3 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



33. It is a fufficient refutation of this 

 fyttem, that no phcenomena prove or require 

 its exiftence : whereas Newton^ theory not 

 only folves the fhc^nomena^ but is direftly 

 drawn from a multitude of experiments. Ac- 

 cording to Rulers hypothefis, a body of one 

 colour, placed in homogeneous light of an- 

 other, ought not to appear of the colour of 

 the light, but of a middle one between that 

 and its own natural colour j which is contra- 

 ry to experience *. 



34. If it fhould be faid, That none of the 

 incident light is capable of qualifying the 

 body for emitting its proper colour, but rays 

 of the fame colour : that which he calls 

 new light emitted will be, in his fcheme, 

 more properly incident light reflected. 



35. The chief or only fa6l which feems to 

 have led him into that opinion, is, that there 

 are many coloured bodies, fuch as metals, 

 which are capable of receiving a fine polifli ; 

 and therefore of refleding regularly the i-r 

 mages of other objecls, and at the fame time 

 retain their proper colour by which they are 

 leen in all pofitions. That light by which 

 we fee in them the images of other objedls, 



he 



* i\'f'<M,'/. Opt. book I. part 3. prop. 10. 



