Opticks 1717 - Up

Co11 in moving three times the Ici@ of its
Dinmetcr, and a Globe not folid (iuch as are
the Plalxts) would be retarded fooncr. And
~h-efo~*e to make way for rhe regular and MEillg
b!hions of the Planets and Comets, it’s ne-
CefSry to empty the Heavens of all Matter, CXcept
perhaps fame very thin Vapours, Steams
or Effluvia, arifing fro13 the Atmofplleres of the
Earth, Phets and Comets, and f’rom hch an
exceedingly RUT Ethereal P&dium as we dcbribed
above. A dude Fluid can be of no ufe
for explaining the Phaiome~~a of Nattue:, the
Mutions of the Plmets and Comets being better
explain’d without it. It i’erves only to diiturb
and retard the &lotions of thofe great ISodics,
and r&e the Frame of NatqkTe laiiguiilz : And
in the Pores of ‘Bodies, it ierves only to itop
the vibrating Motions of their Parrs Y wherein
their Meat and AAivity conliits. And as ir is
of no L&Z, and hinders the Operations of Nnturs,
and rnalces her languifh, f there is no e-
vidcl~ce for its Exiifence, and ther$fore it ought
.- to be rejeCted. And if it bc rejccikd, the ffypothefes
that Light coiif$.s in PrdIiOll 01’ Moition
propagated through fuch a hledium, are
FejjeAed with it.
And for rejeAing fuc!l a Medium, WC have
the Authority of thoi’e the old& and moft ce-
‘lebrated Philoibphers of &wcc and ‘PIJc;t:tk&
who made a Ydczwa and Atoms, atld the Gravity
of Atoms, the firit Principles of their Phi-
.k&~plly j tacitljf mrilmtii~ Gravity to fbm +
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