312 Thoughts on the fuppofed Variatiom 



under the fame parallels of latitude would experience a like 

 change in regard to the duration of the fcafons. 



2d, If the axis of the earth, without cliangino; its inclina- 

 tion, (hould acquire a new direction towards feme other 

 quarter of the heavens, the two points t and -^^ where the 

 ecliptic interfefts the equator, and all the other circles con- 

 ne6led with it, would pafs through other points of the ecliptic. 

 This would make no change m the duration of the feafons, 

 or the ftate of the fun at noon. 



3d, If the inclination as well as pofition of the axis (hould 

 be changed, a refult compounded of both the above cafes 

 would take place. 



4th, But if the earth fliould be carried around the fun in 

 another plane, the refult would be a new apparent courfe of 

 the fun. The feafons would remain the fame, or acquire 

 fome change in their duration, according as the axis fliould 

 be inclined as at prefent, or in a ditl'erent manner towards 

 the new orbit, and all the countries of the earth would par- 

 ticipate in this change. Thefe four cafes, however, have no 

 influence on the ek-valion of the pole of any place. 



5th, On the other hand, fhould the poles of the cartli 

 change their place, the obliquity of the ecliptic would alio 

 be changed, the equator would pafs through other countries, 

 and the elevation of the pole of thefe countries would be 

 changed. This change of the pole, however, can take place 

 only in the direction of fome meridian; and confequently 

 from north to fouth, and from fouth to nortii. By thefe 

 means one half of the equator would be carried over northern 

 and the other over fouthern countries; and therefore all coun- 

 tries would not equally participate in the changes thence oc- 

 cafioned in the duration of the feafons; at Icatt, all countries 

 lying under the fame fouthern or northern zones could not 

 come together into the torrid zone, or into an uniiorm' 

 fituation. 



If the alteration of "the pole fhould take place in the direc- 

 tion of the meridian that paflTes through the folfliccs, neither 

 the ecliptic nor the different quarters of the earth would ex- 

 perience any change; the obliquity of the former only would 

 be altered as well as the pofition of the equator in proportion 

 to the above alteration. Should the alteration of the pole take 

 place in the dire£tion of any other meridian, a change would 

 be produced in the ililltrcnt quarters of the globe, the obli- 

 q\iity of the terrellrial equator, and the ligns of the echp- 

 tic. Tn the laft place, fliould the pole move along the me- 

 ridians paffing through either of the equinoctial points, the 

 above phenomena would take place, and the points of the 



. . . ecliptic, 



