206 Experiments on Vegetation. 
is to the rotary, or as eighty to.one. Let us suppose the axis of 
the earth perpendicular to the plane of the earth’s orbit, that 
the earth is turning from A to G, and that it moves in the orbit 
in the direction EQ. , A stone projected from the piont A, will 
continue tu rise till its vas mertie is overcome hy the attraction 
of gravitation, by which it will be drawn to the point from whence 
it was projected. The orbicular and rotary motions of the earth, 
have no power, whatever, to cause a body thus projected, to re- 
turn again to the earth; but on the contrary, were it possible 
that the earth could perform its revolutions, retary and orbicular, 
without the existing principle attraction the stone spoken of, 
without the addition of any muscular or explosive force, would 
not remain on the earth, but would fly off in the direction A D, 
in obedience to the indisputable laws of motion. An attentive 
examination of the annexed diagram, will familiarly show that it 
is impossible for a projectile thus neglected by its guardian at- 
traction, ever again to return, 
I am willing to admit, that the orbicular and rotary motions 
of the earth combined, on account of the inclination of the earth’s 
axis, preduce some peculiar effects net yet justly noticed ; but I 
am more inclined to suppose that they are the cause of the pre- 
eession of the equinoxes, or of the nutation of the earth’s axis, 
than of that great and still unfathomable principle which cannot 
but excite the wonder and admiration of unassuming philoso- 
phers. 
But admitting (which I have not the least inclination to do) 
that your theory holds good at the equator, how will you account 
for the attraction of gravitation at or near the poles? How will 
you account for the horizontal attraction of the sun and moon? 
will you be able to account for our tides, neap and spring? If 
you can give satisfactory answers to these questions, you will no 
doubt very much stagger the present ideas of, 
Sir, yours, &c. 
Norwich, July 24, 1817. Henny RussEx. 
XXXI. On Mr. Tatum’s Experiments on Vegetation. By 
A CorRESPONDENT. 
To Mr. Tilloch. 
‘Sir, — In the advanced state of chemical science, the accumu- 
lation of experiments proceeds with so much rapidity, that it is 
possible a man of the most extensive reading may claim as.a dis- 
covery an observation which ,\had been made by another. But 
when a correspondent pretends to enlighten one of the most 
controverted subjects of exporimental science jby views and ex- 
periments 
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