Cursory remarks on some parts of a work, entitled Studies of nature ; originally written by M. de Saint Pierre, and translated into English by ... Henry Hunter / [William Cole].

  • Cole, William, active 1807.
Date:
1807
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cursory remarks on some parts of a work, entitled Studies of nature ; originally written by M. de Saint Pierre, and translated into English by ... Henry Hunter / [William Cole]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ver entertained by any one who understood the Newtonian theory,ho denies the existence of a cen¬ trifugal force ; but he does not seem to understand either the nature or the cause of it. For speaking of the earth as a body detached from the sun [Page - 221, VoL 1.] he says, “ Thesun, it is said, has a <c centrifugal force. The globe of the earth there- “ fore must be retiring from it. No, it is alleged, “ because the earth has a constant tendency toward “ that luminary. It must accordingly, have lost “ the centrifugal force, which should adhere to its « very nature, as being a portion of the sun.” From this exhibition of his sentiments it is evident, that he considers a centrifugal force, not as it is in fact, a mere effect of motion, but as a pro¬ perty of matter. And because he cannot recon¬ cile the effects of central forces with his own conceptions he denies their existence. “The cen¬ trifugal and centripetal forces” says he [Page 123, Vol. I.1; “ seem to me no more to exist in the hea- “ vens, than the two circles denominated the equa¬ tor and the zodiac,” having disposed of those for¬ ces, he introduces his own theory, respecting the figure of the earth, as amply sufficient to supply the defect; and in illustration of the supposed consequences of his hypothesis, he remarks [Page 17. Vol, III.] “ All truths run into one .another