The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-17
JAS. MONROE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER :
RICHMOND, January 18th, 1911.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER
RICHMOND, January 18th, 1911.
SIR,
In letter which has just reached me,
the venerable President of William & Mary
college, states his entire conviction, that Mr
Wood was not acquainted with the Hypo,he
SIS OF Calico ,hefare the publication Of his
Nezu Theory 1afhe Earth, sc. This con
viclion, he says, arises not only from Me.
Woods declarations, but from many materi-
al circumstances. He further observes tn at
De Ia La1sie's Jirst Edition, consulted by
him, at Mr.. Woods request, does not con
Sain the most distant reference to Galileo's
theory even Vnces remarks, on the same
head, appear to Mr.. Madison, in great mea,.
sure IRE iavant.
In paper, dated Williamsburg, January
1Osh, and published in the Enquirer of he
10Th Mr.. g. Blackburn, has very Justly
stated the considerable difference between
%he rsai nature of the compound motion of
ale earth, and the same compound motion
as understood and EXPLAINED on GaEleo
and Halis The ratio of the variable ve-
loci'es In the Cycloidal curve is so i'm
mensely ditierent from tina! adopted, it seems.
by the Florentne Philosopher that the same
Fesalts Cannot flow from Galileo's double
motion, and Mr. Woods principle In the
two theories we observe, it is true. fun.
damental coincidence; | mean. the unequn-
Ole motion of the earth but features of es-
senual difference distinguish them from one
another in certain respects and this inirin.
sic evidence sufficiently establishes Mr..
Woods Claim to originality.
To the respectable testimony of the gen
tlemen above named. and TO this intrinsic
evidence, might, if necessary, add So
Tenn declaration, that i have been, as it
were an eyewitness to the birth and deve-
iopement of Mr.. Woods Theory. and that,
such as 1t now sraads. know it to be entire.
ly the offspring of his own active mind
believe MIR. Blackburn to be perfectly
corrrc' in his view of Galeo's compound mo-
tion-an article from D'.Hlem6ert, now be
fore me, t. ough no. quite precise and def
Mite, implies similar view--Of course, I
am led to consider the 18Th Cnrollary of The
Goth prop. OF Newton's Princihia, book 1st,
as combination of Galileo's system How
far the same important coralary may vulne-
rate MI. Woods principle, remains to he
examined Let us now clear the ground -
III. ADJ ain has challenged MIR Wool -
Bon have entered the lists. and pledged
themselves to use none but the fair weapons
OF Mathematical attack and defence The
contest must, of course be trial of real
strength and skill, and victory must declare
IN favor of that champion who has truth on
his side.
l.. II. GIRARDIN.
p. S. Ever since the origin of this dis
'cnssion, it has been to me a matter IF sur
prise that the properties of the Cycloid
were not sooner perceived in their connec
tion with the motion Of the Earth; my won
der increases as to Calico, whom Wallis
in letter to Leibnitz, dated Dec. 1, 1896,
states to have been the discoverer of that
curve; he even mentions a Cycloidal dia-
gram oft in Cardinal Cusan's M S. works,
written about the year 1454.--rhat New
ton did not consider the Earth as a mere
point, is sufficiently evident: Why, then,
did he entirely overlook this Cycloidal mo-.
gfon Of the points of the surfacef
L. II. g.