This gentleman certainly displays a j 
commendable zeal in the prosecution of 
bis favourite theory; and if his success in i 
demonstration is commensurate with the' 
boldness of his positions, we shall not long 
remain in the dark upon this important 
question. The author, provided he can 
have u the disposable means ” intends to 
take a journey to Washington, where he 
can disclose the results of his long philo- ! 
sophical reveries to the great men of the 1 
Capitol—and after they have settled the 
Missouri question, and passed the Bank¬ 
rupt bill, may be gratified with “ an ex¬ 
ploring outfit,” which will waft him with 
spreading sails into- “ thrilling regions of 
thick-ribbed ice,” where he may solve 
his own doubts, and satisfy those of in¬ 
quisitive millions. 
Whatever may be the result of his en¬ 
quiries (and we would certainly withhold 
our own opinions in such an early sta~e 
of the discussion) we may safely say that, 
as they will invite people to think for 
themselves, and elicit sparks of genius 
from philosophic minds, they will have a 
happy tendency on society ; and it is with 
great satisfaction that we have it in our 
power to acknowledge the receipt of the 
following original Communication upon 
this popular topic. ; 
The well-regulated laws of gravity, the 
measures taken in different places, and on 
tne same meridian, have demonstrated to 
cs, that the greatest mathematicians are 
mistaken as to the real figure of the earth. 
The circular shade of the earth, in an 
eclipse of the moon, is by no means a proof 
of the circularity of the equator, and of the 
spherical form of our globe : this phenom¬ 
enon is caused by the vapours and the shade 
which the irregular intervals mutually 
reflect from the earth to the moon, as 
opaque as the solid parts are : this truth 
