On a New Theory of the Tides. 93 



the expansion of water is the immediate cause of the rising of 

 the tides ; and then, as philosophers, as lovers of truth, as men 

 whose judgement will be rejudged by a succeeding generation, 

 that will know nothing of the bias and prejudices of the pre- 

 sent day ; but, above all, as men of integrity and honour, you 

 are bound to admit so much of my theory as depends upon, 

 the expansion of water *. 



In speaking of tlie bias and prejudices of the present da}', 

 I beg to be undo'stood as merely meaning to infer, that opi- 

 nions, which we have been taught in our infancy to revere 

 as the most sacred truths, very frequently take so strong a 

 hold upon the mind, that they are not easily eradicated even 

 when they can be proved to be wrong; to venture to dispute 

 them is little short of being guilty of a crime, and we shut our 

 ears agaiiist every argument by which they can be oppugned. 

 It occasionally happens, however, that the truth of some one of 

 these dogmas, especially when it is grounded upon no better 

 argument than authority, is called in question: this produces 

 discussion, the struggles of its advocates hasten its downfall; 

 and though we may still obstinately cling to it with the tena- 

 cious adherence of drov/ning men, it loses its hold upon pos- 

 terity, and a succeeding generation, considering it merely in 

 the light of a debatable question, judges of it by its intrinsic 

 merits alone, and, throwing aside all prejudice, makes it give 

 place to a better system. It is tluis that opinions, which in 

 the time of Galileo were held to be indisputable, are now 

 universally exploded even by the most ignorant. 

 I am, gentlemen, 

 Your most obedient and verj' humble servant, 

 Walter Forman. 



* Let us suppose a man to be carr^-ing a weijrht upon his shoulders, and 

 occasionally to be stooping down, and standing upright. Would not the 

 con/i/i/W pressure of the weight upon the man's shoulders, be a sufficient 

 argument that it was not pvlled upwards by an invisible power above, but 

 was pushed upwards by his own exertions? and are not both cases j)recisely 

 similar? U we could, by any possibility, take away the water l)elow, can 

 any one believe that the power of the moon's attraction could jirevent the 

 water above fi-oin falling down ? and, if it cotdd not, how can we account 

 fur tlie rising of the tides, except by sujiposing expansion in the particle* 

 of water ? 



XVIII. Tnie apparent Right Ascension of Dr. MASKErvxE's 

 S6 Stars for even/ Day in the Year 1822, at the Time of 

 passing the Meridian ofGreenmch. By the Rev. J. Ghooby. 



|f 'onfinncd from page o3.] 



1822. 



