( 31Q ) 



I then placed the globe on a table, and, taking hold of the end of 

 the pieces of twine, I twilled them round feveral times, which, 

 upon lifting up the globe from the table, caufed it to fpin or whirl 

 round. In this contrivance I purpofed to reprefent, by the leaden 

 bullet, our earth; by the water, the air we breathe; and by the wax, 

 the clouds floating in the atmofphere. 



Now, in the circumrotation or fpinning round of the glafs globe, 

 the leaden bullet, moving flowly, feemed as it were, fufpended in 

 equilibrio. But the particles of wax, which, while the globe was 

 at refl, lay round about the leaden bullet, now flew ofl^ from it, and 

 difperfed themfelves as far as the infide of the glafs globe would 

 permit them. 



Then lowering the glafs globe, while it was yet in motion, 1 fuf- 

 fered it to refl on the table, upon fome paper or a cufliion, to pre- 

 vent the glafs being broke ; and when the globe was fo placed, I 

 faw the particles of wax, at firfl: in a confufed and irregular motion, 

 but at length they all fubfided and fettled round the leaden bullet, fo 

 as almoll to cover it. 



Now in like manner, as by the motion of the glafs globe, the 

 particles of wax which at firft furrounded the leaden bullet, were 

 driven away and feparated from it, fo I am perfuaded that the 

 clouds, by the diurnal motion or revolution of our earth, are kept 

 fufpended in the atmofphere. And as, when the motion of the globe 

 ceafes, the particles of wax fubfide, and colledl themfelves round 

 about the leaden bullet, fuch, I am of opinion, would be the effedl 

 if the motion of the earth were to ceafe ; for that all the clouds, 

 the watery parts of the atmofphere, and other bodies that have 

 gravity, coidd not remain fufpended in the air, but would fall to 

 the earth, and there remain. 



Again, if while the particles of wax lie round about and cover 

 the leaden bullet, tlie cork which ferves as a flopper to the globe 

 be taken out, and the thread which is fixed to the bullet, be fo 

 lengthened as to iuiicr the bullet to lie at the bottom of the glafs ; 



