What Obligation had you to take up arms against him Monsieur I reply'd I still preserve that Respect that Esteem and Friendship for you which I owe inviolable and I take it for a peculiar favour of Fortune to meet you here to make a fresh Protestation of them And I assure you that I am neither come in quality of a Spy or Enemy but if you please so to receive me of a Voyager 'T was purely curiosity that brought me hither by the way As to the concern of Philosophy I must acknowledge I am a little Sceptical in that Matter and know not at present what I am I am resolv'd to try all Sects before I am determin'd so that you may Sir look upon me as a Man of an uninterested Country and that contrives no Plot or Mischeivous Design against your Commonwealth These Gentlemen indeed are profess'd Carâ—esians but they are Philosophers and Men of Honour and have Esteem for Merit though it be on the contrary side and who hold that Liberty of Conscience in point of Philosophy is the unviolable Charter of all honest well bred Men But I pursued I am highly surpriz'd at the bustle and disturbance in this Country There 's no Spanish Town in Flanders so readily Alarm'd as yours What is' t you so much dread That which we so much dread said he is that Implacable Enemy of our Sovereign your Descartes who when on Earth did all imaginable towards the extirpating the Peripateticks and only desisted there as we are from good Hands inform'd to come to ruin them in this Country It is now more than thirty years so exact a Guard has been observ'd to prevent a Surprize consequent to the Advice we have had that in all this time he hath been forming a Party and gathering all the Forces possible in order to a Descent This is the Intelligence we have receiv'd from a Dutch Professor of Philosophy who acts here as Generalissimo in Aristotle's Absence But Descartes may come as soon as he pleases you see we are in a capacity to receive him Well Monsieur said I if that be all you may sleep secure Monsieur Descartes I assure you has no Design of an Invasion in his Head he 's a thousand Times farther off this Place than 't is from hence to Earth he is thinking of Building a New World above the Heavens he has invited us to see the Execution of his Grand Design and thither 't is we are going And to convince you of the Truth of what I say 't is but deputing when we part some Souls to bear us Company and they shall bring you an account of what they there shall see You rejoyce me mightily said he for we Peripateticks are tired with these long Fatigues but take it not ill that I execute my Orders and conduct you to the Governour of the Place according to the Custom That all Philosophers of a different Sect from ours arriving here give him an account what Project brought them hither we have used this Course but since Descartes has given us these Alarms So we took the Road that led to the Place convoyed with a Detachment of about fifty Souls Academiques for the most part and Collegians who look'd as if they did not wish us very well that Place was only a great Garden that represented the Lyceum in Athens where Aristotle used to teach his Scholars walking whence they derived the Name of Peripateticks 'T is of a great extent and very finely kept it is cut into abundance of Allies whereof the four greatest meet in the middle of the Garden at a round large Fountain whereon is raised a stately Pedestal of the most delicate Marble I ever saw on which stands the Statue of Alxander the Great crowned by Victory with Lawrels trampling under Foot Scepters and Crowns and Bucklers and broken Arms and the Treasures of Asia Four great Statues chained to the four Corners represent the Principal Nations Alexander conquered I found that Monument so like that of the Place des Victoires that I should have believed one had been the Pattern to the other had not I at the same Time made Reflection that the near Resemblance of those two Hero's might easily have furnished the Minds of both the Undertakers with the same Ideas All the Figures of the Monument no less than the other Statues in several Parts of the Garden as those of Philippus Olympias and many other illustrious Personages who formerly honoured Aristoâ—le with their Friendship are of Silver for Silver is very cheap and common in the Globe of the Moon and it is probably for that Reason Chymists who always affect Mystery in their Words call that Metal by the Name of the Moon As we were admiring that noble Monument we were astonished to see all of a sudden four Water-Spouts rise from the four Angles of the Pedestal the largest and the highest that ever were they mounted at least four hundred Poles in heighth and they were brought from a River behind a neighbouring Mountain that was higher than the Wells of Domme in Auvergn over which the Water was carried by the admirable Contrivance of the Old Philosophy that in supposing the Horror of a Vacuum in Nature shew'd how with Pumps to sâ—ing Water infinitely high which Secret is unfortunately lost in our World for since the Time of Galileus we can raise Water no higher than three or four and thirty Foot We saw these Water Spouts on every Side the least of which exceeded the highest Trees that encompassed the Garden From the middle of the Garden we observed four Halls of different Figure and Architecture one at the End of each of the four Alleys We were conducted to the biggest of them which was of exquisite Beauty and Magnificence being of Gold Azure and Precious Stones On both Sides in the Intervals of the Windows was your Imbossed Work of Silver excellently carved but that made a Gallimawâ—ry odd and humerous enough for on one Part on the Right-hand were râ—presented the famous Exploits of Alexander the defeat of Darius near the City Arbela the Attack of Poruâ— his Army the Passage of Granicus and the Taking of the City Tyre On the other were Triumphs of Aristotle over the rest of the Philosophers and the Extravagancies of those that went for Wisemen before his Time The first on the Left-hand exhibits Pythagoras doctrining his Disciples and presenting them with a sort of table-Table-Book wherein among others were written these three Precepts First That they were to hear him full five Years without speaking a Word to contradict him Secondly They must lend an attentive Ear especially in the Night to the Musick and Harmony of the Celestial Spheres which only Wisemen are priviledged to understand And Thirdly they must abstain from eating Beans The Second shews you Democritus laughing with Might and Main and Heraclitus weeping in warm Tears and a Troop of little Children hooping after them as after two Fools In the Third we had Diogenes
the Cynique habited like a Morris-Dancer mounted upon a Cross-way-stone at bottom of which lay his Tub expounding to an Auditory much like that of the Singers du pont neuf In the last sate Aristotle on an exalted Seat that looked more like a Throne than a Magisterial Chair and at his Feet stood all the Philosophers that lived before him in Admiration and listning to him as an Oracle Before the Throne of Aristotle were heaped the Books that represented the Writings of those same Philosophers his Predecessors which one was putting Fire to to sacrifice them to the Goddess Wisdom whose Head resembled a Sun brandishing abundance of Rays upon the Face of Aristotle and making a Glory round about it At the Bottom of the Hall upon a kind of Altar stands a large Silver Statue of the beautiful Pythias formerly Aristotle's Lady for whom his Passion was so strong as to Sacrifice unto her At the Top of the Hall was a Ceiling enrich'd with admirable Paintings lately done divided likewise betwixt Alexander and Aristotle agreeable to the Embossings for on one Side was the Hero receiving a Thunderbolt from the Hand of his pretended Father Iupiter Ammon to fulminate all the Princes of Asia and on the other the Philosopher receiving another from the Hand of Minerva to thunderclap all the Chieftains of the New Sects of Philosophy among which we easily knew M. Descartes M. Gassendi Father Maignan and many others As we were taken up with the Curiosity of all these different Pieces of Sculpture and Painting the Vice-roy of the Place came in to give us Audience Never was Man so much surprized as my old Gentleman at first Sight of the Governour he had formerly known him in Holland when he there accompanied M. Descartes He was called M. Voetius the most resolved Peripatetique in the World and the most avowed of all Descartes's Enemies he that most disturbed the Quiet he came to seek in Holland and the most obstinately as successfully opposed his Design of gaining a Party there Whereas that Man acts the greatest part in the History of Cartesianism of which at the Entrance of my Relation I engaged to give some Particulars when occasion served and seeing at the Intercourse of which I speak we fell upon a Negotiation with him as to a Project of Peace between the Peripatetiques and the Cartesians it will not perhaps be troublesome and impertinent briefly to insert the Difference he had with M. Descartes and the Motive that determined him to fix in the Globe of the Moon M. Descartes Dissâ—rt de Meth. after he had finished his Course of Philosophy in the Colledge de la Fleche ceased not to be a Philosopher thereupon nay pretends he commenc'd one but from that Time As he was fully convinced there was far less to be gained from the most curious of Books and Libraries than from the great Volume of the World the most Compleat and Instructive of all others to such as know how to study it as they ought he pitch'd upon Travel During nine or ten Years he run through most Countries frequented the Court as also the Armies of most Foreign Princes But still as a Philosopher i. e. continually making serious Reflections upon the Intellectual and Moral Part of Man upon the different Customs of Countries upon the contrary Judgments Men make of the self-same things conformably to the different Notions they have imbibed concerning them endeavouring always herein to alembeck Truth from Falshood and to advantage himself equally by the Folly and Wisdom of other Men that he might collect a System of Life composed and regulated by defecated Reason whose Happiness as far as possible should be independent of the Turns and Wheels of Fortune He began to put his Project in Execution in a certain Place in Germany which he does not name where he passed the Winter at his Return from the Coronation of the Emperor Ferdinand III. where closeting himself whole Days together in his Stove he recollected in his Mind all the Observations he had made upon the Conduct of Mankind which he imployed to constitute his Rules of Morality as they are at present in his Book entituled Dissertation de la methode de bien user de sa raison From whence passing to Metaphysical Notices and those of Natural Philosophy he laid the Scheme to the most part of his Works he since hath left us making at the same Time an Essay of his Physicks in the Mechanical Explanation of the Motion of the Heart and Aâ—teries which certainly is not the worst Piece we have of his Works Next he deliberated what Place was most convenient for a Settlement Ibid. he was byassed against his stay in Britanny his Native Country where his Family then bore as it does to this Day a considerable Port foreseeing the Incumbrances he should find among his Relations would inevitably retard his vehement Pursuit of Philosophy In fine he resolved on Holland as a Retreat freest from Disturbance where every one said he minds his own concerns without medling with other Men's and where the Maintenance of those numerous Troops served but to recommend with more Security to the whole Country the Advantages of Peace in the midst of a rageing War He passed near eight Years in Peace and Quiet Ibid. making his ordinary abode at Egmond a little Town on the Coast of Holland insomuch that during all that Space he never left the Country but on the account of his Domestick Occasions that indispensibly oblig'd him to make some Journies into France Ibid. p. 20 Happy if his Zeal for the Publick Good and his Compassion for the Miserable Condition of Philosophy had not made him transgress that excellent Moral Maxim he had prescribed himself to leave the World as he found it without endeavouring to reform it or rectifie its Ideas to think only of finding Truth for himself and of conquering his own Passions but he was worsted first by that of Printing and after by all the other Authors are subject to when they find their Opinions contradicted For it must be confessed although M. Descartes had formed an Idea of a Wise-man to himself much like that of the Stoicks yet any one may see in reading some of his Works he was not yet arrived to that Apathy and Indolence which makes their Essential Character No sooner had he impressed his Dioptriques and his Meteors Next that his Dissertation concerning Method and since his Meditations But he found himself set upon from all Hands all the Vniversities of Holland took the alarm Doctor Reviâ—s for that of â—eyden Voetius and Demâ—tius for Vtrecht Schook for that of Groiningue ratified a triple Alliance against this upstart Enemy who for his Part before he declared and set up his Standard against Aristotle had made underhand a considerable Party Revius having engaged Doctor Tkill on his Side a hot and active Man undertook the Censuring his Meditations throughout his Divinity and the
choise and better than ordinary begins to be authoriz'd in the Schools of the most zealous Peripateticks who no longer oppose the Truth that you have insus'd into them but only so husband Aristotle's Stake as it may not be said that ever any Philosopher had a clearer View than he You know the Adventure of the last Age in France the wisest Heads of the Kingdom could do no otherwise than approve the greatest Part of the Regulations made in the Council of Trent notwithstanding there were Reasons that obstructed the adhereing to that Couuncil on Discipline-account What was done The States of Blois made Ordinances exactly like a great Part of the Decrees of that Council Thus without admiting the Council they follow'd in effect the Purport of it The Peripateticks have in some sort transcrib'd the Conduct of those grave Politicians 'T is a Crime among them to be a Cartesian but 't is an Honour to make good Use of the best Part of M. Descartes And to compare the Fortune of your Doctrin with that of another that in our Days hath made such a Bustle in the World before the Propositions of Iansenius had been condemn'd at Rome his Followers highly complimented him upon them His was the Pure and Uncorrupt Doctrin that was copied from the great S. Augustin but they had no sooner been censur'd as Heretical but they vanish'd in a Trice and could not be found in Iansenius his Book No one could heartily believe they ever had been there and in Spight of Bulls of Popes and Ordinances of Bishops 't was reckon'd a Mortal Sin to sign a Condemnation of Propositions and a Form of Faith without the Distinction of De Iure de Facto The quite contrary happen'd in the Affair I am speaking of At first when the Cartesians made Mention of Subtil Matter and ridicul'd the Horror of a Vacuum talk'd of the Elastick Vertue of the Air the Pressure of its Columns and the manner of the Impression of Objects on our Senses Aristotle was brought to confront them with a quite contrary Doctrin Since that Time upon Examination of the Reasons on which your Propositions in those Instances depended they would not say that you were in the Right but many undertook to affirm That Aristotle had taught the greatest Part of that before you There hath been since discover'd in his Writings an Ethereal Matter the manner of Sensations by the Concussion of the Organs the Demonstration of the Gravity of the Air and the most delicate Truths of the Equilibrium of Liquors So instead of the Iansenists abandoning or seeming to abandon the Right and sheltering themselves under the Fact the Peripateticks fall on Possession of the Right by the Fact itself that is the Peripateticks now find in Aristotle what according to themselves had not been visible for these thirty Years On the contrary the Iansenists have lost Sight of the Propositions they had pointed to us heretofore themselves before they were condemn'd So that would you make any Abatements as I hope you will that I may make good my Promise I made Voetius your Old Friend in Holland we should see M. Descartes turn Peripatetick and Aristotle Cartesian The other Thing that is Matter of Consolation to you and that in Defiance to all the Efforts of your Enemies must encourage you to hope for the Immortality of Cartesianism is the uncontroulable Liberty that 's left to every one of Writing for and against it And that at this Day the most Solid and Ingenious Patron of the New Philosophy is a celebrated Father of the Oratory whose Books are in great Reputation He forthwith requir'd his Name and Character He is call'd said I Father Malebranche He 's a Man of an extraordinary piercing Judgment of profound Thought that has a wonderful Gift at methodizing his Reflections which he opens and displays in the neatest and most lively manner imaginable that knows however to give an Air of Truth and a probable Turn to the most extraordinary and abstracted Notions that is skill'd to the utmost Perfection in preparing the Mind of his Reader and interessing him in his own Thoughts In short he is the most charming Cartesian that I know His principal Work is called The Search of Truth and it is from that in particular that he hath been acknowledg'd for such as I have describ'd him Yet I cannot conceal from you a little Accident that may somewhat allay the Joy that News must excite in you which is That this Illustrious Champion of the New Philosophy has been sometime since at Variance with M. Arnauld whose Friend he had ever been before which made a kind of Civil War The Onset and Defence on both Sides is manag'd with Vigor and Courage each of them combate in their own way Volumes of five or six hundred Pages apiece are sent out by M. Arnauld in the turning of an Hand The other is less luxuriant but more strict and pressing He takes those Captains for his Precedent who only make use of some select Troops without any regard to Number that always march close and in good Order who let the Enemy wheel about as often as they please but are sure to break their Ranks whenever they see an Advantage Discourse is various concerning the Motives of that War M. Arnauld is the Aggressor The most refin'd Politicians who as you know never fail to make the best of their Talent on such Occasions say It is a Trick and Evasion of the Old Doctor who has several other such at command Some Years ago there appear'd two Books against him one was titul'd The Spirit of M. Arnauld wrote by a French Protestant Minister retir'd to Holland that 's a very roguish Book I must confess and full of Venom and Gall but he leaves M. Arnauld inextricably in the Briars he not only turns his own Weapons upon him but also against the Catholick Religion and concludes directly from the Principles and Practice of M. Arnauld that most of the Arguments he takes to be most forcible and Advantagious to the Catholick Religion are nul and insignificant are meer Shew and Out-side fit only to dazle the Eyes of the Ignorant and such as cannot penetrate to the Bottom of Things The other Book which was printed the first of the two but was not made publick till some time after was written by a Iesuite against a French Translation of the New Testament commonly call'd The Mons New Testament done by the Gentlemen du Port Royal and whereof M. Arnauld took upon him the Patronage and Defence That Book of the Jesuite is Solidly Scholar-like and Politely wrote He very pertinently comes over M. Arnauld on many Occasions and adds from time to time in those Places he challenges him to give an Answer to such and such a Point Notwithstanding those two Books found no Reply and no one could say they were unanswer'd because they were despised and did not deserve the Pains Religion it self was ingag'd that Answer
Submission and respect I am capable of that I am with all my Heart and Soul MONSIEUR Your most humble and most obedient Servant and most zealous Disciple The INDEX PART I. THE different Relations given of the World of Cartesius Page 1 The Conversation of the Author with an old Cartesian and the occasion of his Voyage to the World of Cartesius 5 Cartesius his Design of finding out the Secret of the Soul and Body's Vnion as also that of separating and reuniting them when he pleas'd 9 Cartesius his Progress in the Study and Knowledge of Man 10 The Mystery of the union and separation of the Soul and Body found out by Cartesius 16 The use of the Mystery 19 That Cartesius is not dead 25 The Secret of the union and separation of the Body and Soul known long before Cartesius 30 Cartesius retires into the indefinite Spaces and makes preparation for the building of a World there like this of ours 31 The Author is invited by the old Cartesian and the Spirit of Father Mersennus to come to the building of Cartesius his World 37 The Author's discourse with the Soul of Father Mersennus 39 An Explication of the manner of the Apparition of Spirits 42 The adventure of a little Moor-Page to Regius Physitian of Utrecht formerly a Friend but afterwards an Enemy of Cartesius 45 The Author's Soul is separated from his Body by the secret of Cartesius 51 How according to the Principles of Cartesius all Bodily Operations may be perform'd as well in the absence as presence of the Soul 53 PART II. THE setting out of the Author with the old Cartesian and Father Mersennus for the World of Cartesius 56 What the Air is and of what parts it is compos'd 57 Wherein consists the fluidity of liquid Bodies ibid. Motion naturally and of it self is perpetual 61 The falsity of Cartesius's Axiom that there is ever an equal quantity of Motion in the World taking the word Motion according to Cartesius's definition 62 The way that Spirits converse with one another 67 The Travellers meet upon their Road Socrates Plato and Aristotle and upon what occasion 68 Their discourse with those Philosophers with some notable Particulars of their History 71 Aristotle refutes Cartesius his Method and Meditations 79 The old Cartesian and Father Mersennus railly upon the Sphere of Fire that Aristotle imagin'd 86 The Contradictions of Cartesius 89 His Disciples have indeavour'd to smother one of them in the French Translation of his Works 90 A Suit commenc'd formerly against the Cartesians relating to the Sphere of Fire 94 A description of the Globe of the Moon 97 Cyrano de Bergerac banter'd by Socrates his familiar Spirit in the Globe of the Moon 98 The inequalities observ'd in the Moon are partly Seas and partly Lands shar'd among the most famous Mathematicians and Philosophers as they are to be seen in the Maps of that Country ibid. The Traveller's descent into Gassendus and from thence to Mersennus 99 They Traverse the Hemisphere of the Moon that is opposite to our Earth 100 They are deny'd Admission at Plato and why 101 They arrive at Aristotle which they find strictly gâ—â—rded as a Town under Apprehensions of a Siege 102 The Author finds there and knows again his Regent in Philosophy an old Professâ—r of the Vniversity of Paris 103 A Description of the Lyceum of the Moon 105 The old Cartesian likewise remembers Voetius the greatest Enemy Cartesius had in Holland 108 Some particulars of the Life of Cartesius and his Adventures whilst he staid in Holland 109 The Character of Voetius 112 The Travellers Negotiation with Voetius for the re-union of the Peripateticks and Cartesians 119 A Project of Accommodation presented the Travellers by Voetius 122 They continue their Voyage with two Peripatetick-Souls that Voetius had deputed to accompany them to the World of Cartesius ibid. In their Way they light upon the Souls of Hermotimus and Ainia a Roman Pretor and Duns Scotus 123 c. The Dispute of the Peripatetick Souls with Father Mersennus and the old Cartesian concerning absolute Accidents 127 Cartesius his Explication of the Mystery of the Eucharist not Catholick 130 They meet with Cardan in the Globe of the Moon in the Peninsula of Dreams the reason of his Melancholy 132 The Travellers return to Mersennus 133 Their reading the Project of Accommodation given them by Voetius containing a Confutation of a great part of the Cartesian Philosophy 134 Cartesius's Demonstrations of the Existence of a God refuted by a Mandarin of China 158 The Arrival of the Voyagers to the World of Cartesius 172 PART III. CArtesius his Reception of the Travellers 174 The Discourse of the Author with Cartesius concerning the present State and Condition of the Cartesian Philosophy in our World 174 c. Cartesius his Thoughts of that famous Experiment of the Gravity of the Air said to be M. Paschal's whereof Cartesius pretends to be the Author 181 His Sentiments formerly of the Book of Conick Sections said to be wrote by M. Paschal at sixteen Years of Age 182 The Extravagant Praises of M. Paschal's Panegyrists and of the Preface to the Book concerning the equilibration of Liquors 185 Cartesius his Projects for propagating his Philosophy whilst he was in our World 190 How he designed to get the Iesuits on his Side and then the Fathers of the Oratory and M. Arnauld ibid. Decrees of the Congregation of the Oratory against Cartesianism and Jansenism 193 The great Contest betwixt Malbranche Father of the Oratory and M. Arnauld The Character of the former 196 M. Arnanld compar'd with Admiral de Chatillon 201 Cartesius builds his World before the Travellers and as he builds it explains to them the chiefest Points of his System 207 The Confusion of Aristotle's Embassadors 221 The Return of the Travellers and Arrival to our World 238 In what Condition the Author's Soul found his Body she is seated in quality of a Cartesian Soul upon the Pineal Gland of his Brain 239 PART IV. THE Zeal of the Author converted to Cartesianism to promote the Sect and which he expresses in a Letter he wrote to Cartesius after his Return 242 He is much perplexed by the Ingenious Peripateticks 243 The Ordinary Arguments against Cartesius his System propos'd and refuted 244 The Author sometimes sides with Cartesius to refute him more easily 246 Motion of Matter seems not impossible in the Cartesian System 248 A new Method of proving it possible 250 Other Difficulties drawn from Cartesius his own Principles proposed by the Peripateticks to the Author whose solution he desires of Cartesius 259 The first Argument That by the Principles of Cartesius the Sun and Stars may be prov'd opaque Bodies as are the Planets of the Earth 260 Argument 2. That by Cartesius his Principles we could not see the Stars nor the Sun it self 265 Argument 3. That Cartesius his Principles supposed it is impossible for the Earth to have a particular Vortex in the great Vortex of the Sun 276 The Consequence of the preceeding Demonstration in Astronomy and Physicks The Moon could no longer turn about the Earth nor the Satellites of Jupiter about him 287 Heavy Bodies would not descend to the Centre of the Earth but would fall towards the Sun ibid. There would be no flux or reflux of the Sea 289 The General Principle of all the Physical Effects of the lower World quite over-turned 291 Cartesius his Inconstancy concerning the Properties of his Elements 293 The Physical Arguments that are weak against Copernicus touching the Motion of the Earth are strong against the Cartesians 294 Propositions of very great importance in Physicks advanced without Proof and supposed against all Reason by Cartesius 296 The Author importunes Cartesius to send him the Solution of all these Difficulties 297 The END
up unto her so soon as M. Descartes shall present her to me After that Protestation which seemed a little to reinstate me in their good Oponion we launch'd again And it will not be amiss to advise my Reader here this once for all That whatever Room these Harangues and Disputes take up upon the Paper they lasted but one single instant since separate Spirits entertain each other a quite different way from that they use when in the Body whose Tongue pronounces but one Syllable at a Time one Spiritual Word that a Separate Soul shall speak unto another Soul is more full and expressive than a thousand pronounced or written And since my taking of this Voyage I have made a World of fine Discoveries for the explaining the Way that Angels discourse together I question not but to be in Print some Time or other upon that Occasion I confess I shall speak many Things that for want of Use will not be understood but my Book may find no less a Welcome and Esteem for that but rather the good Fortune Books of Mysterious Divinity have met with that have been for some Time the only ones in Fashion recommended meerly by their being unintelligible to those that read them and pretending to be understood by the Composers for it is known by too manifest Experience the Authors of those Books are not always such mighty Saints as they would seem We parted then from the Top of the Tower before the Instrument desisted from its turning and we steered towards the Globe of the Moon My Soul perceived an unspeakable Pleasure to scud it in the Air and to wander in those vast Spaces she could only travel with the Eye before when united with the Body that minded me of a former Delight I had sometime â—asted in my Sleep in dreaming that I whipt through the Air without ever touching Ground above which I thought my self exalted many Yards We met upon the Road vast Troops of Separate Souls of all Nations Laplanders Finlanders Olaus mag l. 3. c. 17. Tert. de anima Brachmans and I then remembred what I had read in several Books That the Secret of separating the Soul and Body was known among those People But about fifty Leagues on this side that Planet there is a Region very well stock'd especially with Philosophers and those Stoicks for the generality And quite from that Place to my Arrival at the Globe of the Moon I descryed how swingingly History belies an infinite Number of Persons that it supposes dead like other Men though in truth they are no more Dead than M. Descartes himself I shall discourse with some of them as I go along The Moon has an Atmosphere like the Earth that by a moderate Computation may amount to three French Leagues in height As we were just ready to strike Sail we made a good Distance from us three Souls that held a very serious Conference together we judged they might be Souls of Consequence by the deference many others in their Retinue seemed to pay them Upon our enquiring who they were we understood they were Socrates Plato and Aristotle that were met in Consult for the Publick Interest for that being advised by certain News from our World That the Venetians had beaten the Turks not only out of Ancient Peloponesus but also the Famous City of Athens where heretofore these three Philosophers had made so great a Figure they had resolved in their Debate so soon as any Noble Venetian's Soul should arrive in these Quarters to petition her to recommend their Interest to General Morisini and the Republick's Consideration To require the replacing the Statues the Athenians had erected to them To re-establish the Academy and the Lyceum with all their Priviledges and to restore the Marbles in the Prytaneum whereon was engraven the Justification of Socrates with the Execrations charged on Anytus and Melitus his Accusers And in case they should push their Conquests as far as Macedonia to have as great regard for Stagyra at present Liba nova as Alexander the Great had formerly on the account of his Master Aristotle whose Country that was I am surprized says Father Mersennus to see these Philosophers I never heard any Mention of them here nor did I ever meet them in all my Travels It is true I have observed in my Commentaries upon Genesis That Plato and Trismegistus used to quit their Bodies the better to contemplate the Sovereign Good and that Socrates as Alcibiades relates in Plato had from Time to Time such sort of Extasies 'T is true also I never took Aristotle for so great a Fool as to throw himself headlong into Euripâ—s for the Madness and Despair of being unable to comprehend the Flux and Reflux of the Sea And many things I have read in that Philosopher induced me to suspect he knew the Mystery of Separation but I never thought to inform my self whether these Gentlemen made use of it to prevent their Dying You 'll see he added that as M. Descartes has determined to put the Project of his World in Execution that he framed while he lived on Earth so Plato will resolve upon the Undertaking that of his Republick which we shall see fix'd somewhere in those Vast and Desart Spaces above the Heavens where he will convoy a Colony of Separate Souls to constitute his Government That supposed said my old Gentleman Lucian had but ill Intelligence from the other World since in his Dialogues of the Dead he often talks of Socrates as a Man that had passed the Stygian-Lake in Caron's Boat and as an old Inhabitant of Hell Nouveaux Dial. deâ— Mor. But what Gentlemen said I do you say of our Modern Lucian I mean the Author of the New Dialogues of the Dead that without farther Ceremony places Monsieur Descartes in Hell and brings him on the Stage discoursing with the pretended Demetrius of Moscovy Is it reasonable to think That Author upon his entertaining us in that Work with some pretty Things and diverting us with an abundance of choice Historical Observations to think I say under that Shelter he had Right to put off all the Frolicks of his Imagination without any regard to Truth To place M. Descartes in Hell at the same Time he 's above the Heavens is not this to express my self in the Quodlibetique Style of our Fâ—iend M Aberrare toto Coâ—lo In the interim we saw the three Philosâ—phers advance towards us 'T is known they were three of the finest Gentlemen that have bore that Character in Antiquity and that they have always been distinguish'd from that Rascality of Sophists and Cynicks that generally were meer Andrewâ— and only purchased the Reputation of Sages at the Expence of the most abusive Extravagances Socrates made the Address and in a most obliging manner told us He easily perceived we were of France not only because we came that Road but also that he saw in us the Character and Genius of the Nation
awarded them unto him with an universal Consent He hath thought fit to declare himself on the first occasion and to intreat the Publick as also those Gentlemen the new Philosophers to do him Justice in that Particular He protests then to separate his Interest in many Articles from theirs that style themselves his Disciples He declares that in the Questions of the Schools many things go under his Name which are none of his as is for Instance that most Childish Notion of the Horror of a Vacuum That he himself hath certify'd and prov'd by Experience the Pressure of the Air which at this Day is made a Principle in the Physical Expilcation of such Phenomena's as have most alliance to the Question of a Vacuum That he is no ways the Father of an infinite little Beings introduc'd in the School Philosophy That his Writings have often been mis-interpreted and Men have commonly taken for Natural Beings what in his Idea were only Denominaâ—â—ions and Metaphysical Attributes This Calm continu'd he with which I speak after that ungovernable Obstinacy you formerly knew me guilty of might stand for my Credentials as to you in Aristotle's Absence But I will farther add that since you meet him out of the Globe of the Moon he hath dispatch'd an Express in which he gives orders that if you pass'd this way I should not fail to inform you of his Thoughts and Intentions and to let you know that whatever Warmth appear'd in him in his Discourse against Descartes he would notwithstanding gladly hearken to some Accommodation with him Furthermore this is no unpremeditated Resolution The Expedient has been form'd and written long ago and the Fault will not be ours if you do not see it and take upon you the presenting it to Descartes if you so think convenient We return'd we most joyfully accepted it and that we thought our selves happy any ways to contribute to the Reconciliation of the two greatest Philosophers the World has known and the Reunion of two Parties that were at present the only considerable in Europe He took forthwith out of a Cabinet that was at the end of the Hall and where upon handsom Shelves stood a good sight of Books excellently bound and that look'd exactly like Books the new Philosophers have compos'd within this thirty or forty Years and that Aristotle and Voetius had undoubtedly read he took I say from a Cabinet a kind of Memoirs with this Title in Latin Words De Consensu Philosophiae Veteris Novae We have said I an Ingenious Man of our Woâ—ld that has wrote a Book with the same Inscription M. Du Haâ—el I my self have read it he replyed and a Man may easily see by the way it is wrote in the Author is well vers'd in all parts of Philosophy He is a Gentleman unbiassed as to one side or other is throughly acquainted with the Interests of each Party and therefore the fittest Person that I know to mediate in that Affair A preliminary Point is taken from his Preface which is much in the right on 't and whereto Aristotle and Descartes must forthwith accord that the Sect-Leaders of Philophy Neque omnia neque nihil viderunt With that he presented us the Project of Accommodation and desired us to read it at our leisure in our Voyage as also to take with us as we had offered at our Arrival some Aristotelian Souls to accompany us to Descartes's Place of Residence to the end he might know by them what that Philosopher had resolv'd upon the Propositions laid down in that Treaty We thanked him for the Honour he did us in intrusting us with so Important a Negotiation assured him we would do all that lay in us towards the facilitating its Success and after much Expression and Acknowledgment of his Civilities we beg'd his leave we might persue our Voyage since we had a vast way still to go and had spent many Hours in that we had pass'd already He conducted us out of the Lyceum and giving some Instructions to two Souls of the Country that seem'd Spirits of Note and Fashion ordered them to wait on us so made his Conge Designing to run over that whole Hemisphere of the Moon that is oppos'd to our Earth we kept on our Road to the North and leaving Democritus on the left we pass'd through Thales and drove on quite to Zoroaster from whence we made a double towards the West through desert Lands where we saw the ruins of some ancient Towns as of Atlas Cepheus Hermes without meeting Man Woman or Child till we came to the Lake of Dreams on whose Banks we found three separate Spirits with whom we were taken up one Moment in Discourse as we passed along We surprized the two first stoutly Cursing and Banning their Wives they had formerly in the World One of which was that Hermotimus mention'd by Tertullian and Pliny who leaving his Body abed to make a Ramble as his Custom was his Wife that did not love him slipt not the opportunity of calling up her Servants to whom she shewed not without tearing her Hair and playing the Mad-woman the Body of her Husband unsoul'd and breathless and carried the Humour on so well that the Body was burnt according to the custom of the Country before the Soul return'd who was from thenceforth forced to seek another Habitation The other Spirit was a Roman Senator whose Name was Lamia whose Wife had trickt out of the World by the same Project though a little more it had miscarried For as he related it The Soul being retâ—rned to look its Body where 't was left not finding it and seeing the Family Mourning begun to smell how the Matter stood It Posted presently to the place where was built the Funeral Pile to burn the Body and arriv'd there just as the Fire began to seize it The Soul thought it inconvenient to reunite her self with it for fear it might be obliged to be burnt alive she only mov'd its Tongue so as many of the Standers by heard these Words twice distinctly repeated I am not dead I am not dead But seeing the Masters of the Funeral Ceremonies who had undoubtedly received an Item from the Dame unconcerned as ' ere she left it to be burnt and came to fix in the Globe of the Moon The third whom we found two Leagues farther in a ghastly Grot was the famous Iohn Duns Scotus commonly called Scot or the Subtil Doctor He has pass'd for a dead Man unto this day on which Account some have given out most ridiculous Stories and highly disadvantagious to the Reputation of so worthy a Person and which have still been well confuted But the truth is that he is not dead and that having by the subtilty of his Mind found out the Secret so many others have procured his Corps was taken for dead and was buried in the absence of his Soul which took Sanctuary in the Globe of the Moon He was incompass'd by a Croud of
Earnestness and Passion It hath met with the Patronage and Protection of Persons commendable for their Parts Capacity and Politeness but almost all Bodies and Vniversities have rejected it and declared against it Each acted in that as in all things else according to the Principle of Self-interest Some took your Side as apprehending themselves thereby distinguish'd and advancd above the Herd others deny'd it as fearing the diminution of their Credit The Motive and Pretence of both Parties was the Love of Truth and uncorrupt Doctrin The Posture of present Affairs hath almost the same Face still yet if we judge by the Books whether of Philosophy or Medicine brought from England Holland and Germany Cartesianism hath made very considerable Progress in those Parts Scarce once in an Age is printed any Course of Philosophy according to the Method of the Schools and almost all the Works of that Nature that at this Time are publick in France are Physical Tracts that suppose the Principles of the New Philosophy Such Books as treat of an Vniversal of Metaphysical Degrees of Ens Rationis create Fears in the Booksellers Minds they 'll cumber themselves with no more of them and endeavour to rid their Hands of all that they have left at any rate as Merchants do their Stuffs when the Fashion 's over All those Questions heretofore so famous wherewith the Presses have groan'd for almost two hundred Years and that have found Employment for so many Printers are no where heard of but in the Schools of the Publick Professors Out of the Desks there is no talk of the Thomists the Scotists and the Nominals at least there is no Distinction made betwixt them all are numbred in the same Predicament and on the same Side which they call the Old Philosophy to which is oppos'd the Philosophy of Descartes or the New Philosophy You have had the good Fortune with your Lustre to efface all the New Philosophers that have risen both in and since your Time and to make use of a Comparison that bating the Odium of the Subject it is taken form hath nothing in it but what makes for your Renown As in Spain the Name of Lutheran is indifferently given to all Hereticks of whatever Sect or Faction so the Title of Cartesian is attributed to all those that have undertaken to make Refinements in Point of Natural Philosophy I have seen more than one bold Venturer that in full Dispute hath listed Gassendus among your Followers though you was undoubtedly his Junior by several Years And I know a certain College where the Professor durst not speak of Insensible Matter of the Rules of Motion of the Perspicuity of Ideas lest he should be forthwith accused of Cartesianism For the rest excepting in the Exercises of some Honest Religious Persons that doubtless have no ill Design but not having read you would yet assume to themselves the Honour of engaging you that treating you as an Atheist is quite out of Doors as is the making that Proposition a Precedent for your Religion which you advance in the Entrance on your Metaphysicks That we must doubt of every Thing yet some of the finest and clearest Heads do not stick seriously to affirm That the late Conversions of the Huguenots in France have robb'd you of many Disciples for upon their Conviction of the Real Presence of the Sacred Body of I. C. in the Eucharist they confidently assert the Falsity of some of your Principles which they are at a Fault to reconcile with the Reality of that Mystery But no matter all such as have a sound and unprejudic'd Notion of Things though they stand diameter to your Opinions do you Justice and give you an Encomium that seems none of the least which is that they acknowledg you have open'd the Eyes of the Philosophers of our Times to the Discovery of the Rises of their Method in Philosophy by that just and reasonable Reproach of the little Concern they had for the most part to dive to the Bottom of the Things they treat of whether in Metaphysicks or in Physicks and the little Application they bring with them both in framing to themselves and giving their Disciples clear and distinct Ideas of the Things disputed of the Abuse that was made of the subtilty of Mind perverted only to the multiplying Wranglings and trifling Disputes to the inventing of new Equivocal Terms to the confounding rather than enlightning certain abstracted Questions prudently enough introduc'd the Schools for Exercise and an Occasion of Dispute and Emulation to the Minds of Youth but ridiculously made the main Stress and Essentials of Philosophy that from thence had degenerated into an Empty Science compos'd of Words and Terms that signifie nothing The little Observation made upon Experience that is the Mother of Philosophy The implicit Dependence they had on the Sentiment of another often superficially considered and ill understood I can also assure you that kind of Advice though envidiously at first receiv'd has not fail'd of its Effect The Desk-Philosophy has chang'd its Countenance in the principal Colleges of France The most ingenious of the Professors affect to treat of the ordinary Questions and those that are most crabbed with greater Solidity and Method with more Justness and Exactness persuaded that those Questions thus handl'd have a greater Power than is imagined to form a Juvenile Mind if it is capable of it to render it Correct and Just to accustom it insensibly to make those so necessary Abstractions in order to the avoiding Mistakes and Fallacies in the Train of a Reasoning spun through a Discourse in the Examination of a Mathematical Demonstration the Discussion of a Physical Experiment or perhaps a Political Interest or Concern Since when Men are more shy of calling the Proofs they bring for their Opinions Demonstrations they are not so eager to declare War against those that talk otherwise than themselves and that often say the same thing They have learn'd to doubt of certain Axioms that have hitherto been held Sacred and Inviolable and upon Examination have sometimes found them unworthy of so great a Title Occult Qualities are under a Suspicion and a Cloud having lost considerably of their Reputation The Horror of a Vacuum is no where receiv'd but in the Shools where no one will be at the charge of Glass Tubes and certain Instruments which manifestly prove the absurdity of that hackney'd Solution that hath been constantly given to the most curious and extraordinary Phenomena's of Nature All sort of Experiments are daily made That of the Gravity of the Air is try'd a thousand different ways and there is scarce any little Pretender to Physick in the Town but has at his Fingers ends the History of M. Paschal's Experiment Here M. Descartes interrupting me demanded what was that Experiment of M. Paschal I answered it was that made in the year 1648. upon the Well of Domme with Torricelli's Tube Wherein the Quick Silver was observ'd to fall a great
deal lower at the top of the Mountain than in the middle or at the bottom from whence hath been evidently concluded the Gravity of the Air. Does that reply'd M. Descartes go by the Name of M. P. 's Experiment It is then because he put it in Practice or rather because he occasion'd it to be practic'd by M. Perrier for assuredly it is not because he invented it or foresaw the Success And if that Experiment ought to bear the Name of its Author it might more truly be intituled the Experiment of Descartes For it was I that desir'd him two years before to make the Trial Let. 77. Tom. 3. and assur'd him of the Success as being intirely conformable to my Principles without which it had never come into his Head being he was of the contrary Opinion That Man is Fortunate continu'd M. Descartes in point of Reputation A great many Persons were formerly made to believe he had compos'd a Book of Coniques extracted from himself by the meer dint of Reason at sixteen years of Age That Book was sent me and before I had read it half Tom. 2. Let. 38. I concluded he had made great Advantage of Monsieur des Argues's Instructions which Conjecture a little after was confirm'd by his own Confession What you say reply'd I a little surprizes me for in the Preface to a Tract De l' Equilibre des Liqueurs Printed after M. P. 's Death your Testimony is quoted upon that Particular and it is not altogether conformable to that you give at present For there is no notice taken of the assistance he receiv'd from M. des Argues It is only said the thing appear'd to you so prodigiously uncredible that you would not believe it But that you was persuaded that M. P the Father was the genuine Author of the Piece but was willing to confer the Honour on his Son I know not said he what they have made me speak or think in that Preface but I am very well assur'd I say nothing at present but what I had wrote in plain Terms to Father Mersennus Tom. 2. Let. 38. after I had seen the Work After all said I Monsieur I am not much surpriz'd that M. Paschal at sixteen years of Age without any foreign Succour wrote a Book of Coniques and by chance jumpt in his Thoughts with M. Descartes he that at twelve years old before the sight of any Books of Geometry made himself particular Definitions Figures then Axioms and push'd on his Notices so far that when he was caught at his Operations he was already arriv'd to the thirty second Proposition of the first Book of Euclide which he had never read Do you credit that said M. Descartes Why should I not said I It is so affirm'd and circumstanc'd in the Preface I have mention'd as leaves no room to doubt of it M. Paschal the Father desirous that his Sons 〈◊〉 time should be imploy'd in the gaining of the Tongue which he taught him himself was cautious to conceal from him the very Names of things that are us'd in Mathematicks and constantly forbore to mention 'em to his Friends when he was present Notwithstanding according to the Author of the Preface The Passion that Child had for such sort of Science joyn'd to his piercing Understanding serv'd him instead of a Master seeing his Tasks that were order'd him rob'd him of all other opportunities but his Hours of Recreation a Circumstance very remarkable he laid out all he could of those in these Speculations He was constrain'd says he to make his own Definitions calling a Circle a Round a Line a Barr and so of the rest After his Definitions he made him Axioms and as we proceed from one thing to another in that Science he carried his Researches so far that he was arriv'd to the thirty second Proposition of Euclide As he had made that Progress his Father accidently entred the Room he was in and found him so attentive on the Proposition he was upon that it was a good while before he took notice of his Approach But it was a far greater Surprize to him upon his Demand What he was a doing To hear him say He was in search of such a Thing which was exactly the thirty second Proposition of the first Book of Euclide He ask'd him then What made him think of that He answered it was his Discovery of such an other Thing thus as it were analyzing and explaining his meaning still by the Names of a Barr and a Round he came down to the Definitions and Axioms of his own Contrivance M. Paschal was so astonish'd at the greatness and force of his Son's Genius that leaving him without speaking another Word he went at the same juncture to a Friend's House of his one M. Pailleur admirable in the Mathematicks When he came there he stood immoveable as a Statue and as a Man transported M. Pailleur observing that and seeing him in Tears was very much affrighted and pray'd him to conceal no longer from him the cause of his Displeasure I weep not said M. Paschal out of any Grief but Joy You know what pains I have still taken to prevent all Knowledg of Geometry in my Son for fear it should take him off his other Studies Yet see what he has done upon that he related all to him that I have said And M. Paschal by the Advice of his Friend desisted to offer violence to his Son's Inclinations who was yet but a dozen years of Age and gave him an Euclide Seriously said I to M. Descartes do you think a Man could have the Face to circumstantiate a Lye so methodically as this Could any thing seem more probable than the Circles he calls Rounds and the Lines that he calls Barrs Is not that enough to persuade us of the Truth of his Axioms and the thirty second Proposition of Euclide What can be more Natural than the Surprizal of M. Paschal the Father excepting perhaps it was a little too long who took thereupon his Cloak and order'd his Horses to be put in the Coach yet remain'd at his Arrival at M. Pilleur's House in so immoveable a posture as was capable to scare him After all it is very fine and extraordinary and it would be great pity it should be false And I say reply'd M. Descartes it is greater pity that it should be true and that any should believe it For if once it be credited that a Child of twelve years old that hath never seen a Book of Geometry and in whose Presence all endeavours have been us'd to suppress the very Name of it whose Mind all day long was taken up with quite different Notices who had no time to spare but his hours of Recreation which no Body probably order'd him to pass away in Solitude should be able to frame to himself a Method of Geometry invent Axioms and arrive at last to the thirty second Propositon of Euclide I say if such like things
Parts of the third Element that cover'd it and the paucity of its Pores in the Superficies I say since that Star by reason of its solidity was capable of a far greater Motion than the Mass of Celestial Matter that incompass'd it and carried it along having by degrees arriv'd to a mighty Speed in the turning of a Hand it gain'd the Brink of the Circumference of the Vortex and out it flew amain and continuing its Motion by the Tangent of the Circle it had begun to describe pass'd on to another Vortex and from that to another till I knew not what became onâ—t For M. Dâ—scartes interrupted the Attention I was in to pursue it to instruct me That the Adventure I had seen at present usually happen'd and would still from Time to Time in our World And that what we there call Comets were nothing else but Stars that have lost their Vortex and Light by that congealing Matter and then pass'd from Vortex to Vortex V. Fig. Vorâ— becoming visible to us all the Time they traverse our Solary Vortex and ceasing to be seen as soon as they entred in another Immediately after the Ruin of the Vortex I have been speaking of there were seven others that ran the same Risque and became seven Comets Whereupon Monsieur Descartes pursu'd It is not amiss in order to your better understanding the Effects that are speedily to follow to give Names to the Principal Stars that are left We have still a dozen of them but we will trouble our Heads at present with no more then eight That then continued he pointing out the greatest Star of all and which had the greatest Vortex we will call the Sun that other shall be Saturn let the next on the Left-hand be Iupiter that on the Right shall be named Mars that other wee 'll name Earth and the nearest to us of all shall be christned the Moon Of these two little ones the one shall be Venus and the other Mercury By and by I will name the other four Having for some Time consider'd the admirable Disposition of all these Vortexes that in spite of their Fluidity did not at all mix and incorporate with one another a thing no one would believe unless he saw it and which cannot be comprehended but by a Cartesian Soul for no other Philosopher 'till this Day hath been able to conceive it possible We saw Mercury and Venus begin to be overspread with the rising Scum and forthwith the Vortex of the Sun with the other neighbouring Vortexes to get ground prodigiously on those two Stars till at last their Heaven or their Vortex being entirely swallow'd up they fell in with that of the Sun somewhat near the Centre and began to turn about him floating in the Matter of his Vortex The same thing happen'd a little while after to four petty Stars whose Vortexes border'd upon that of Iupiter where they were oblig'd to descend and take the same Lot therein as Venus and Mercury in that of Sol. M. Descartes called these four the Satellites of Iupiter because they represent the four Planets that turn about Iupiter in our World Lastly the Earth in like manner made herself Mistress of the Moon and obliged her to attend her in quality of her Planet for that is the Name which is given to degraded Stars because of their only Employment that is left which is to wander in the Zodiac and to turn eternally about those that have rob'd them of their Vortex M. Descartes exemplify'd this Matter by certain Whirl-pools we sometimes see in Rivers whereof one great one that often contains in it many little ones represents the great Solary Vortex and the little ones represent the Vortexes of Iupiter and the Earth Those little Whirl-pools are carried along by the Motion of the greater and turn about its Centre whilst themselves make every thing that comes in the Reach of their Circumference suppose Straws or little Chips to turn about their own Thus the Earth carries round the Moon in her Vortex and Iupiter his Satellites in his 1 The Centre of the Earth full of the Matter of the First Element M the internal Shell that covers it C the Place of Metals D Water E Earth on which we tread V Air. The lowest of these Subordinations was according to my Position an Arch of very Solid and Heavy Matter and there I place the origin of Metals The Second which I rang'd above it was a Liquid Body constituted of the Parts of the third Element pretty long very flexible and pliant as it were little Eels temper'd with an abundance of the Parts of the second Element which was nothing else but what we usually call Water Lastly above all this I suppos'd a third Vault made of the most clinging and craggy Parts of the third Element whose sensible Parts were only Stones Sand Clay and Mud and which was very porous And this is the outward Surface of the Earth on part of which tread Mortal Men. You plainly see then said M. Descartes that to shew you the Train of all these Things would demand a great deal of Time But the Hour of your Departure hastens on I remit you therefore to my Book for Satisfaction in all those Particulars I am going now to make an Abridgment of all those Motions and to shew you in as little Time as we are speaking on 't this Earth exactly like yours with Mountains Valleys Plains and Seas No sooner said than done He falls to determining the Motion of an infinite Number of those long and flexible Parts of the third Element and agitating them by playing among them the Parts of the second in the several Places where he had heap'd them to gether we saw presently a kind of Sea diffuse itself over the Face of the Earth it was a less Trouble to him to raise Mountains by only amassing together an abundance of the branchy Parts of the third Element and causing them to link and graple with each other whereby there stood in many Places great and mighty Piles nothing differing from our Mountains That Earth look'd very bare and naked without Trees without Herbs without Flowers for to produce all those Things that are the greatest Ornaments to our Earth was a Business that would take up longer Time This done he employ'd the rest of the Time that we staid with him in the consideration chiefly of two Things First of the Gravity or rather of the Motion of Bodies we call Heavy towards the Centre And secondly of the Manner of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea He began with the first and explained it at this rate S the Sun T the Earth AB CD the little Vortex of the Earth NA CZ the great Orb wherein the Earth is carried round the Sun And it is for the same Reason that a Terrestrial Body forc'd into the Air is oblig'd to descend towards the Centre of the Earth because it has less Force to digress from the Centre than