Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Two Curious Philosophical Papers. Written By Dr. Franklin,
meters differing from each other near ten leagues , it is easy to conceive , in case some power should shift the axis graduall y , and place it in die present equator , and make the new equator pa « s through the present poles , what a sinking of the waters would happen in the present equatorial regions , and what a rising in the present polar regions ; so that vast tracts would be discovered that under waters
now are , and others covered that now are dry , the water rising and sinking in the different extremes near five leagues . Such an operation as this possibly occasioned much of Europe , and among the rest this Mountain of Passy on which I live , and which JS composed of limestone , rock and sea shells , to be abandoned by the seaand to change its ancient climatewhich
, , seems to have been a hot one . The globe being now become a perfect magnet , we are perhaps safe from any future change of its axis But we are still subject to the accidents on the ° surface , which are occasioned by a wave in the internal ponderous fluidand such a wave is produced b y the sudden violent explosion ycu mention , happening from the junction of water and fire under the earthwhich not lifts the
, only incumbent earth that is over the explosion , but impressing with the same force the fluid under it , creates a wave that may run a thousand leagues , lifting and thereby shaking successivel y all the countries under which it passes . I know not whether I have expressed myself so clearly as not to get out of your sight in these reveries . If they occasion any new enquiriesand better h
, produce a ypothesis , they will not be quite useless . You see I have given a loose to imagination , but I approve much more your method of philosophising , which proceeds upon actual observation , makes a collection of facts , and concludes no farther than those facts will warrant . In my present circumstances , that mode of stud ying the nature of the globe is out of my power , and therefore I have permitted myself to wander a little in the wilds of Fancy .
VV Mi great esteem , I have the honour to be , Sir , & c . & c . BENJAMIN FRANKLIN , P . S . I have heard that Chymisrs can by their art decompose stone and wood , extracting a considerable quantity of water from the and air from
one , the other . It seems natural to conclude from this , that water and air were ingredients in their original composition : for men cannot make new matter of any kind . ° lit the same manner may we not suppose , that when we consume combustibles of all kinds , and produce heat or lierht , we do not create that heat or light ? " we onldecompose substance which
y a received it originally as a part of its composition ?¦ Heat may thus be considered as originally in a fluid state ; but , attracted by organized bodies in their growth , becomes a part of the solid . Besides this , I can conceive that in the first assemblage of the particles of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Two Curious Philosophical Papers. Written By Dr. Franklin,
meters differing from each other near ten leagues , it is easy to conceive , in case some power should shift the axis graduall y , and place it in die present equator , and make the new equator pa « s through the present poles , what a sinking of the waters would happen in the present equatorial regions , and what a rising in the present polar regions ; so that vast tracts would be discovered that under waters
now are , and others covered that now are dry , the water rising and sinking in the different extremes near five leagues . Such an operation as this possibly occasioned much of Europe , and among the rest this Mountain of Passy on which I live , and which JS composed of limestone , rock and sea shells , to be abandoned by the seaand to change its ancient climatewhich
, , seems to have been a hot one . The globe being now become a perfect magnet , we are perhaps safe from any future change of its axis But we are still subject to the accidents on the ° surface , which are occasioned by a wave in the internal ponderous fluidand such a wave is produced b y the sudden violent explosion ycu mention , happening from the junction of water and fire under the earthwhich not lifts the
, only incumbent earth that is over the explosion , but impressing with the same force the fluid under it , creates a wave that may run a thousand leagues , lifting and thereby shaking successivel y all the countries under which it passes . I know not whether I have expressed myself so clearly as not to get out of your sight in these reveries . If they occasion any new enquiriesand better h
, produce a ypothesis , they will not be quite useless . You see I have given a loose to imagination , but I approve much more your method of philosophising , which proceeds upon actual observation , makes a collection of facts , and concludes no farther than those facts will warrant . In my present circumstances , that mode of stud ying the nature of the globe is out of my power , and therefore I have permitted myself to wander a little in the wilds of Fancy .
VV Mi great esteem , I have the honour to be , Sir , & c . & c . BENJAMIN FRANKLIN , P . S . I have heard that Chymisrs can by their art decompose stone and wood , extracting a considerable quantity of water from the and air from
one , the other . It seems natural to conclude from this , that water and air were ingredients in their original composition : for men cannot make new matter of any kind . ° lit the same manner may we not suppose , that when we consume combustibles of all kinds , and produce heat or lierht , we do not create that heat or light ? " we onldecompose substance which
y a received it originally as a part of its composition ?¦ Heat may thus be considered as originally in a fluid state ; but , attracted by organized bodies in their growth , becomes a part of the solid . Besides this , I can conceive that in the first assemblage of the particles of