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424 
her other motions into account, we may 
find that this is corrected ; for example, 
her quick motion in acceding to the sun, 
to a considerable degiee nearer than 
what the earth approaches, and again 
receding to a greater distance; by the 
one, the sun will produce a preater effect 
wpon her tides tian npon the terrestrial 
tides, and by the other a less, from which 
her spring and neap-tides will’arise, but 
both will tend to encrease the agitation 
of her’ waters, which, together with her 
other motions, commonly designed irre- 
gularities, will regulate the mation of her 
waters so as to be similarly equal to the 
effects produced by the terrestrial tides ; 
and thus the primaries and their secon- 
daries are mutually beneficial to one 
another. 
But as Copernicus, jun. very pro- 
perly observes, that, a great part of the 
moon’s surface does not receive the be- 
nefit of light reflected from the earth; to 
compensate this, that part of her surface 
is screened from the powerful effect of 
the tides, which would be caused by the 
direct attraction of the earth vpon the 
waters of the moon, except at change, 
and which the other motions of the 
moon, particularly in her spring tides, 
would cause to be so much accelerated, 
as to render ber coast not habitable for 
some miles from shore; her high tides 
making so great incursions upon her 
land, 
But what the opposite disk of the 
moon is composed of, can only be the 
subject of conjecture, taken from the 
supposed similarity¢he may have to our 
earth in that respect. 
It is observable, that so soon after 
change, as a small part of her illuminated 
disk comes in view, the disk oppo- 
site to the sun, and turned to the earth, 
likewise appears; and, under some cir- 
cumstances, is rendered very discernible: 
if at such times that disk, and such parts 
of her opposite disk as are turned to the 
earth by her libration, be attentively ob- 
served, in order to discover whether it 
be serrated like the other parts of her 
disk, or whether-any parts of it are more 
smooth; and a comparison made between 
its appearance, and the appearance of 
the surface of water at night; if such ob- 
servation and comparison be carefully 
made, we might perhaps form a pretty 
true idea of the composition of the op- 
posite hemisphere of the moon. I have 
no doubt that Doctor Herschel would 
readily undertake these observations. 
T have thus risked a conjecture upon 
Vindication of the Proposat 
[June 1, 
the query proposed by Copernicus, jun. 
Without such queries and conjectures 
upon them, when demonstration cannot 
be brought directly forward, advance in 
arts, science, or literature, cannot be 
expected. Although advances in either 
of these are not to be formed upon con- 
jecture, at the same time, queries and 
conjectures may be so improved, as to 
produce at Jast a demonstration; or such 
a degree of certainty, as by natural con- 
sequence may be considered not to fall 
short of it. - OBSERVATOR. 
a 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
A VINDICATION of the PROPOSAL fo 
REPEAL the act Of UNIFORMITY. 
OUR Correspondent H. at p- 29, 
professes to examine a paper con- 
cerning the value of uniformity in re- 
ligious opinion. Full of his own pre- 
conceptions, and inattentive to the ar- 
gument advanced, after talking about 
toleration, which is not the topic han- 
dled, he decides against the enquirer’s 
proposal to repeal the Act of Unifor- 
mity, as intolerant toward the members 
of the establishment. 
Toward what members ,of the esta- 
blishment? , 
Is it intolerant to the clerical order, 
who would thereby be set at liberty to 
read prayers: and to preach sermons, 
exactly consonant with their own in- 
dividual sentiments? Without fear of 
deposition by the consistorial court, 
Mr. Stone might then deny the perso- 
nality of the Holy Ghost, or Dr. George 
Somers Clarke, the existence of pro- 
phecy; My. Overton might preach his 
calvinism, and the bishop of Lincoln 
his arminianistn, unrebuked, Clerical 
opinion would no longer be amenable 
before any inquisitorial ecclesiastic ju- 
risdiction. . 
Is it intolerant to the /aity? Less so -} 
at least than the present system. By. 
allowing the priest to accommodate his 
liturgic and homiletic addresses to the 
surrounding state of public belief, the 
risk of discordance between the parson, 
and the parishioners must evidently be 
diminished. Something would be done 
to meet the wish of the neighbourhood. 
Ecclesiastics of a compromising spirit, 
are more numerous in the proportion 
of ten to one, than ecclesiastics ambi- 
tious of proclaiming that they think foe 
themselves. Where an autonomous 
mind exists, it is mostly attended with 
a spirit of prosclytism, which slowly 
makes converts. Thus, whereter a 
~~ change 
