The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-05-20

changes Of our seasons, tides, winds, clouds,
rains, and dews-producing nothing but
sameness in all parts of the world. know
that there are many who are jealous in the
traditions of their fathers, or instructors.
believing that the laws ofuniversal gravity
and attraction are the principles by which
the planets are kept in their respective or
bits. Yet to this belief ] can only SUBJ
scribe in part; viz: that Of universal gra-
yitation, i.e. bodies terrestrial having all a
tendency first towards their common CEN
tire, (the sun) and secondly towards each
other. This principle, | think. may be in
part accounted for upon the same princi-
pie that water in a pump is raised by
means Of taking off the surrounding atmos-
phere. or that stone falls to the ground
by reason of the compression or weight Of
the atmosphere. The same analogy of
reasoning may apply to planet; in the first
instance (without greatly straining our
coceptions) it is no hard matter to believe
that heat, or the sun, acting only on one
side of planet at the same time, must ne
cessarily in part remove the weight of the
atmosphere from off that side, when at the
same time, the opposite side of the planet
must be greatly compressed with cold, and
dense region, or at least sufficiently
dense to prevent the planets flying any
further off from the sun, its common CEN
tire, than what is necessary for the attain
ing a proper medium of temperature. and
just and true poise to the planet and its
motion; for though cork may have sufli-
cient gravity to fall to the ground, yet pla-
ced in water it becomes buoyant this is
owing no doubt to the compression of wa
ter beneath. To suppose. as have heard
some, that the armament of the heavens is
a vacuum, and that bodies meet with no
resistance there, has but little affinity with
those proofs brought forward almost daily
to shew that vacuum very rarely exists
in any thing here below--Neither do be-
ieve thatit is the case in things above
believing (as is recorsled) that there is One
who fills all space, onniscent and omni
present, and who gives motion to all bo.
dies upon such simple principles as that his
intelligent creatures are enabled to read
many Of those laws which are, no doubt
unfoded to US in the movements of crea-
ted things for our contemplation, and it is
from such ideas as these that am induced
to believe that our tides are produced more
generally from the effect Of the moons
pressure, or repulsiye force of its own bo-
dy, or atmosphere upon the ocean, or at
mosphere of the earth, than from any thing
like local attraction; for though it has
frequently been brought forward as an ar
gument in favor of attraction, that it is al
ways high water nearly under the moon
which, it this was a correct statement,
! should at once concede to the same opin
inn; but as this is not the case, it leave!
me ground for erecting more sure hy
Ipothesis. Many of us know that wher
VIC iiODu - VII WV IntIiutdIl, VIZ, Ill many
places, have high water at the same time
Just as it would happen if ball was lie,
down in tub of water, it would cause a
rising at the sides Of the tub in propor-
tion as the water became depressed in the
middle. Thus It is with the steam boats
which ply in our rivers and creeks; the
space which she occupies, together with
her velocity. causes sudden rise on the
opposite shores, notwithstanding the ex.
cavation which she produces in the water
is soon filled up. Yet water like, air is
pressed forward from the effect of gravity
and the whole body moves on together.
Thus we see the tide swell at the rate OF
l5 miles per hour, and sometimes is seen
to rise on the shore. and at the same time
running ebb in the channel.
10 be continued.)