1remember, for the removall of an Error that is too common; That
that Ship or other whatſoever Body, that on the depth of an hundred
or a thouſand fathom, ſwims with ſubmerging only ſix fathom of its
own height, [or in the Sea dialect, that draws ſix fathom water] ſhall
ſwim in the ſame manner in water, that hath but ſix fathom and half
an Inch of depth. Nor do I on the other ſide, think that it can be
ſaid, that the ſuperiour parts of the water are the more denſe,
though a moſt grave Authour hath eſteemed the ſuperiour water in
the Sea to be ſo, grounding his opinion upon its being more ſalt, than
that at the bottom: but I doubt the Experiment, whether hitherto
in taking the water from the bottom, the Obſervatour did not light
upon ſome ſpring of freſh water there ſpouting up: but we plainly
ſee on the contrary, the freſh Waters of Rivers to dilate themſelves
for ſome miles beyond their place of meeting with the ſalt water of
the Sea, without deſcending in it, or mixing with it, unleſs by the
intervention of ſome commotion or turbulency of the Windes.
that Ship or other whatſoever Body, that on the depth of an hundred
or a thouſand fathom, ſwims with ſubmerging only ſix fathom of its
own height, [or in the Sea dialect, that draws ſix fathom water] ſhall
ſwim in the ſame manner in water, that hath but ſix fathom and half
an Inch of depth. Nor do I on the other ſide, think that it can be
ſaid, that the ſuperiour parts of the water are the more denſe,
though a moſt grave Authour hath eſteemed the ſuperiour water in
the Sea to be ſo, grounding his opinion upon its being more ſalt, than
that at the bottom: but I doubt the Experiment, whether hitherto
in taking the water from the bottom, the Obſervatour did not light
upon ſome ſpring of freſh water there ſpouting up: but we plainly
ſee on the contrary, the freſh Waters of Rivers to dilate themſelves
for ſome miles beyond their place of meeting with the ſalt water of
the Sea, without deſcending in it, or mixing with it, unleſs by the
intervention of ſome commotion or turbulency of the Windes.
A Ship that
in 100 Fathome
water draweth
6 Fathome, ſhall
float in 6
thome and 1/2 an
Inch of depth.
in 100 Fathome
water draweth
6 Fathome, ſhall
float in 6
thome and 1/2 an
Inch of depth.
But returning to Aristotle, I ſay, that the breadth of Figure hath
nothing to do in this buſineſs more or leſs, becauſe the ſaid Plate of
Lead, or other Matter, cut into long Slices, ſwim neither more nor
leſs; and the ſame ſhall the Slices do, being cut anew into little
pieces, becauſe its not the breadth but the thickneſs that operates in
this buſineſs. I ſay farther, that in caſe it were really true, that the
Renitence to Diviſion were the proper Cauſe of ſwimming, the
gures more narrow and ſhort, would much better ſwim than the more
ſpacious and broad, ſo that augmenting the breadth of the Figure,
the facility of ſupernatation will be deminiſhed, and decreaſing, that
this will encreaſe.
nothing to do in this buſineſs more or leſs, becauſe the ſaid Plate of
Lead, or other Matter, cut into long Slices, ſwim neither more nor
leſs; and the ſame ſhall the Slices do, being cut anew into little
pieces, becauſe its not the breadth but the thickneſs that operates in
this buſineſs. I ſay farther, that in caſe it were really true, that the
Renitence to Diviſion were the proper Cauſe of ſwimming, the
gures more narrow and ſhort, would much better ſwim than the more
ſpacious and broad, ſo that augmenting the breadth of the Figure,
the facility of ſupernatation will be deminiſhed, and decreaſing, that
this will encreaſe.
And for declaration of what I ſay, conſider that when a thin Plate
of Lead deſcends, dividing the water, the Diviſion and
ation is made between the parts of the water, invironing the
ter or Circumference of the ſaid Plate, and according to the
neſs greater or leſſer of that circuit, it hath to divide a greater or
leſſer quantity of water, ſo that if the circuit, ſuppoſe of a Board,
be ten Feet in ſinking it flatways, it is to make the ſeperation and
diviſion, and to ſo ſpeak, an inciſſion upon ten Feet of water; and
likewiſe a leſſer Board that is four Feet in Perimeter, muſt make an
inceſſion of four Feet. This granted, he that hath any knowledge
in Geometry, will comprehend, not only that a Board ſawed in many
long thin pieces, will much better float than when it was entire, but
that all Figures, the more ſhort and narrow they be, ſhall ſo much the
better ſwim. Let the Board ABCD be, for Example, eight
Palmes long, and five broad, its circuit ſhall be twenty ſix Palmes;
and ſo many muſt the inceſſion be, which it ſhall make in the water to
deſcend therein: but if we do ſaw ir, as ſuppoſe into eight little
of Lead deſcends, dividing the water, the Diviſion and
ation is made between the parts of the water, invironing the
ter or Circumference of the ſaid Plate, and according to the
neſs greater or leſſer of that circuit, it hath to divide a greater or
leſſer quantity of water, ſo that if the circuit, ſuppoſe of a Board,
be ten Feet in ſinking it flatways, it is to make the ſeperation and
diviſion, and to ſo ſpeak, an inciſſion upon ten Feet of water; and
likewiſe a leſſer Board that is four Feet in Perimeter, muſt make an
inceſſion of four Feet. This granted, he that hath any knowledge
in Geometry, will comprehend, not only that a Board ſawed in many
long thin pieces, will much better float than when it was entire, but
that all Figures, the more ſhort and narrow they be, ſhall ſo much the
better ſwim. Let the Board ABCD be, for Example, eight
Palmes long, and five broad, its circuit ſhall be twenty ſix Palmes;
and ſo many muſt the inceſſion be, which it ſhall make in the water to
deſcend therein: but if we do ſaw ir, as ſuppoſe into eight little