"^ PHYSICAL AND LITERARY, i^^ 



with which the hand adheres to, or is 

 preiled againrt: the body, may be greater 

 or lefs at pleafure ; but the force employ- 

 ed againfl the weight, or that which di- 

 redlly oppofes and counteracts it, mud 

 exa(5lly be equal to the weight itfeif. 



The argument againft the law of ac- 

 tion and readlion may be made to con- 

 clude with equal force againft the law of 

 gravity itfeif; and, if it proves any thing 

 at all, will even prove it impoffible that 

 all terreftrial bodies fliould be endued 

 with weight. Mutatis mutandis ^ the rea' 

 foning proceeds thus. Admitting the law 

 of gravity, a fmooth level furface muft 

 be the confequence. And, as the law is 

 not confined to fluids, but is fuppofed to 

 be an univerfal law of matter, a fmooth 

 level furface muft not only be the confe- 

 quence in fluids, but in folids, equally. 

 Here then is a fair dilemma. We muft 

 either acknowledge a fmooth level furface 

 to be always found in fand, powder, and 

 Indeed in all loofe bodies, as well as in 

 fluids, or confine this law of gravity to 

 fluids. Can we remain a moment in 



doubt 



