48 ESSAYS anp OBSERVATIONS 
looked the moft folid and weighty objection. 
Whatever caufecan be affigned for the moti- 
on of this fluid roundthe fun, will equally 
apply to the motion of the planets, without 
neceflity of introducing a new fund of mat- 
ter, of the exiftence of which we have no 
evidence. More particularly, motion is ob- 
vioufly an effect which muft have fome 
caufe. This caufe muft either be a continu- 
ed interpofition of a voluntary agent, or a 
power given to matter to continue itfelf in 
motion. A piece of matter cannot move in 
a ftreight line, without one or other of thefe 
caufes; and as little ina circle. Therefore, 
to make this fuppofed fluid to circulate about 
the fun, one or other of thefe caufes muft 
operate; and one or other of thefe caufes is 
{ufficient to account for the motion .of the 
planets, without neceffity of inventing a fluid 
to produce the effect. Des Caries therefore, 
and his followers, are guilty of the fame 
fort of abfurd reafoning, for which we juft- 
ly laugh at the poor Indian, whoa was forced 
to invent an overgrown elephant to reft the 
earth upon, and an overgrown crab to be a 
footftool to the elephant. 
WHETHER 
