6 KANT'S PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION 



this fluid matter, will impress on the earth a part of this 

 agitation. The earth is actually found in such circum- 

 stances. The water of the ocean covers at least a third 

 of its surface, and by the attraction of the said heavenly 

 bodies it is kept in ceaseless motion and it moves 

 towards that side which is directed right opposite to the 

 axial rotation. It deserves therefore to be carefully con- 

 sidered, whether this cause is not capable of bringing 

 about some alteration of the rotation. The attraction of 

 the moon, which has the greatest share in this effect, 

 keeps the water 'of the ocean swelling incessantly, whereby 

 it strives to flow to the points directly under the moon, 

 both on the side turned to it and on that which is turned 

 away from it, and thus to rise up ; and because these 

 points in the swell advance from east to west, they com- 

 municate to the ocean a constant onflow of all it contains 

 in that direction. The experience of navigators has long 

 since put this universal motion beyond doubt ; and it is 

 observed most distinctly in gulfs and bays, where the 

 water increases its velocity from having necessarily to 

 course through a narrow strait. Now, as this onward 

 flow is directly opposed to the rotation of the earth, we 

 have a cause upon which we can certainly calculate that 

 it is incessantly exerted with all its power to weaken and 

 to diminish that rotation. 



It is true that if we compare the slowness of this 

 motion with the rapidity of the earth, the slightness of 

 the quantity of the water with the greatness of the globe, 

 and the lightness of the former with the heaviness of the 

 latter, it may appear that its effect might be held to be 

 nothing. But, on the other hand, when it is considered 

 that this rush is incessant ; that it has lasted from the 



