
 e>i the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 the Earth ; always, (throughout her whole 
 Orbit,) keeping nearly at the fame Diftance 
 from Her;-that is. Half the Diameter of 
 her Orbit ; which is fuppofed to be about 
 240,000 Miles. — Thefe Motions of the 
 Moon in her Orbit, round the Earth, and 
 through the Ecliptick, is fo well defcribed 
 by Mr. Fergiifon, in his Aftronomy, ^''^ that 
 I fhall take the Liberty to fend it you, in his 
 own Words.-—'* The Moon's abfolute Mo- 
 *' tion (fays he J from her Change, to her firft 
 " Quarter, is fo much. Jlower than the Earth's, 
 " that fhe falls 240 thoufand Miles, (equal 
 ** to the Semidiameter of her Orbit) behind 
 ** the Earth, at her firft Quarter; that is, 
 ** {ht falls back a Space equal to her Diftance 
 *' from the Earth : — From that Time, her 
 *' Motion is gradually accelerated to her Op- 
 *' pofition or Full, and then flie is come up 
 ** as far as the Earth j having regained what 
 ** fhe loji in her firft Quarter.- — From the 
 ** Full to the laft Quarter, her Motion co7i- 
 Y y ** tinties 
 
 (h> Fergufoii, P, iq.i. S, 267,
 
 054 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTICXS. 
 
 " tiniies accelerated^ io as to be jull as far be- 
 " fsre the Earth, (at her third Quarter) as 
 ** Ihe was behind it at her firjl -^ but from 
 *' thence to her Change, her Motion is re- 
 ** tardedy fo that flie lofes as much, with 
 ** Kefped; to the Earth, as is equal to her 
 ** Diftance from it, or to the Semidiameter 
 **■ of her Orbit ; and by that Means flie comes 
 ** in Conjundion (at the Change) as feen 
 *' from the Earth»" 
 
 Thefe Motions oi the Moon, both round 
 the Earth and round the Sun, are performed 
 from Weft to Eaft, and from Left to Right, 
 in the fame Manner as the Earth goes round 
 the Sun : — But, bef.des thefe two joint Mo- 
 tions of the Moon, there is a Motion or an 
 ediptick Current of Ether?, abjohitely belong- 
 ing to the Moon, — This Current of Ethers 
 goes alfo from Weil to Eaft, as do the Ecrth 
 and Moon, but with this Difference, that as 
 ihe Earth and Moon proceed Eallward, from 
 }-eft to Right j fo this proceeds jufl in the 
 
 oppolite
 
 Let. XXII. A S T R () X O M Y. 355 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 cppolite Manner, from Right to Lett, and 
 may moft properly be denominated t/je Fath 
 of the Nodes or Eclipfes. — lliis alio creeps 
 round the Ecliptlck in a progreffive Circle, 
 in 18 Years, 10 Days, 19 Hours. 46 Mi- 
 nutes, and 15 Seconds; when it again meets^ 
 the Sun in the lame Point of the EcJiptick, 
 and then begins a new Cycle. — This was in 
 Ufe in Chaldea, and is called the Chaldean 
 Cycle oj Eclipfes : — For, in this Period, there 
 will be a regular Return of the fame Eclipfe 
 
 for many Ages; only the Pxlipfe get 28 12 
 forward at every Return; and, by thefe flow 
 Degrees, comes in at one Pole of the Earth, 
 and after having palfed quite over it, goes 
 out at the other : --Thus thole which come 
 in at the North Pole, go out at the South ; 
 and thofe which come in at the South, go 
 out at the North ; after which thev are aa:ain 
 loft in the Expanfe, but require more than 
 one thoufind Years to do it. — Hence it may 
 be remarked, that the Chaldeans, (from a- 
 mongft whom Abraham was called) had a 
 
 Meth'od
 
 356 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 Method of calculating Eclipfcs ; for they had 
 only to keep an Account of Number of 
 Days and Years ; the Method the Patriarchs 
 and Ifraelites were taught to calculate the 
 Returns of the Weeks, Months, and Years, 
 and to keep their Chronology. ^'^ Thus by 
 on/y numbering and. keeping an Account of the 
 Days and Years of this Chaldean Cycle ^ which 
 was iini{hed every eighteen Years, and the 
 fameEclipfe was fure to make its Appearance 
 again j for at the End of every eighteen Years, 
 the Sun, Moon, and Nodes meet the Earth 
 on the fame Point of the Ecliptick, and they 
 then begin a new Cycle. — To illuftrate this, 
 I fhall here add the Calculations of the fourth 
 and fifth Return of that remarkable Eclipfe 
 which happened at London, May 3, N. S. 
 1 71 5 — at 9 H. 51 M. or 2 H 9 M. before 
 twelve o'clock, when the aftronomical Day 
 is compleated, fo that it was May 2 P. 21 
 
 H. 
 
 (i) Introdufticn; P. 27, 28,
 
 i.et. XXII. ASTRONOMY 357 
 
 On thi MO OK and LUNAR MOTIOXS. 
 
 H. 5 I M. fubftradt this from the three Days 
 of May, and it leaves D.H.M. 
 
 -8 •-: 9—1715 
 To which add June 15 4 56 — 1787 the Edipfe 
 
 It makes in the Whole 43 7 5 72 Years, 43 D. 
 
 7 II. 5 M. 
 
 Yeart i). H. M. D. H, M. 
 
 4th— 4 Cyc'.e-i . — 72 43 7 j— June 154 56 P. iM — —87 
 
 ^th — 1 Cycle 18 i 1 19 46 15 June c6 o 4.: 15P.M iS 
 
 It makei in the Whole 90 £4 2 51 15 5So5 
 
 From the above Example we may obferve 
 with what Eafe and Certainty the Chaldeans 
 might calculate the Return of the Eclipftrs, 
 viz. by knowing exadlly the Length or Quan- 
 tity of Time which the Sun, Moon, and 
 Nodes require to perform their Circle, or to 
 meet again in the fame Point of the Ecliptick 
 at which they parted ; for though they do 
 
 not meet precifely at the fame Point, yet it 
 
 I 11 
 wants only 28 12. Thefe Calculations 
 
 make it appear, that the Nodes move forward 
 
 to the Eaftward as well as the Earth and 
 
 Moon, and alfo that they move a contrary 
 
 Way
 
 358 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS, 
 
 Way from them, and by that Means the 
 Moon crofles them twice every Lunation. 
 
 In this Cvcie there are 229 Lunations 
 229 Nodes 
 And 18 Julian Years, 10 Days, 3 9 Hours, 
 
 46 Minutes, 15 T. 
 
 Hence the Regularity and the Harmony 
 of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, may be re- 
 marked, and the Method of the Ancients in 
 calculating their Eclipfes, which they did in 
 fo mechajtical a Manner, that they had no Oc- 
 cafion to know which of them moved, or 
 whether any one of them did ; yet were able 
 to calculate, to prognofticate, or foretel 
 thefe fuppofed portentous Events. 
 
 Thus, as has been obferved, the ecliptick 
 Path of the Eclipfes, goes forward from Weft 
 to Eaft, but a contrary Way to the Earth 
 and Moon, and malces an Angle of 5 Degrees 
 20 Minutes, with the ecliptick Path of the 
 Earth. 
 
 The
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 359 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 The Moon makes her Orbit round the 
 Earth, by an Angle of 45 Degrees, v/ith the 
 Ecliptick.;— but as this Angle is not the fame 
 throughout her whole Orbit, as the Moon, 
 in one Part of her Orbit, is Half the Dia- 
 meter of it before the Earth, and in another 
 Part, fo much behind her, fo (he does not 
 make the fame Angle with the Ecliptick 
 quite through her Revolution. — Thus, at 
 the Entrance into her third Quarter, llie cuts 
 the Ecliptick diagonally, and Jlackens her 
 Motion two- thirds, ( when Ihe enters the 
 South, or Summer Part of her Lunation,) 
 and, (as was obferved by Mr. Fergufon,) 
 falls back, and proceeds to the Weilward, by 
 an Angle of 45 Degrees. — Thus Hie keeps on 
 with this Angle, till ihe comes to the Change; 
 when it is altered to the Complement of that 
 Angle, which is alfo 45 Degrees -, which 
 Angle is continued from the Change to her 
 frji ^larter I — at which Point Ihe crolTes 
 the Ecliptick, and enters the North or 
 Winter Part of her Orbit. — Mere this Angle 
 
 is
 
 360 A S r R O X O M Y. Let. XXIi- 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 is altered from 45 Degrees, to 19 Degrees, 
 50 Minutes, and her Motion is increafcd two- 
 thirds, and llie now recovers the Motion y^^ 
 iojl at her third Quarter; and, by this Means, 
 /he gets fo forward to the Eaflward, in the 
 Ecliptick, as to be exadlly in a Line with 
 the Earth and Sun at her Oppofition. — 
 From this Place fl:ic returns round the Earth, 
 and continues her accelerated Motion, till ihe 
 arrives again at her third Quarter, where fhe 
 is again a Semi-diameter of her Orbit, before 
 the Earth -, and from tliis Place (lie goes on' 
 as above defcribed. 
 
 The Moon's Orbit, round the Earth, is 
 marked by Aftronomers with four Divifions: 
 The iirfl is from Star to Star; which flie per- 
 forms in 27 Days, 7 Hours, 43 Minutes, 4 
 Seconds. — This would compleat her Orbit, 
 did fhe not go forward in the Ecliptick at 
 the fame Time. — The fecond is from Apogee 
 to Apogee, which re-quires 5 Hours, 35 Mi- 
 nutes, 39 Seconds niore.— Thcfe 5 H. 35 M. 
 
 39 S.
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 361 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 39 S. (hew us how much her progreflive Mo- 
 tion, forward, in the Ecliptick is, during 
 the Time of her going from Apogee to Apo- 
 gee* — The Earth's progreflive Motion for- 
 ward, through the Ecliptick, during one Ro- 
 tation round her Axis, or twenty-four Hours, 
 is four Minutes; hence, i H. 50 M. 12 S. 
 belong to the Earth, and the remaining 3 H. 
 45 M- 27 S. is the Quantity of the Ecliptick 
 
 forward Motion which belongs abfolutely to 
 the Moon during that Time. — Thus we may 
 obferve, that the Moon's abfolute Motion 
 
 forward, through the 'Ecliptick, is more than 
 double to that of the Earth's. — This caufes 
 her to compleat her Orbit round the Sun, in 
 lefs Time than the Earth does. This is alfo 
 confirmed by the Motion of the Moon's Sha- 
 dow over the Earth, during the Time of an 
 Eclipfe, which Mr. Fergufon tells us, (k) 
 moves at the m.an Rate of 30^ Minutes of a 
 Degree every Hour, — The third Divilion is 
 from Node to Node. — This is not generally 
 Z z diftinguiflied 
 
 (k) Fergufon, P. 276, S. 338.
 
 362 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIL 
 
 On tht MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 diitinguiflied in this Manner by Aftronomers, 
 as they have fuppofed that the Motion of the 
 Nodes receded from Eafl to Weft, and did 
 not proceed forward, (as I do) from Weft to 
 Eaft, wliich requires i D. 4 H. 51 M. 8 S. 
 44 T. Time to compleat it, than from Apo- 
 gee to Apogee, — The fourth Divifton wants 
 28 H. 34 M. 10 S. 1 T. to be added to the 
 jail, to bring the Moon to the Sun, or com- 
 pleat the Lunation; which, as was before 
 obferved, is 29 D. 12 H. 44 M. i S. 45 T. 
 
 When the Moon comes to her Apogee, fhe 
 has compleated her Orbit round the Earth, 
 in the Ecliptick ; but as the ecliptick Current 
 of Ethersy (as they move forward in a pro- 
 grefiive Circle) has got i D. 3 H. 51 M. 8 
 S. 44 T. before the Moon, during that 
 Time, fo it requires for the Moon to go juft 
 fo much beyond her Orbit, to meet and crofs 
 it, — At the very Point, where the Moon, in 
 her Orbit round the Earth, crojfes the ecHp- 
 tick Current of Ethers, is her Node, and a 
 
 Line
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRO N O M Y. 363 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 Line from Node to Node, cro fling the Cen- 
 tre of the Ecliptick, is called the Line of 
 Nodes. — Thus the Line of Nodes croiTes int 
 Ecliptick every fixth Lunation, when the 
 Node that was laft in Conjundion with the 
 Moon, now crofles the Ecliptick 4 D. 15 H, 
 25 M. before the Moon meets the Sun; and 
 as the Nodes are diamet'-icariy oppofite to 
 each other, fo this other Node wants the 
 fame Time to meet the Sun ; but as the 
 ecliptick Current of Ethers goes forward 
 every Haifa Node but 9 H. 17 M. 5 S. fo 
 the Moon co:i;es in Conjundion only 9 H, 
 14 M. 5 S. after the Node. 
 
 The Nodes then crofs each other, and 
 change Places 3 the afcending one to the de- 
 fcending, and the defcending to the afcend- 
 ing : Hence, whenever either Node at the 
 End of the fixth Lunation, is 4 D. 15 H. 
 25 M. before the Moon, the other Node 
 (being the fame,) will meet the Moon in the 
 Ecliptick, and caufe a total and central 
 
 Eclipfe
 
 364 A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIL 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 Eclipfe, — But, as all thefe Points are of fuch 
 different Lengths, and vary fo much, it is 
 not to be wondered at, that we have fo few 
 Ecllpf^s i more efpecially, as the Orbit of 
 the Mocn is divided into 360 Degrees, and 
 the Moon muft pais the Node within 17 De- 
 grees of it, at the Change, and within iz*" 
 at theOppciition, to caufe an Eclipfe; other- 
 wife the Moon's Shadow will not touch the 
 Earth, nor the Earth's Shadow the Moon.^^ — 
 In Order to make more clear what has been 
 obferved, I {hall defcribe the Nodes and 
 Eclipfcs for this Year,' A. D. 1786. 
 
 The Nodes move forward fo much fader, 
 through the Ecliptick, than the Moon, that 
 at the End of every twelfth Lunation, that 
 Node, which was in Conjunction with her, 
 when fhe began her firft, is got 9 D. 6 H. 
 50 M. o S. 12 T. before her; and juft Half 
 that Quantity, or 4 D. 15 H. 25 M. o S. 
 6 T. at the End of every fixth Lunation. — - 
 The Nodes change Places every fixth Luna- 
 tion,
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 365 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 tion, when the afcending Node becomes the 
 defcending, and the defcending the afcending 
 one. 
 
 Now to explain their Motion this Year. — 
 We will fuppofe the two Nodes to be marked 
 A and B — The Nodes crofied the Ecliptick 
 Jan. 14 D. 12 PI. o M. when A became 
 the defcending Node, and B the afcending 
 one. — The Moon comes in Oppofition to the 
 Sun, 44 Minutes after, and caufes a total 
 Eclipfe.-i4 Days, 9 H. 5 M. after that, the 
 other Node was in Conjunction with the 
 Sun, and caufed an Eclipfe of that Luminary; 
 after this, the Moon in her Orbit round the 
 Earth, never crolTed the ecliptick Path of 
 the Nodes, near enough the Sun, to caufe an 
 Eclipfe, till July 6, at 16 Minutes pafl 
 twelve at Night, when the Node A will crofs 
 the Ecliptick 3D. 15 H. 9 M. before the 
 Moon was in Oppofition ; and, the other 
 Node B will al fo want jufl as much to be in 
 the Ecliptick, by that Means the Node B 
 
 will
 
 365 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIL 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 will be in the Ecliptick, 54 Minutes only 
 fetter the Moon is in Conjundion, and caufe 
 a total Ecliple of the Mo^n, July 1 1 .—On the 
 next Change, fourteen Days after, viz. July 
 25, the other Node A will meet the Moon 
 in the Ecliptick, and caufe an Eclipfe of the 
 Sun, and then will become the deicending 
 Node again. 
 
 The above are the colledled Obfervations 
 of Afcronomers on the Moon, and the lunar 
 Motions, from whence we may infer, that 
 they are all caufed and governed (as immortal 
 Sir Ifaac Niwtoii has fuppofed) by the fub- 
 tile "Ethers with which the heavenly Space is 
 filled, and by which they are furrounded. — 
 For, according to him, *' thefe ETHERS 
 ^' are expanded through the whole Heavens, 
 *' and /w^^/ Bodies from the denfer Parts of 
 ** of the Medium, towards the rarer, ivith all 
 '* that Force and Impulfe which we call 
 '' GRAVITY. Ci That thefe Ethers ad in a 
 '' double Capacity, the one as Lights pro- 
 
 ( I } Le;. IV. P. 163. 
 
 '* ceeding
 
 Let. XXIL ASTRONOMY. 367 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 '' ceeding from the Sun, and the other as 
 ** Spirit, defcending towards the Sun -, — and 
 *^ thus a Circulation is carried on between 
 " theje two vibrating MediiwisJ' — Thus they 
 aB by a continual ConJliM, in a vibrating 
 Manner, with a Force in Proportion as the 
 one or the other prevail : — When the Light 
 prevails, it opens, expands, and projrd:s 
 every 'Thing: — On the contrary, when the 
 Spirit prevails, every Thing is coitipre^ffed, 
 and their Parts are forced in clofer Contadl. — 
 Thus all Bodies, by being comprefied into 
 lefs Space, are increafed in their fpecifick 
 Gravity, and they are alfo made to adhere 
 with all that Power or Force called Gravity, 
 AttraBion of Cohefion, &c. 
 
 I think it muft add to the Veneration we 
 have for the Scriptures, to find that they 
 fpeak juflly in phyfical Matters, about the 
 Mechanifm of Nature. -Thus Job tells us ^'"^ 
 that God ?nade a Weight for the Winds -^ 
 
 this 
 
 .m) Job. XXVIII, 2,5.
 
 368 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 this is according to our Englifli Tranflation, 
 but the Hebrew is more clear and expreffive, 
 it is there f.iid that God made the fFifid or 
 Spirit, the Injiriiment of Gravity. 
 
 In the firfl: Place, the Earth is carried 
 through the Ecliptick, round the Sun, by a 
 Current of Ethers^ and the Moon, as a Sa- 
 tellite of the Earth, is carried round the Sun, 
 throught the Ecliptick with it. — The Moon 
 has alfo a circular Motion of her own, round 
 the Earth, which Motion interfeds the 
 ecliptick Motion by an Angk of 45 Degrees. 
 
 In Order to explain myfelf the better on 
 thefe two Motions of the Moon, I fhall in- 
 stance the Sailing of a Ship, which is alfo 
 affeded, (at the fame T^ime,) by two Forces, 
 the Wind and the Tide, and her going for- 
 ward is occalioned as either one or other pre- 
 vail. — Thus, as the Sailers always obferve 
 the Ship is accelerated or retarded in her Sail- 
 ing, according as flie goes either with or a- 
 
 gainfl
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 369 
 
 en the MOON' and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 gainft the Tide, and that which ever of the 
 two prevails, either the Wind or the Tide 
 fo is the Ship carried on, either North or 
 Souths or, if both meet in an Angle, her 
 Courfe is in a Diagonal between them; but 
 if they meet exadly oppofite to each other, 
 both Forces are deilroyed, and the Ship ftands 
 flill in the fame Place. — Hence, if a Ship 
 receives a Force from the Wind, to fail two 
 Miles an Hour, and the Current or Tide 
 runs one Mile an Hour ; this one Mile an 
 Hour of the Current, ballances one Mile an 
 Hour of the Force fhe receives from the 
 Wind 3 fo the Ship will loofe the Force of 
 one 'Vlile an Hour in her failing, and in Fad:, 
 will be found to proceed forward one Mile 
 only. — On the contrary, let her turn back 
 with the fame Wind and Current, fhe will 
 then go forward with the joint Forces of 
 both; and will then proceed forward three 
 Miles an Hour. — Much in the fame Manner 
 the Moon is carried round the Sun, through 
 the Ecliptick, as a Satellite of the Earth to- 
 3 A gether
 
 370 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 gether with her -, but as her ahfolute Force 
 round the Earth is double to what carries the 
 Earth round the Sun, and this Force or Cur- 
 rent of Ethers which belongs to the Moon 
 ordy, makes an Angle of forty-five Degrees, 
 in croffing the Ecliptick : By this Means fhe 
 is in one Part of her Orlnt, round the Earth, 
 Half of a Diameter of that Orbit, before the 
 Earth, in the Ecliptick 5 and at another Part 
 of htr Orbit as much behind the Earth, and 
 at her Conjunction and Oppofition, exactly 
 in a Line with it ; always keeping nearly the 
 fame Diftance from the Earth. — 1 hus being 
 aded on jointly by both thefe Forces, when 
 flie comes to her third Quarter, fhe is then 
 carried with an Angle of 45 Degiees, againft 
 the Current of Ethers which forces the Earth 
 round the Sun, through the Ecliptick, and 
 carries on the Earth four Minutes every 
 twenty-four Hours, or a natural Day ; which, 
 as has been obferved, is but Half the Force 
 with which the Moon is carried round the 
 Earth, fo this ecliptick Current of Ethers 
 
 refills
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 371 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 refifls one Minute of that Force, and the 
 Moon's abf^)lute Motion forward, beine re- 
 fifted by one Minute out of two, fo fhe pro- 
 ceeds hut one Minute every fix Hours, or 
 ninety Degrees. — Hence it may be obferved 
 fhe lofes a Moiety of her Force, and goes 
 forward one only. — As foon as O'e comes in 
 Conjundion with the Sun, fhe is then forced 
 towards her firfl Quarter, by the Comple- 
 ment of the Angle fhe makes from her third 
 Quarter to her Change.' — This is alfo 4^^ 
 Degrees ; and, as fhe flill continues to go 
 againji the ecliptick Current, ihe keeps that 
 flow Pace, till fhe comes to the End of her 
 firft Quarter 5 at which Point fhe changes, 
 and inftead of going againit, and being ob- 
 flrudted by the ecliptick Current, fhe re- 
 ceives its additional Force to carry ker on. — 
 Thus, as has been obfeived, her own Force 
 carries her foI^vard two, and the ecliptick 
 Current one-, — and inflead of going with that 
 flow Motion of one, which fhe did from her 
 third Quarter to her firfl, flienow goes three; 
 
 and
 
 372 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 and being a Semi- diameter of her Orbit, be- 
 hind the Earth, occaiioned by her flow Mo- 
 tion from her Change to this Place ; fo now, 
 by her accelerated Motion, (lie recovers this 
 fecond Quarter what fhe had loft in the firft, 
 and hy ihac Means comes oppofite to the Sun 
 at her Full. — She, now by the fame Means, 
 continues the like accelerated Motion, till flie 
 arrives at her third Quarter, at the Entrance 
 of which fhe goes on with her flow Motion 
 as before. 
 
 The above Defcription of the Phenomena 
 of the Moon's Motions, and the Conjediures 
 how they are caufed, feem to make it appear, 
 that the Body of the Moon, and probably 
 the Bodies of all the Planets, are formed 
 much in the fame Manner as this terraqueous 
 Globe is defcnbed to be, ^"^ viz. of a thin 
 Shell on the Outfide, with a large Hollow or 
 Void in the Midft, filled with Fire, Steam, 
 or inflammable Air ^ and confequently of the 
 
 fame 
 
 (n) Let. XVI. XVII.
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 373 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 fame fpecifick Gravity with the Ethers that 
 furround them. — Thus the Moon is carried 
 round the Earth by thefe Ethers, in the fame 
 IVlanher as the Earth is round the Sun; and 
 by being ex-^cftly of the fame fpecifick Gra- 
 vity with thefe Ethers, at the fame D:Jiance 
 fhe IS placed from the Earth -, fhe meets with 
 no Refiitance from them, but is carried on 
 by and with them, with as much Eafe as we 
 fee a Glafs Bubble, of the fame fpecifick 
 Gravity with Water, will be carrijd on by 
 it, never altering its Place, but goes with it 
 in the fame eafy Manner as if it was a Part 
 only of the Water; neither can fhe be moved 
 nearer to the Earth : — As the expanfive or 
 projecftile Power or Force of the Light, re- 
 fled:ed from the Earth, prevents it ; nor can 
 flie be carried farther from the Earth, as the 
 compreffing Power of the Spirit, from the 
 Extremities, prevents it : — Which two 
 Powers, by a joint Mixture, being of the 
 fame fpecifick Gravity with the Moon, flie 
 conftantly moves in the fame Diredion that 
 
 thefe
 
 374 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 thefe do, and with as much Eafe as a Bal- 
 loon does. 
 
 Srnce this Letter was written, Mr. Herfchel\ 
 Difcoveries of the Volcanos in the Moon, 
 confirm the above Conjeftures to be true, and 
 that the B^-dy of the Moon is formed much 
 in the fame Manner as we have defcribed the 
 Earth to be ; indeed it feems difficult to con- 
 .ceive how any large Body of Matter can be 
 fupported and conftrained in the heavenly 
 Spaces, by the furrounding Ethers, unlefs 
 it is of the fame fpecifick Gravity with 
 them 5 and the only Method found or ob- 
 ferved to do it, has been by filling their in- 
 ternal Void with Fire ; by this Means a Body 
 of Gold, or the heavieft Metal, may be made 
 to be of fo fmall fpecifick Gravity as to be 
 forced to the greatefl Dillance from the Earth, 
 by the furrounding Air. — Thus we find that 
 all Nature is formed in a inechanical Manner, 
 and relative to each other in 'Number ^ Weight, 
 and Mea/ure.-^HencQ, as has been already 
 
 obferved.
 
 Let. XXIL ASTRONOMY. 375 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 obferved, thefe Volcanos, both in the Earth 
 and Moon, appear to be the mofl proper Me- 
 thod to regulate the Gravity of thefe Bodies, 
 to the fpecifick Gravity of the furrounding 
 Ethers. — Thefe Vents being a Means, when- 
 ever the internal Expanfion, from the internal 
 Fire^ becomes too great to throw off and 
 difcharge the fuperfluous Fire, and the re- 
 maining is condenfed, much in the fame 
 Manner as may be obferved in the Fire En- 
 gine ; io that it never can arrive to fuch an 
 Height as to deftroy the Body, unlefs thefe 
 Vents were effediually flopped. ^"^ 
 
 Mr Baudy, a Citizen of Geneva, a great 
 and able Aftronomer, has publilhed a Letter 
 agamft Mr. JIerfchel\ Difcoveries, wherein 
 he has treated them as imaginary Vifions, for 
 fays he, ** If within the Compafs of his Te« 
 ** iefcope alone, he can count from 60 to 1 10 
 *' Stars, (Mr. PiBers AfTertion) that may 
 ** prove the Perfedlion of his Infhrument, but 
 
 ** in 
 
 (o) p. 312.
 
 37^ ASTRONOMY. Let. XXII. 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 *' in a Zone of 15 Degrees in Length, and 2 
 ^* in Breadth, could he have {tzn palling in 
 ** an Hour, 50,000 ? j/S prodigious a Kujuher 
 *' could not be fo ealily nor fo readily told !'* 
 He then criticifes thefe Difcoveries in the 
 following Manner. — *' Mr. Herfchel, (fays 
 " he,) a learned Aftronomer, gives Scope to 
 ** his Imagination, but pays no Regard to the 
 ** Reality of his Experiments ; for, (conti- 
 *^ nues he,) by the exadl Obfervations I have 
 *' taken the Pains to make and repeat, in dif- 
 ** ferent Climates of Europe, with excellent 
 ** Telefcopes, I am fure that the moft crowded 
 *' Parts of the Heavens cannot contain fo 
 *^ great a Number of Stars, united in the 
 ** Focus of the beil Inflrument whatever. — 
 *' Whenever the Sky is clear of all Kind of 
 *' Vapours, Stars are, or feem to be in Mo- 
 " tion J fo that their continual Vibration oc- 
 ** cupies t'he Eye in fuch a Manner, that the 
 *' Objecfts multiply in Proportion as you 
 *' count them. — Hhis is what generally de- 
 *' ceives thofe who truji too much to Appear- 
 
 ** ances !
 
 Let. XXII. A S T R O X O M Y. 377 
 
 On the M N and L UNA R M OTI ON S. 
 
 ^^ ances ! — From thofe Illufions fprang the 
 ** Idea of Volcanos in the Moon, which would 
 ** deftroy the njery Idea of the Planet being in- 
 '* habited as ours/'— Hence I obferve,that not- 
 v/ithftanding the above judicious Remarks of 
 fo able an Altronomer as Mr. Baudy appears 
 to be, yet, I think, with Regard to the Vol- 
 cams in the Moon, he fliould have tried his 
 pre-conceived Idea of the Moon being inhabited 
 by the Matter of Fadi only ;— whether thefe 
 were Volcanos or not ? 
 
 Since the above Publication of Mr. Baudy, 
 the French Aftronomers appear to have af- 
 certained the Certainty of the Fa6t; for in a 
 Letter M. De la Laude has written in the 
 Paris Journal, dated March 8, 1788, he ob- 
 ferves, that '* on the 13th Inflant, from Se-^ 
 ** ven to Nine in the Evening, Dom. Novet, 
 " one of the Aflronomers of the Royal Ob- 
 ** fervatory, perceived in the unliglitened Part 
 ** of the Moon, what Mr. Her/che/h2iS called 
 *' a Volcano, like a Star of the fixth Magni- 
 c; B '* tude,
 
 ;78 ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIL 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS. 
 
 ^ tude, or one of the cloudy ones, the Bright- 
 Dels of which increafed, from Time to 
 Time, as by Flalhes. — Other Ailronomers 
 have perceived it, and Mr. {ie Villeneuve 
 had feen it before, on the 2 2d of May, 
 1787. — We cannot, (fays he) therefore 
 doubt of the Exiftance of this Volcano in 
 the Moon, Mr. Herjchel favv it the 4th of 
 iVIay, 1783, and particularly the 19th of 
 April, 1787.— In the Eclipfe of the 24th 
 of June, ijj^y M. d^Ulloa, a well-known 
 Spanifh Aftronomer, had feen on the dark 
 Diflc of the Moon, a bright Point; and in 
 the total Eclipfe of 1715, certain curious 
 Obfervers faw fome Flafhes of Lightning, 
 There is no fenfible Atmofphere. in the 
 Moon, it is true, and Chymifts may dif- 
 pute about the Name of Volcanos being 
 given to fuch apparent Eruption -, but the 
 Name after all is of no Confequence, and 
 we mu ft certainly fubfcribe to Mr. Herjchel's 
 Opinion. — ^This Volcano is fituated in the 
 North-efl Part of the Moon, about three 
 
 " Minutes
 
 Let. XXII. ASTRONOMY. 379 
 
 On the MOON and LUNAR MOTIONS, 
 
 " Minutes from the Moon's Border, towards 
 " the Snot called Helicoii, marl;ed N^, 12, 
 *' in the Figure of the Moon, in my ATrro- 
 ** nomy. 
 
 As I was defirous of fending you my 
 Theory of the lunar Motions, it has occa- 
 ficned my Letter to be of a greater Length 
 th^n I propofcd. — I had alfo a Defign of 
 fending you my Calculation of the Eclipfe 
 which is to happen on the 25th of this 
 Month J bat fhali now fend it you in a fe- 
 parate Letter next Week. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour Friend and Servant, 
 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 TONEHOUSE, 
 
 July 5, 1786.
 
 380 (9;j A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 To JOHN HEAVISIDE, Esq. 
 
 I'o cofifirm what Mr. Penrofe has obferved in 
 his lajt and former Letters. — He has fent 
 Mr. Heavijide a Calculation of the Eclipfe 
 'which is to happen fitly the 2^th. — It is 
 calculated by the Method made ufe of by the 
 Ancients, to vieafure and record Time : — 
 But to Jloew how certain their Method was, 
 it is alfo calculated according to the pre fent, 
 by Equations and Anomilies.- — It may he re- 
 marked, that both thefe Methods differ from 
 each other only 8 M. 11 S. — That the Pa- 
 triarchs and Chaldeans had more Kfiowledge 
 in .AJlronomy than is generally allowed them . 
 This is proved by the 18 Tears Cycle of 
 Eclipfes, and alfo the 19 Tears Cycle of the 
 Moon, both which, it is certain^ we re- 
 ceived from them, and without thefe Cycles, 
 Ajlronomers would be at a great Lofs. — 
 Data on which the Calculations are made, 
 and Conclufons inferedfrom them. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 CCORDING to Promife, I herewith 
 . fend you a Calculation of the Eclipfe 
 
 which
 
 Let. XXIII. On A S T R O N O M Y. 381 
 
 which will happen July 25; with a Recapi- 
 tulation of fome former Obfervations, to 
 confirm what has been obferved in my laft 
 and former Letters. — The ancient Patriarchs 
 and the Chaldeans, meafured their Time, and 
 recorded Events, by the fimple, eafy, and 
 natural fvlethod of keeping an Account of 
 the Days and Years. — That this Account 
 might be remembered with the greatefl: Ex- 
 aftnefs, Mofes tells us, God ordered the 
 Sabbath Day, (or Cycle of i^v^n Days) to 
 be kept as a Feflival, in Commemoration of 
 the Creation, and to tranfmit to Pofterity, 
 an Account, that the Powers and Operations 
 of the heavenly Bodies, were not eternal, nor 
 inherent in them, but was given to them by 
 Him. — And. in Order to commemorate their 
 Months, they were ordered to keep the newy 
 or: firji Appearance of the Moon, as a Feflival 
 alfo; that, by this Means, it might not be 
 forgot. — And that they fliould not miftake 
 or forget when one Year or annual Revolu- 
 tion ended and another began, they were to 
 keep the Feaft of Ingathering, at the E?2d or 
 Rivohition of the Year, after the Fruits of 
 
 the
 
 382 On ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIII. 
 
 the Earth were ripe and gathered in. ^^^ -^ — 
 That this was the M-^thod in Ufe about fix 
 hundred Years after the Flood, is moft cer- 
 tain j for when Jacob v/as brought before 
 Pharoah, Pharoah faid unto him, *' /jow old 
 *' art thou'' — In the Margin of the Bible, 
 til ere is a literal Tranflation of the Hebrew, 
 *' How many are the Days of the Teats of 
 *' th/ Life. ^'^5 Jacob anfwered in the fame 
 Style, *' An hundred and thirty Years ; few 
 ** and evil have the Days of the Tears of my 
 " Life been." — This fhews us that it was 
 the Method of Computation then in Ufe, 
 both by the Patriarchs, and alfo by the Egyp- 
 tians, who were fuppofed to be poiTcfTed of 
 the greatefl Learning. — After this, by fome 
 Means or other, Aftronomers either dropt or 
 lofc this Method of mcafuring and keeping 
 an Account by Days and Tears-, and Unce 
 that Time, have made their Calculations, by 
 dividing the annual Orbit of the Earth into 
 360 Degrees, and meafured it accordingly; 
 and not by the Number of Days as Nature 
 performs it, and as the ancient Patriarchs 
 
 did 
 
 *p) fntioduftion, P. sg.— (q) Intioduft, P. £8, Let, X. P. 235.
 
 Let. XXIII. Or A S T R O N O M Y. 383 
 
 did it. — By this Means, in Order to make 
 the 365^ Rotations of the Earth, in her an- 
 nual Orbit, to tally and agree with the 360 
 Degrees of the Equator, they were oblig.-rd 
 to contrive and ufe artificial Numbers. — in 
 my Calculations, I have adopted the ancient 
 Method, as the moft eafy and certain, and 
 the Method Nature directs. 
 
 It appears to me that the Patriarchs and 
 Chaldeans had more Knowledge in Aflronomy 
 than is generally attributed to them. — Nay, 
 it appears by what I obferved in my lafi: Let- 
 ter, on the lunar Motions, that they knew 
 very well how to calculate the Return of an 
 Eclipfe. — It is allowed by all, that we re- 
 ceived the Cycle of 1 8 Years, for the Calcu- 
 lation of the Return of Eclipfes, from them -, 
 which is called the Chaldean Cycle to this 
 Time. — We alfo received the lunar Cycle of 
 19 Years from them; for we are certain, that 
 MetOy the Athenian Afbronomer, made ufe of 
 it more than 430 Years before Chriil:. ^'^ — 
 Now, Sir, take away thefe two Cycles from 
 
 Aftronomers, 
 
 'i' Diodorus ScuhiS; LIB, 12, P, 305.
 
 384 Oji a S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 
 Aftronomers, and they will find themfclves 
 at a great Lofs, notwithflanding the aftoniili- 
 ing Improvements in Arts and Sciences, par- 
 ticularly in Optlcks. — For my Part, I do 
 freely acknowledge, (notwithftanding it is fo 
 unpopular to do it, in an Age when all Spe- 
 culations which aggrandize the Dignity of 
 Reafon, are fo eagerly received,) that I can- 
 not conceive how Adam, jufl after he was 
 created, could have Knowledge and Under- 
 (landing fufficient to give ideal Names to all 
 Animals, &c. unlefs that Power was given 
 from God» — If God gave him a Power to 
 fpeak and underftand Language 5 is it un- 
 reafonable to fuppofe that he had Inftrudions 
 from the fame Original, how to calculate 
 and know when the appointed Seafons were, 
 which God commanded him to keep holy ? 
 It belongs o?2/y to a Tyrant to make Laws 
 wdiich cannot be obferved i — Mofes taught 
 the Ifraelites when to /fegin their Days, their 
 Weeks, Months, and Years. — This has much 
 the Appearance of Chronology and Aflro- 
 nomy ! 
 
 It
 
 Let. XXIII. On AST R O N O M Y. 385 
 
 It is allowed by All, that Aflronomers 
 calculate Eclipfes, ('vvhich arc not of long 
 ftanding) with great Precifion ; therefore, in 
 Order to confirm what has been obferved, I 
 herewith fend you Calculations of the fuc- 
 ceeding Eclipfe, (which will happen on July 
 25,) by both Methods, viz. the ancient one, 
 by Days, Years, and Lunations, and the pre- 
 fent one by Equations and Anomalies, from 
 which you may obferve, that the Difference 
 of Time is 8 Minutes and 1 1 Seconds only : 
 But the Calculations of all Eclipfes, by both 
 Methods, will not always agree with the 
 fame Exadlnefs ^ for the Motions of the 
 Moon with the Earth, are fo various and 
 complicated and eccentrick, that the Angle 
 of her viiible Appearance often deceives us, 
 fo that equal, true, calculated Time will net 
 agree with that of Obfervation, occafioned 
 by the Eccentricity of the Moon's Motions, 
 and the Angle of Vilion. — This Difference 
 is occafioned much in the fime Manner as 
 the variable Angle the Shadow of the Sun 
 makes on a Dial, and the equable and true 
 Divifion of it by a well regulated Clock, — 
 7 C Hence,
 
 386 Oti A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIIL 
 
 Hence, when wc truft too much to Ap- 
 pearances and Obfervations alone, (as Mr. 
 Baady obferves) they often deceive us, as all 
 Aftronomers allow. — But, as thefe Calcula- 
 tions of Time, and the Places of the Sun, 
 Moon, and Earth, by Days, Years, and Lu- 
 nations, cannot deceive us, they are therefore 
 the moil proper and certain to try Chronology 
 by, and to nieafurc the Diftance between any 
 two Points of Time. 
 
 In my former Letters, I have endeavoured 
 to prove, that the Year of the Creation, ac- 
 cording to the Mofaic Chronology, happened 
 at the autumnal Equinox, in the Year an- 
 fwering to 706, of the Julian Period 5 and 
 that at this very Point or Inftant of Time, 
 the Duration of this terraqueous Globe is to 
 be dated from. ^^^^- In that Point, I have 
 made all Calculation to begin, and to end at 
 fome certain Inftant of Time, in which we 
 cannot be miftaken or deceived ; as at an 
 Equinox or Eclipfe. 
 
 Now, 
 
 (f) Introdu^on, P. 7, Let, X.
 
 Let. XXIII. Ora A STRONG MY. 387 
 
 Now, if we know the Number of the 
 Rotations the Equator has rmdc between 
 thefe two Points, we muft be mathematically 
 certain of its Length and Duration. ('^ And 
 to fhew you that it will do fo, I have col- 
 le>fled the following Data, and prove, by 
 Calculation, that thefe Data are true. 
 
 I ft That at the Creation, the Sun was 
 placed in Libra, at Noon, in the firft Meri- 
 dian, on a Thurfday, the fourth Day of the 
 Week ; when, according to the Molaic Hif- 
 tory. Chronology began. 
 
 2dly, That the Mofaic Chronology places 
 the Year of the Creation, in the Y^ear 706, 
 according to the Julian Period. 
 
 3d, That if the Moon had been in Being, 
 fhe would have been Full the Day before, at 
 Noon, 
 
 4th, That there were four Days, or four 
 
 Rotations of the Earth, before the Sun was 
 
 placed in the Haevens. 
 
 5 th. 
 
 (t) Inlroduaion, P. i6, 78 itQ.
 
 388 0« A ST RO N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 
 5th» That Mofes begins his Chronology 
 on the fourth Day of the Week, at fix o' 
 Clock in the Evening, at the going oft of 
 the Sun, when the Moon made her Ap- 
 pearance, and they then jointly began to per- 
 form the Office God defigned them for; to 
 point out Times, Sea/ons, Days, and Tears ;— 
 and that they then enlightened the whole 
 Earth from Pole to Pole. ("^^ 
 
 This Year, (1786) is the 6499th of the 
 Julian Period; therefore in Order to know 
 the Number of annual Revolutions, fince 
 the Creation, I fubflrad: 706 from 6499, 
 which leave 5793; the Number of annual 
 Revolutions fince that Time; the lafl of 
 which will be compleated at this next au- 
 tumnal Equinox, at the next Full Moon af- 
 ter the Sun enters Libra. — Hence we can 
 meafure the Diflance between thefe two 
 Points with a mathematical Exaclnefs, fupe- 
 rior to a Surveyor meafuring a Garden Walk 
 with his Wheel ; and that as Nature per- 
 forms it, by Days, Months, and Years. 
 
 [u] Let. X, XIV.
 
 Let. XXIII. On A S T R O N O M Y. 389 
 The C A L C U L yV T I O N. 
 
 A. D. 1786 
 Multiply by theNumber of 1 Julian Years 
 Minutes a Julian Year is i. 5793 
 
 longer than a Solar Trop. j n 
 
 5793 
 5793 
 
 DiviJeby Numb, of Years 1 1440x63723/^44 Days 
 which compleat the Sun's > 75760 V. 
 
 Cycle 3 * 
 
 6123 
 5760 
 
 363 
 Hours in a Day — — — 24 
 
 1452 
 726 
 
 Divide 1 440 \ 871 2/6 Hours 
 
 i\5712/( 
 
 ;864ol 
 
 72 
 Minutes in an Hour 60 Minutes 
 
 1440N432O/C 
 y432oV 
 
 0000 
 
 Julian
 
 390 Cn ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIII. 
 
 Julian Ycarj. 
 
 -A-M. 5793 A. I. P. 6499 
 1461 Num. of Quadrants in 
 a Quadriennium. 
 
 5793 
 
 34753 
 23172 
 
 5793 
 Days. H. M.(J. Y. 
 
 Years in Quadriennlum 4x8463573/21 15893 6 oin5793 
 
 ) x\ 44 6 3 Rctroc. 
 
 Sun in Libra 2115848 23 57 iftM» 
 add to bring Meridian of Greenwich ir» 24 
 
 Sun in Libra 2115849 10 21 Lond. 
 Days from Kalends of Jan. to Ocl. 25 298 
 
 2116147 10 2t 
 Julian BifText. 11 D. deduft for N.S. 2115882 
 
 Days from January 1 ft inclufive 265 10 21 
 
 Sun in Libra, Sept. 22 10 21 
 
 According to thofe Calculations, the Sun 
 will enter Libra this Year, at Greenwich 
 Obfervatory, Sept. 22dDay, lothHour, 21 ft 
 Minute, and that it was placed in Libra, at 
 the Creation, (or in the 706 of the Julian 
 Period,) at Noon, in the firfl Meridian, Od. 
 25.— But as Mofes begins his Chronology at 
 Six o'clock in the Evening, when the Moon 
 
 was
 
 Let. XXIII. 071 ASTRONOMY. 39! 
 
 was placed nearly in Oppofitioii to the San, 
 being a little paft its Full, the two Lumi- 
 naries together enlightened the whole Earth. 
 Thefe fix Hours being added, brings it to 
 fix in the Evening, Odt. 25th Day, 6th Hour, 
 o Minute, P. M. 
 
 Another Method, 
 
 D. H M. 
 Retroceffion 44 6 3 
 Bcdu6l for N. S. 11 
 
 33 6 3 
 Deduft for Meridian of Greenwich 10 24 
 
 32 19 39 
 
 D. H. M. 
 
 oa. 25 6 o 
 
 Sept. 30 added to make a Subflraftion 
 
 55 ^ ° 
 
 32 19 39 true RetrocelTion 
 
 Sept. 22 10 21 
 
 Mofes informs us that his Chronology be- 
 gan at Six o'clock in the Evening, which 
 was fix Hours after the Sun was placed in 
 Libra-, hence it may be obferved, that it 
 was the firft Year of the ^adrienniiim -, 
 therefore if we add One to the Year of the 
 
 World,
 
 392 On ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIII. 
 
 World, it will always give us the Year of 
 the ^adi'ienniiwi, by dividing that Sum by 
 four, the Remainder the Year fought. 
 
 Thus 5793 
 
 Divide 4^5794^1448 
 
 Second 
 
 This Hiftory alfo lets us know, that the 
 Sun was placed in the Heavens, and the 
 Earth began her annual Orbit on a Thurf- 
 day, the fourth Day of the Week ; therefore 
 if we add thofe four extra. Days^ to the 
 Number of Rotations the Earth has lince 
 made, and divide the whole Number by 
 Seven, it will give us the Number of Weeks 
 fince the Creation, and the Remainder will 
 be the Day of the Week. 
 
 Thus we find, that from the Sun's enter- 
 ing Libra, in the Year 706, A. I. P. to 
 Sept, 22, this Year, when the Sun enters 
 hibray the Earth will have performed 5793 
 annual Revolutions, and
 
 Let. XXIII. On ASTRONOMY. 393 
 
 2115849 Rotations round its Axis 
 4 extra. Days 
 
 Divide 7\2i i5853/'302264 Weeks 
 
 ) 5 1 Friday According to this Cal- 
 
 culation, we find that Sept. 22, 1786, being the fecond Year 
 of the Ouadriennium, -^vill be on a Friday, the fifth Day oF 
 the WecJc. 
 
 Having now proved, by Calculation, that 
 the Sun will enter Libra this Year, Sept. 
 2 2d Day, loth Kour, 2ifl Minute, on a 
 Friday, as it will be found to do from Ob- 
 fervation : — I lliall now try if the lunar Mo- 
 tions, meafured by the Rotations of the 
 Equator, as they are performed by Nature, 
 will alfo confirm the fame. 
 
 A. M. 5793 ending at the autumnal Equinox. 
 Julian Years. 
 Years in a Cycle, divide by 19^5793 ''304 
 
 n5793, J 
 )57 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 93 
 
 
 
 
 
 76 
 
 
 
 17 
 
 Lunal 
 
 Lions in a Year 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 204 
 
 Inters 
 
 atory 
 
 Lunatio! 
 
 IS 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 209 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 D 

 
 394 Ore A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXUr 
 
 
 
 304 
 
 235 Lunations 
 
 
 
 1520 
 
 
 
 912 
 608 
 
 
 71440 
 
 Lunations 
 
 
 209 Lunar Years 
 
 
 12 j 71649/5970 
 
 
 
 116 
 
 
 
 108 
 
 
 84 
 84 
 
 
 09 Lunations 
 
 
 
 Lunar Years. 
 
 Years in a 
 
 Pe 
 
 ricd 30^970/- 199 Pe 
 
 297 
 270 
 
 
 
 270 
 
 
 
 270 
 
 The Moon's Lunations -being a fmall 
 
 Fradlon lefs than 29 D. 12 H. 44 M. i S. 
 
 45 T, caufe one Day, (as may be obferved) 
 
 to be thrown off in 138 Periods, or 49,680 
 
 Lunations. 
 
 Rotations
 
 Let. XXIII. On ASTRONOMY. 395 
 
 Rotations or Days H. M. S. 
 
 In 138 Periods are 1467078 '24) 9 00 
 
 In 60 Ditto 637860 lo 30 00 
 
 In t Ditto 10631 o 10 30 
 
 In 9 Lunations 265 i8 36 15 
 
 Full Moon, ift Meridian 2115835 5 25 45 
 add to bring to Greenwich Obfcrvatory 10 24 
 
 Full Moon, London 2115835 15 49 45 
 
 add Days from Kalends of Jan. to 061 24 2*^7 
 
 2ii6i3'> 15 49 45 
 Julian Biffex. ii D. deduft for N. S. 2115882 
 
 Days from Jan. 1 inclufive 250 15 49 45 
 
 Full Moon, Sept. 7 ^5 49 45 
 
 to bring to New Moon add Half Lunation 14 18 J2 
 
 New Moon, Sept. 22 10 11 45 This is Sep':.' 
 
 22d D. loth H, 11th M. 45 S. Morning, accord nj to the Julian Reckon- 
 
 Full Moon 2115835 
 
 4 extra. Days 
 
 7> 2115839/302262 
 / 5 V Friday. 
 
 According to the preceding Calculations, 
 the Sun will enter Libra, at the Greenwich 
 Obfervatory, Friday, Sept. 22d Day, loth 
 Hour, 2 1 11 Minute, (1786,) being the le- 
 cond Year after the Quadriennium, or after 
 
 Leap
 
 396 On A is T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 
 Leap Year. — The Earth will then have per- 
 formed, fince file entered Libra, A. L Pc- 
 
 Rotations or Diys H. M. 
 706 2II5849 10 21 
 
 In which Time the Moon will have mace 
 
 .71,649 Revolutions round the Earth, from 
 
 Sun to Sun, which flie has performed in 
 
 Days. H. M. 
 
 2115835 *5 49 
 
 Full Moon. 14 18 32 £PACT 
 
 Kalf Lunation 14 18 22 
 
 New Moon 19 EPACT 
 
 D. H. M. 
 New Moon, Sept. 22 10 11 
 Half Lunation 14 18 22 
 
 Full Moon 7 15 <i^ 
 according the Julian Reck. S 3 49 Morning. 
 
 The aforefaid Motions of the two Lumi- 
 naries, or more properly, of the Earth and 
 the Moon, as they are performed by Nature, 
 and meafured by the equable PvOtation of the 
 Equator, (the jufl and true Root of all Mea- 
 fure,) prove that the Sun and Moon are now 
 in the fame Place, in the Heavens, which 
 they were 5793 Years ago.
 
 Let. XXIII. On ASTRO N O M Y. 397 
 
 As there will be an Eclipfe of the Sun, 
 July 25, this Year, (1786) though invilible 
 to US; I fhall firfl calculate this Eclipfe, ac- 
 cording to the foregoing Method, and then 
 make a Calculation of it from Fergufons 
 T^ables, in Order to try whether it will con- 
 firm or difprove it. 
 
 A. M. 
 i9y5793/'304 
 
 
 itercai 
 
 lOry 
 
 
 93 
 
 7& 
 
 
 
 17 
 12 
 
 II 
 
 Lunations 
 
 204 
 
 
 3'^4 
 ^35 
 
 207 
 
 
 1520 
 
 qi2 
 608 
 
 
 
 71440 
 207 
 
 
 
 l2^7l647 
 ^60 
 
 (597c 
 
 
 -ii6 
 108 
 
 
 
 84 
 84 

 
 398 On A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 
 30)5970(199 
 '30 ^ 
 
 29.7 
 
 270 
 
 270 
 
 270 
 
 Rotations or Days. M. S. 
 
 In 138 Periods are 1467078 (24) 9 00 
 
 In 60 Ditto 637860 10 30 00 
 
 In 1 Ditto ■ 10631 o 10 30 
 
 In 7 Lunations 206 17 812 
 
 } ull Moon 
 Kalf Lunation 
 
 2115776 
 
 3 
 10 
 
 57 
 24 
 
 4- 
 
 2115776 
 
 14 
 10 
 
 21 
 24 
 
 42 
 
 2115776 
 297 
 
 14 
 
 21 
 
 42 
 
 2116073 
 
 2115882 
 
 H 
 
 21 
 
 42 
 
 191 
 
 14 
 
 14 
 18 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 42 
 
 206 8 43 42 
 New Moon, July 25 8 4 24 
 
 Days fince the Creation. 
 
 2115790 
 
 4 Extra. Days 
 
 7\2i 15794/302256 Weeks 
 > 2 '-Tuelday 
 
 According to thefe Calculations, this Ecliple 
 
 ot"
 
 Let. XXIII. On ASTRONOMY. 399 
 
 of the Sun will 
 25th D. 8th H. 
 now try what is 
 gufons 'Tables, 
 
 happen on a Tuefday> Jul/ 
 
 43d M. 42d S. We will 
 
 the Time according to Fer^ 
 
 O . 
 
 CO o 
 
 P Q 
 
 ^S* 
 
 (/J 
 
 
 
 »H 00 
 
 O CO 
 "5 CO 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 < 
 
 05 
 ■73 
 
 -»*ooo 
 
 ,</> 
 
 00 CO 
 
 '^' CO 
 
 M CO 
 
 CO -< 
 
 
 o CO 
 
 C/3 C c-1 
 • CO "^ 
 
 O '^ CO 00 
 
 
 5 ° 
 
 > w 
 
 3 
 
 o o 
 
 c 2 
 
 o y 
 
 .5 >^ 
 
 Si 
 
 o 
 
 •-rt yj CO « 
 C '^^ 
 
 o . 
 
 o K 00 00 
 
 33 
 
 fcfi 
 Q 
 
 ^ G 
 
 2 .2 
 
 rr' r3 
 W ^^ 
 
 ^ ;^-a 
 
 ::; Oli H 
 
 3.2 
 
 -* 3 
 
 CO 
 
 3 5 
 
 
 C 
 O 
 O 
 
 
 ci c/3 CO 
 
 c 
 o 
 o 
 
 2^ 
 
 3 
 
 « 1X> 
 
 00 
 
 CO fi 
 
 CO '^ 
 
 (M 0-3 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 CO rp 
 
 uo ^ 
 
 uo 
 
 10 
 
 00 rt 
 
 ^O O) 
 
 o 
 
 CI 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 CO -• 
 
 >, 
 
 
 
 
 
 3
 
 40O On A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 
 By comparing both thefe Calculations to- 
 gether, viz. that from the Time and Place of 
 the Sun and Moon at the Creation, accord- 
 ing to Mofes's Hiftory of them, meafured by 
 the Rotations of the Equator, as Nature per- 
 forms them ; the other from Fergiijhns ta- 
 bles, which being fome of the new^fc, we 
 take it for granted that they are moft correcft. 
 By comparing both thofe Calculations toge- 
 ther, we find a Difference of 8 Minutes and 
 1 1 Seconds only. — Suppofiag Fergufofis Ta- 
 bles to be precifely true, this fmall Quantity 
 of Difference in Time, can be of no Confe- 
 quence in 5793 Years or annual Revolutions. 
 
 Let it be obferved, that there were here 
 two Points given, viz. the autumnal Equi- 
 nox, 706, of the Julian Period, and the 
 autumnal Equinox, 6499, ^^ ^^^ fame Pe- 
 riod. — Between thefe two Points the Earth 
 has performed 5793 Revolutions- round the 
 Sun, and 2, 1 1 5>790 Rotations round its Axis. 
 During this Time the Moon has made 71,647 
 Revolutions round the Earth, and Half of 
 another, when flie interfered the Earth's 
 
 Orbit,
 
 Let. XXIII. On ASTRONOMY. 401 
 
 Orbit, and caufed an Eclipfe of the Sun. — . 
 Both thefe are meafured by the equable Ro- 
 tations of the Equator. 
 
 From the Facfls and Obfervations In my 
 former Letters, confirmed by the above Cal- 
 culations, I fhall infer the following Con- 
 clufions. 
 
 I ft. That the equable Rotation of the 
 Equator, round its Axis, is the Root or 
 Standard by which Diftaqce, Duration, and 
 Progreffion of Time are meafured, — By di- 
 viding the Equator into twenty-four Parts or 
 Hours, the Duration and Progreffion of Time 
 is known; by its being divided into 360 De- 
 grees, that of Meafurc or Diftance.— Thus a 
 Revolution of 15 Degrees in Meafure, an- 
 fwers exactly to an Hour, or the twenty- 
 fourth Part of the Revolution of the Equa- 
 tor. — In a Minute of Time there will be a 
 Revolution of 15 Minutes of the Equator. — 
 In a Second, a Revolution of 15 Seconds. — 
 Hence, by knov/ing the Diftance or Number 
 of Rotations and Degrees moved forward, or 
 3 E the
 
 402 Cn ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIII. 
 
 the Length of Time pafl, the other may be 
 as eafily known, by converting Rotations and 
 Degrees into Time, or ^' contra. Time into 
 Meafure. 
 
 ^ Thus the Diftance between any two Points 
 of Time, ^// 5emg a Strait Line) may be 
 meafured with the greateft Exacftnefs and 
 Precifion; for the Number of Rotations the 
 Equator makes, is a ftrait Line, the exad: 
 Length between thefe two Points:— and it is 
 the Property of a flrait Line to meafure the 
 Diilance between two Points, with a Mathe- 
 matical Exaclnefs, — By the equable Rotation 
 of the Equator, the annual Orbit is meafured. 
 By the fame Means, the Moon's Lunations, 
 and her other Motions are meafured -, and by 
 this Method the foregoing Eclipfe, and all 
 the others, have been meafured and calculated ^ 
 which Method will always prove mathema- 
 tically true, if we know the Number of Ro- 
 tations, and the Remainder, between any 
 tvv^o Points, let their Diflance be ever fo 
 great, as may be obferved in the foregoing 
 Calculations.— The m.athematical Exadlnefs 
 
 of
 
 Let. XXIII. On ASTRONOMY. 
 
 403 
 
 of this Meafure may be obferved, as you may 
 begin at either Point, or at any intervening 
 Eclipfe, and they will all come out the fame, 
 which nol^abies already formed have been able 
 to do. — This Calculation begins at the Point 
 when the Moon came firfc in Oppofition to 
 the Sun, after the Sun entered Libra, 706, 
 of the Julijn Period; and ends at the Point 
 of Interfediion, when the Moon will be in 
 Conjunction with the Sun, the 25th of this 
 Month. — In this you have not only the Mea- 
 fure between thefe two Points, by the Earth's 
 Orbit, but you have alfo the Point where 
 the Moon, in her Orbit round the Earth, 
 interfedts the Earth in her annual Revolution 
 round the Sun.— The Moon does not meafure 
 her own Orbit or Motions ! but by her In- 
 terfecftions of the Earth's Orbit, with the 
 Affiilance of the twelve Signs or Stars, Chro- 
 nology is afcertained, and Times and Seafons 
 pointed out with a mathematical Precifion. 
 
 2dly, That as Calculations may be made 
 equally true between any one, two, ten, or 
 ten thoufand Years, (each beginning and end- 
 ing
 
 404 
 
 On ASTRONOMY. Let. XXIII. 
 
 ing when the Sun enters Libra, making thefe 
 Calculations according to 365 Days, 5 Hours, 
 49 Minutes, being the exad Length of the 
 folar tropical Year;) fo it muft prove that 
 the Length of the folar Year is 365 Days, 5 
 Hours, 45 Minutes exactly. — And alfo that 
 the Length of the Year is precifely the fame 
 it was 5793 Years ago. 
 
 3dly. That as all or any one of the Moon's 
 Interfed:ion of the Earth, in her annual Or- 
 bit, may be calculated with equal Exadlnefs ; 
 fo I conclude, that the Length of her Lu- 
 nation is properly afcertained; and that in 
 706, (the Year of the Julian Period, when 
 the Creation happened, according to the Mo- 
 faic Chronology,) Ihe was precifely in the 
 Place in the Heavens alTigned to her 3 — that 
 her Orbit is exactly of the fsme Length it 
 was 5793 Years ago; and that flie is now no 
 nearer the Earth than flie was then. 
 
 4thly- I conclude, (as thefe Calculations 
 prove) that the Moon was Full, or in exad 
 Oppofition to the Sun, Od:, 24, at Noon, 
 
 in
 
 Let. XXIII. On A S T R O N O M Y. 405 
 
 in the 706th Year of the Julian Period. — . 
 That the Sun entered Libra that Year, 06t. 
 25, at Noon, one whole Rotation of the 
 Earth, after the Moon was in Oppofition to 
 the Sun.— That this happened on a Thurf- 
 day, the fourth Day of the Week. — That 
 the Moon rofe and began to enlighten the 
 Earth at fix o'CIock in the Evening, fix 
 Hours after the Sun was placed in the Hea- 
 vens, when the Chronology of Time began. 
 That the Moon was then thirty Hours pafl 
 her Oppofition, but that her Declination was 
 fo fmall, as not to prevent the Sun and Moon 
 to enlighten the WHOLE Earth. -That the 
 Moon, by being departed one Quadrant, or 
 fix Hours, fron^the Sun, fliews us that 706,- 
 A. 1, P. mufl be the Beginning of the fe- 
 cond Year of the Quadriennium. 
 
 5thly, That thefe Places of the Sun and 
 Moon, in the Heavens, the Year of the Quar 
 driennium, the Day of the Week, and the 
 Minute of the Day, have not happened again 
 fince that Time, viz. in 5793 Years; nor 
 can it happen again for many Thoufind Years 
 to con:i:e. I
 
 4o5 On A S T R O N O M Y. Let. XXIII. 
 
 I now conclude with afTuring you, that I 
 am, with great Truth, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Tour real and affeBmiate Friend ^ 
 F. PENROSE. 
 
 STONEHOUSE, 
 
 jfulj 12, 1786. 
 
 FINIS,
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 4— —Line 4, for Equatereal, read Equacorcal . 
 
 Bottom 8 /or let: XVII. rea^ LET. XXIII. 
 
 Bottom 10 for LET, VII. read LET. XI. 
 
 12 14, /"or Elipfe, riaf/ Ellipfc. 
 
 18, aWeThat 
 
 13 iG, /"oris, read are, 
 
 Laft Line, ybr Anomilies, read Anomalies. 
 15 4, ^?/c by. 
 
 16 i55/c)r Elipfe, r^ai Ellipfe. 
 
 20 19, 
 
 Note at Bottom for Horns, read Focus, atid is for are. 
 
 25 2, /or 3420, read 4320. 
 
 10, for 1783, read 1753. 
 
 Bottom 26- >r LET. VIII. r?^^ LET. X. 
 
 33 ■ ■ ' « 3,/or tln5, re«c^ their. 
 
 4}/'"' their, read this. 
 
 37 — 1 7,yor reftify, read rctxlties. 
 
 ^1 . 1 i.ybr Equinox, reaof Equinoxes. 
 
 52 24, /"or Strauchas, rc^^ Slrauchius. 
 
 6i 12, for Portcs, read Partes. 
 
 74 ■■ " !■ ■ 10, for Sceptic, read Skeptick. 
 
 78 ■■■■ 4, /or 21 16214, rtYic'/ 2116219. 
 
 — 6. _/or 30:1:6, read '^'-t 2 21 J. 
 
 ■ 7}/'^''^ *^'^^o Days, read Nothing. 
 
 — ii,foriixth, readiouv. 
 
 . -^-ifor Saturday, read Thurfciay. 
 
 c)6— * for 1 1 H. read 1 Hour. 
 
 102 21, y"or 5th Hour, read loth Hour. 
 
 139 ■ — - 1, /or America, rt'aa! Africa. 
 175 ' '■ 18, /or eliptical, read eUiptical. 
 
 207 2,/or Placentia, rda<^ Placenta;. 
 
 237 ' 17,/or Aflumitions, reifli Afl'unitions. 
 
 274 ■' " ■ 9, /or would, rtfW could. 
 
 oyy 13}/'-"' Q'^cJ"i-'g; ^'-^^'^ Querying. 
 
 1:79—.——— y, after not, irfert i\t. 
 316- 1 2,/or Vortix, r^-rt^ Vortex. 
 
 362 — 6, afcr 44 F. read more. 
 
 363 9if'''' '^^^'s, read the. 
 
 08c 9, /"i^r Anomilies, reaii Anomalies.

 
 ri 
 
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