1in the Emiſſary, in the ſpace of three or four dayes, the Fields
have been haply drained. But on the other part, the proprietors
bordering on the Lake oppoſed this, grievouſly complaining, that
whilſt the Floodgates are ſhut, and the courſe of the Water of
the Sluice hindered, the Lake overflowes the Lands adjacent, by
meanes of the Rivers that fell into it, to their very great damage;
and ſo continuing their ſuits, they got more of vexation than ſa
tisfaction. Now, being asked my opinion herein, I judged it
requiſite (ſince the point in controverſie was about the riſing
and falling of the Lake) that the ſaid abatement, when the
Floodgates are open, and increaſe when they are ſhut ſhould be
exactly meaſured, and told them, that it might be eaſily done at
a time when no extraordinary Waters fell into the Lake, neither
of Rain, or otherwiſe; and the Lake was undiſturbed by winds
that might drive the Water to any ſide, by planting neer to an
Iſlet, which is about the middle of the Lake, a thick poſt, on
which ſhould be made the marks of the Lakes riſing and falling
for two or three dayes. I would not, at that time, pawn, or re
ſolutely declare, my judgment, in regard I might be, by divers
accidents miſled. But this I told them, that (by what I have
demonſtrated, and particularly that which I have ſaid above
touching the Lake of Perugia) I inclined greatly to think,
that theſe riſings and fallings would prove imperceptible, and
inconſiderable; and therefore, that in caſe experience ſhould
make good my reaſon, it would be to no purpoſe for them to
continue diſputing and wrangling, which cauſeth, (according
to the Proverb) A great deal of cry, but produceth not much
Wool.
have been haply drained. But on the other part, the proprietors
bordering on the Lake oppoſed this, grievouſly complaining, that
whilſt the Floodgates are ſhut, and the courſe of the Water of
the Sluice hindered, the Lake overflowes the Lands adjacent, by
meanes of the Rivers that fell into it, to their very great damage;
and ſo continuing their ſuits, they got more of vexation than ſa
tisfaction. Now, being asked my opinion herein, I judged it
requiſite (ſince the point in controverſie was about the riſing
and falling of the Lake) that the ſaid abatement, when the
Floodgates are open, and increaſe when they are ſhut ſhould be
exactly meaſured, and told them, that it might be eaſily done at
a time when no extraordinary Waters fell into the Lake, neither
of Rain, or otherwiſe; and the Lake was undiſturbed by winds
that might drive the Water to any ſide, by planting neer to an
Iſlet, which is about the middle of the Lake, a thick poſt, on
which ſhould be made the marks of the Lakes riſing and falling
for two or three dayes. I would not, at that time, pawn, or re
ſolutely declare, my judgment, in regard I might be, by divers
accidents miſled. But this I told them, that (by what I have
demonſtrated, and particularly that which I have ſaid above
touching the Lake of Perugia) I inclined greatly to think,
that theſe riſings and fallings would prove imperceptible, and
inconſiderable; and therefore, that in caſe experience ſhould
make good my reaſon, it would be to no purpoſe for them to
continue diſputing and wrangling, which cauſeth, (according
to the Proverb) A great deal of cry, but produceth not much
Wool.
Laſtly, it importing very much to know what a Rain conti
nued for many dayes can do in raiſing theſe Lakes, I will here in
ſert the Copy of a Letter, which I writ formerly to Signior Ga
lilæo Galilæi, chief Philoſopher to the Grand Duke of Tuſcany,
wherein I have delivered one of my conceits in this buſineſſe, and
it may be, by this Letter, I may, more ſtrongly, confirm what I
have ſaid above.
nued for many dayes can do in raiſing theſe Lakes, I will here in
ſert the Copy of a Letter, which I writ formerly to Signior Ga
lilæo Galilæi, chief Philoſopher to the Grand Duke of Tuſcany,
wherein I have delivered one of my conceits in this buſineſſe, and
it may be, by this Letter, I may, more ſtrongly, confirm what I
have ſaid above.