324 PHENOMEtfA OF THE OCEAV- iP 
cause of the ebb and flow is iti the sun, which 
waters of tlie ocean ; and iie adds, that tJie 
proportion to the proximity of the moon to the earh'^,t,t 
The phenomena of the tides have been '|lip*' , 
principle of innate gravitation j but Sir Richard ^ 
his Theory of the System of the Universe, refc* 
tliat general law ctf motion which he considers a® 
mary and proximate cause of all phenomena, <^1 „ 
- j'py 
in a descending series, from the rotation of the ' 
the fulcrum of the solar system, to the fall of an , 
the earth. This motion being transferred tlirong]^ 
fl'om its source, serves as tlie eflicient cause ot ‘*'j pf ^ 
cies of vitality, of every organic arrangement, j 
those accidents of body heretofore ascribed to 
The waters of the ocean are observed to 11^"^ ‘ 
ichin‘’’" • 
gradoalll^;^-; 
twice a da)', in which motion, or flux, v.'hich 
direction lasts nearly six hours, the sea 
and, entering the mouths of rivers, drives 
waters towards their head. After a contimiec 
back 
d itfjJ 
hours, it seems to repose for a quarter of an jjfg l ^ 
then begins to ebb, or retire back, for six hours f,>v 
which time, by the subsidence of the waters, 
resume their usual course. After a quarter ui ‘ ^ 
tlie sea again flows and rises as before. • 
According to the theory of Newton, these 
were supposed to be produced by an iinagii]*’’'^ Ji/i 
called ATTEACTION. 
The moon was suppose^ 
the waters by the hocus-pocus of an occuft po'^''^'" 
in all matter ; just as the earth was supposed to 3 
moon, the moon the earth, and tlie planets on® 
This might bo very good philosophy as long as 
admitted as eflicient causes ; but the more poi'i „ 
spirit of modern philosophy asks how any T 
operative force of the nature of ••’ttractiou, 
tween bodies necessarily separated, according 
theory, by n vacuum in space, and prevented 
ogether by the further necessary hypothesis of ji 
force. Besides, in the phenomena of the 
unfortunate for this gravitating theory, that tli® ““ .a 
the opposite sides of the earth at the same time. 
The entire theory of all occult attraction and ^ 
i«, however, visionary and fabulous, and must yi®^ ’ 
