228 HISTORY OF CHINA. 



But since gravitation solicits s with a force of lib. 

 and w with one of 41bs., whilst the conditions of the 

 lever would give s a rate of motion 4 times that of w ; 

 the resistance of w is by the law above proved exactly 

 equal to the impulse of s ; and this resistance being 

 applied simultaneously with the moving force, the mo- 

 tion is prevented at the outset. Thus the lever remains 

 in equipoise. But move s ever so little farther from 

 the fulcrum, its rate of motion being proportionately 

 increased, the resistance of w will no longer be equal 

 to it. The motion will consequently take place ; that 

 is, the equilibrium will be destroyed. 



J. P. 



FATHER KIRCHER'S HISTORY OF CHINA. 



IN this march-of-intellect period when the generality 

 of people take the trouble to use their own brains in- 

 stead of trusting to those of others, it would be difficult 

 to cram down the throats of the commonality such 

 bouncers as they were formerly in the habit of swallow- 

 ing. Travellers of the present day must not diverge too 

 much from the truth if they wish to acquire credence 

 or respect, and those who describe foreign countries 

 find it convenient to rein in the vigour of imagination, 

 and trust to their sober judgment; there are exceptions, 

 no doubt, but these are few ; such writers as Waterton 

 are rare, we seldom are told now by a traveller that he 

 by design grappled in deadly and single combat with 

 a monstrous and venomous serpent, or that he ran races, 

 bare-backed on a crocodile with as much coolness as 

 a coal-heaver mounted on a jack ass. 



Those who have been in the habit of looking no 

 farther than Bruce, Psalmanazar, or Mandeville, for 

 the Romance of foreign description might find that 

 that pious priest and Jesuit Father Kircher, possessed 

 a bump of imagination quite as active as those of the 

 worthies above named. 



