VOL. VI. j PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. fijg 



of a vacuum, but because of the equilibrium of the atmosphere : that levity is 

 only an accident attending gravity, the less weight being forced up by the 

 greater : that the rushing of air, or other fluids, into an exhauste<l vessel, in 

 caused by its gravity or elasticity : also that exhaustion and distension being 

 effected, hence result fermentations, deflagrations, and all kinds of explosions : 

 that the gravity in the lower arises from the motion (or rather pressure) in the 

 superior aether. 



Objections however are brought against his theory or hypothesis. Dr. WalHs 

 observes, that the basis of the new hypothesis is derived from his abstract theory 

 of motion, namely that no cohesion arises from quiescence or rest, but that all 

 consistence or cohesion comes from motion (which acgords with the opinion of 

 Wm. Neil.) But Mr. Boyle, with others, is of a contrary opinion, who holds 

 that consistence arises from the quiescence of the particles, and fluidity from 

 their continual motion. Others refer it to the various figures and hooked en- 

 tanglings of the atoms. The doctor however declines to pronounce positively 

 on this head, but leaves the matter to be cleared up hereafter by further ex- 

 aminations ; acknowledging that many things in the theory of abstract motion 

 meet his approbation, being treated with subtlety and solidity, and meriting the 

 consideration of the learned. 



J7i Account of some BooJcs. N" 74, p. 2231. 



I. A discourse touching the Original of Human Literature, both Philology 

 and Philosophy ; in two parts : by Theoph. Gale, M. A. Oxford, 1669 and 

 1671, in 4to. 



The business of this book is, to derive human arts and sciences from the Jewish 

 Church ; for the doing of which the author professes he has been encouraged by 

 considerable hints and assistances of the Scaligers, and of Grotius, Vossius, Bo- 

 chart, Selden, Usher, Preston, and others, besides the concurrent testimonies 

 of many of the ancients. 



In the first part he endeavours to prove, that all languages have their origin 

 and rise from the Hebrew ; instancing particularly in the oriental tongues, as 

 the Phenician, Coptic, Chaldean, Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Samaritan and 

 Ethiopic ; and then in the European, especially the Greek, Latin, the old 

 Gallic and Britannic. In the second part he endeavours to evince, that philo- 

 sophy also had its origin from the Jewish Church ; beginning to show this of 

 the Barbaric philosophy, under which he comprehends the Egyptian, Pheni- 

 cian, Chaldean, Persian, Indian, Ethiopic, Scythian, and Britannic; and 

 thence proceeding to the Grecian, and chiefly to the Ionic, and Italic or Py- 

 thagorean ; where he shows great reading and learning. 



4 I2 



