NOVUM ORGAN I M. 349 



been observed by Acosta and others, after diligent inquiry, that on the 

 coast of Florida, and on the opposite coasts of Spain and Africa, the 

 flood-tides take place at the same time, and the ebbs likewise take place 

 at the same time ; not, contrariwise, that when there is a flood on the 

 coast of Florida, there is an ebb on the coasts of Spain and Africa. 

 And yet, if we look more carefully, this does not prove the existence 

 of the elevating, nor disprove that of the progressive motion. For it 

 may happen that the waters may move in progression, and yet cover 

 opposite shores of the same channel at the same time ; if we suppose 

 these waters to be thrust and driven together from another quarter, 

 as is the case with rivers which flow and ebb on both banks at the 

 same hours ; and yet that motion is clearly one of progression, the 

 waters entering the mouths of the rivers from the sea : so, in like 

 manner, it may happen that waters coming in a great mass from the 

 Eastern or Indian Ocean are driven together, and thrust into the 

 channel of the Atlantic Sea, and so flood both sides at one time. We 

 have, therefore, to inquire whether there be another channel through 

 which the waters can be retreating and ebbing at the same time ; and 

 we find the Southern Sea, which certainly is not smaller, if indeed it 

 be not wider and more extensive than the Atlantic itself, and this is 

 sufficient for our purpose. 



So we have, at length, arrived at an Instance of the Cross on this 

 subject; and it is this. If we find for certain that when there is a 

 flood on the opposite shores of Florida and Spain in the Atlantic, 

 there is also a flood on the shores of 1 eru, and behind China in the 

 Southern Sea, then indeed this Decisive Instance compels us to 

 reject the assertion that the flow and ebb of the sea, which is the thing 

 inquired into, takes place by progressive motion ; for there is no sea 

 nor place in which the regress or ebb can be going on at the same 

 time. And this may be most conveniently determined by asking the 

 inhabitants of Panama and Lima (where the two oceans, the Atlantic 

 and the Southern, arc separated by a small isthmus), whether the flow 

 and ebb of the sea takes places on opposite sides of the Isthmus at the 

 same time, or whether the reverse is the case. Now this decision or 

 rejection appears to be certain, if we take for granted that the earth is 

 immovcable ; but if the earth revolves, it may perhaps be the con 

 sequence of the unequal rotation (in point of speed ami momentum) 

 of the earth and of the waters of the sea, that the waters arc violently 

 driven upwards into a heap, which makes the flood ; and then (when 

 they will endure no more heaping up) they are released in a downward 

 direction, which makes the ebb. Hut on this head separate inquiry 

 must be made. Still, even on this supposition, the fact is equally 

 established that there must be an ebb of the sea going on in some 

 places at the same time that there is a flood in others. 



Similarly, let the Nature inquired into be the latter of the two 

 motions suggested, viz., the Rising and Subsiding Motion ; if by 

 chance it happens that (on diligent examination) we reject the former 

 motion of which we have spoken, viz., the progressive. Then we 

 shall have three ways meeting about this Nature, after this wise. 



