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the Tropiques , which at length will fomewhac untemper the 
Steel 3 as is confirmed by the Experiments of the Illuftrious Aca- 
demy of Florence , fliowing, how eafily that Heat and Cold do 
change flender Springs ; Be(ides,that the Air more or lefs conden- 
fed will alfo more or lefs refift the motion of the ballance. To 
which may be added, that Springs by working are weakned^and 
laftly,tbat there will be always fome little friftion, that will make 
thefeveral pieces go more or lefs eafily, and that even in length of 
time they will wear out. 
But I anfwer, that all thefc defeds , that proceed from the im- 
perfedion of the matter, may befurmounted by a general remedy, 
without examining them here in particular. And that is, that 
for executing it in great, we may makeufe of mafTy Springs^ 
as are thoftof Crofs-bowes, we being Mailers of them, not want- 
ing force or place in a Ship to govern a great weight that may 
ferve tobend them continually again. Now thefe mafly Springs 
may be fo great, and their reftitution fo fpeedy by augmenting 
theirnumber , that all the above-named defefls will have no con- 
fiderable proportion to this ftrcngth, and the aggregate of their 
repetitions will not be fenfible till after a very longtime. And 
*tis eafie to demonftrate , that by augmenting the bignefs of the 
Engin,-and the force of the mafly Springs, we may make the 
error as fmall as we will, provided We pafs not the bounds of 
conveniency, and content our felves with^ an exafinefs fuffi. 
cient for the end, they are principally defigned for, which 
is the finding of the Longitudes: - Which 'anfwer is fo clear and 
. fo univerfal , that all thofe that have confidered it, have ex-^ 
prefl^iCheir fatisfadion therein. 
;>ob[oo' • 
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