THE 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 



NOFEMBER 180CK 



A Jhort View of the Obfervations which have heen made at 

 different Times on the Luminous Appearance of the Sea, 

 Read in the Phyjical Society of Gottingen, by J. G. L. 

 Blum hoff *. 



A HERE are many things in nature of which we know 

 nothing more than that they exift : refpecling the manner in 

 which they exift, and for what purpofe, we are entirely ig- 

 norant. They are often the obje6ts of our wonder and ad- 

 miration ; but, owing to the imperfection of our faculties, 

 we can acquire no fatisfaclory knowledge of their nature. 

 The only courfe, therefore, which, as rational beings, we can 

 purfue in fuch cafes, is to endeavour, by the help of con- 

 jectures, to open a way to truth ; and, when this cannot be 

 accomplished, to endeavour to approach as near to it as pof- 

 fible. This, indeed, mav often be effe&ed with ibme degree 

 of fuccefs, by admitting certain hypothefes, or fundamental 

 principles deduced from analogy, efpecially when our re- 

 searches are conducted with accuracy and perf-venmce. It 

 may be proved by innumerable inftances, taken from the 

 hiftory of the fciences, that hypothetical and conjectural 

 explanations have often conducted mankind to the difcovery 

 of immutable laws, and truths of the greateft importance. 

 To explain the phenomena of nature, has always been 



* From MagaxinfUr den Ncurjien lujland dtr Waturkur.ds, &c. Vol. I. 

 part 4. 



Vol. VIII. O tfa« 



