A Proof the Sun does not move round the Earth. which the Planets, both primary and fecondary, perform their respective Motions; and that this Law obtains in all the circulating Bodies of the Univerfe; 'tis evident the Sun would observe it also, did it really move round the Earth, as it appears to do, in 365 Days: But that it does not observe it is plain, for the Moon moves about the Earth in 27 Days, and is 60 Semidiameters of the Earth diftant from us. Now the Square of 27 is 729, and of 365 is 133225; alfo the Cube of 60 is 216000; therefore fay, As 729: 133225 :: 216000: 39460356, the Cube Root of which is 340 nearly, which therefore fhould be the Distance of the Sun in Semidiameters of the Earth But 'tis well known the real Distance of the Sun is above 2000 Semidiameters; according to which it could not turn round the Earth in lefs than 5196 Years, if it obferved the fame general Law which all the reft of the heavenly Bodies do. Confequently the Earth moves round the Sun, and not the Sun round it. This is called the Annual or Yearly Motion of the Earth: Befides which, at the fame time, it revolves about its Mation of the Own Axis once in 24 Hours, and is call'd the Diurnal Motion, which is the Caufe of Day and Night, as the other is, in part, of the Seasons of the Year: All which you have largely illuftrated in my Philofophical Grammar. The Annual ard Diurnal Earth. The Earth, as a Planet, is fituate in the third Orb from the Sun. SINCE then the Earth is a Body moving round the Sun as its Center, it must be esteem'd a Planet as well as Mercury, Venus, Mars, &c. are for the very fame Reafon; and with refpect to them obtains its Place the third from the Sun or Center, having Mercury and Venus below its Orb, and Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn above it. THE internal Subftance or Conftitution of Of the internal Substance of the Earth is entirely unknown to us at all Depths below the Surface. Some think the central Parts Earth. are are poffefs'd by Fire, others fay by Water, but others there place an immenfe Loadstone, from which those leffer Magnets we use derive there Virtue and wonderful Properties, as being Parts thereof, and acting in a perfect Conformity to its Nature But thefe Things are uncertain. However, certain it is that the outward Shell or Crust of the Earth is compofed of divers heterogeneous Substances, of different Gravities, difpofed, for the most part, in the Form of Beds, cal- Various Peds, led Strata, or Layers of Earth, Loam, Clay, Chalk, or Layers of Stones, Sand, Mineral and Metallic Ores, Sulphur, Moulds and Earth, comSalts, &c. varioufly intermix'd together, as ap- pofe the outpears from the digging of a Well at Amfterdam ward Shell. 232 Feet deep, where the Veins of the Earth, &c. appear'd as follows: Such is the Make of the outward Part of the into SPECIAL GEOGRAPHY, which treats The Subject of of the terreftrial Part of the Earth's Surface, or Special Geothat we call Land. This admits of the following graphy divided Divisions, viz. (1.) Continents; which are large Continents. and fpacious Tracts of Land, comprehending divers Countries, Kingdoms, and States, all con tiguous Iflands. tiguous to each other, and uninterrupted by Seas or Water. Of these there are four, viz. Europe, Afia, Africa, and America. (2.) Ilands; which are Parts of Land entirely encompass'd with Water; fuch as Great-Britain, Ireland, &c. (3.) Peninfula's. Peninfula's; which are Parts of dry Land every where enclofed with Water, fave one narrow Neck by which it is join'd to the Continent. Ifthmus's. (4.) Ifthmus's are thofe Necks of Land which join the Peninfula's to the main Land, and by which People pafs from one into the other. Promontories. (5.) Promontories; which are high Parts of Land ftretching out in the Sea, the Extremities whereof Mountains. are call'd Capes or Head-Lands. (6.) Mountains; these are rifing Parts of dry Land, well known to all without farther Defcription. The Waters divided into Oceans. Seas. Gulphs. Streights Rivers. Lakes. HYDROGRAPHY, which treats of the watry Parts of the Earth's Surface, divides its Subject as follows, viz. (1.) Oceans; which are thofe mighty Collections of Water that cover the greatest Spaces of the Earth's Superficies, and flow around the Continents. (2.) Seas; thefe are finaller Collections of Water, which are entirely, or for the greatest part, furrounded by Land. (3.) Gulphs; which are thofe Parts of the Sea that run up into the main Land, and are therewith environ'd, except one Paffage whereby it communicates with the open Sea or Ocean. (4.) Streights; which are thofe narrow Paffages either joining a Gulph to a Sea, or one Part of a Sea or Ocean to another. (5.) Rivers; which are Streams of fresh Water iffuing from Fountains, and gliding in large Chanels through the Countries to the Sea or Ocean, where they dif embogue themselves. (6.) Lakes are thofe fmall Collections of deep ftanding Water, entirely furrounded by Land, and having no vifible Communication with the Sea. BEFORE cognita, viz. BEFORE we proceed to treat of the feveral The Definition turn. (2.) The Poles of the Earth or Globe are The Poles. the Globe into the vifible and invifible Hemi- (5.) The Meridian is a great Circle paffing thro' The Meridian. ridian Latitude. Longitude. Zones. Temperate ridian to the North or South; whence arifeth Parallels of North or South Latitude. (11.) Parallels of Latitude are leffer Circles parallel to the Equator and each other, and are drawn thro' every 5 or 10 Degrees of Latitude North and South. (12.) Longitude is the Distance in Degrees from the first Meridian, and meafur'd on the Equator from Weft to Eaft. (13.) Zones are large Tracts of the Earth's Surface, lying parallel to the Equator, and encompaffing the Globe like broad Belts; whence their Name. Of these there are three Kinds, viz. the Torrid, Temperate, and Frigid Torrid Zone. Zones. The Torrid Zone is one, and lieth between the two Tropics, and is divided by the Equator; it hath its Name from the Sun's going perpendicularly over it, and scorching or terrifying it with its Heat. The Temperate Zones are two, one on each Side the Equator, being included between the Tropics and Polar Circles. In these the Sun's Heat and the Seafons are temperate. The Frigid Zones. Frigid or Frozen Zones are two alfo, the North and the South; they lie between the Polar Circles and the Poles, and encompass the Poles all around. In them the Seafons have the greatest Extremity of Cold, whence their Name. (14.) Climates are thofe Tracts of the Earth's Surface which run parallel to the Equator, and of such a Breadth from North to South, that the Length of the artificial Day in one furpaffeth that in the next by Half an Hour. Of thefe Climates there are 24 on each Side the Equator, which reach to the Polar Circles; after which the Climates are reckon'd from the Difference of an entire Month, and are in Number Six; the Sun being feen in the first one whole Month without fetting; in the fecond, two Months; in the third, three; and fo on, as you fee in the Table adjoined. Climates. Number of A TABLE |