jMifcellanea Curiofa. 16 j 



given by the famous Thomas Hobbs ; and for 

 this we fhall ftand in need of Figure 41. 

 wherein, fays he, let the point G be the Cen- 

 ter of the Eaith, and F the Eye on the fur- 

 face of the Earth on the fame Center G let 

 there be ftruck the two Arches, E H deter- 

 mining the Atmofphere, and A D to repre- 

 fent that blue furface in which we imagine 

 the fixed Stars ^ and let F D be the Horizon. 

 Divide the Arch A D into three equal parts 

 by the lines B F, C F, it is manifeft that the 

 I Angle AFB is greater than the Angle BFC 5 

 I &nd this again greater than the Angle QFD 

 ! Wherefore fays he, to make the Angle CFD 

 equal to the Angle CFD, the Arch CD amft 

 be greater than the ArchCB ^ and confe- 

 quently , that the Moon may in the Horizon 

 \ appear under the fame Angle as when ele- 

 vated, fhe mult cover a greater Arch, and 

 therefore feem greater ; that is, the Moon 

 in the Meridian appearing under the Angle 

 BFC, that me may appear under an equal 

 Angle in the Horizon, as fuppofe CFD, 'tis 

 necelTary the Arch C D mould be greater than 

 CB \ and confequently tho' fhe appear to fufe- 

 tend a greater Arch when in the Horizon 

 then when elevated, yet fhe appears under 

 the fame Angle. And all this without Re- 

 i fraction. The Geometry of this Figure is 

 I moft certainly true and demonftrable. At 

 I this I quarrel not \ but it makes no more in 

 our prefent Difficulty than if nothing had 

 been faid } for the Philofopher has here made 

 a Figure of his own, and from thence he ar- 

 gues as confidently, as if Nature would ac- 

 commodate her felf to his Scheme, and he 



not 



