1ſhould deſcend, the Air being unable to
ſucceed it, there would be left at the up
per and deſerted part of the Veſſel a Va
cuum, that would be avoided if the hole
at the top were open'd. When (I ſay)
they alleadge ſuch Experiments, the
Tendency of them ſeems plainly to im
port, that they mean, by a Vacuum, any
ſpace here below that is not fill'd with a
viſible body, or at leaſt with Air; though
it be not quite devoy'd of all Body what
ſoever. For why ſhould Nature, out of
her deteſtation of a Vacuum, make Bo
dies act contrary to their own Tendency,
that a place may be fill'd with Air, if its
being ſo were not neceſſary to the avoi
ding of a Vacuum.
ſucceed it, there would be left at the up
per and deſerted part of the Veſſel a Va
cuum, that would be avoided if the hole
at the top were open'd. When (I ſay)
they alleadge ſuch Experiments, the
Tendency of them ſeems plainly to im
port, that they mean, by a Vacuum, any
ſpace here below that is not fill'd with a
viſible body, or at leaſt with Air; though
it be not quite devoy'd of all Body what
ſoever. For why ſhould Nature, out of
her deteſtation of a Vacuum, make Bo
dies act contrary to their own Tendency,
that a place may be fill'd with Air, if its
being ſo were not neceſſary to the avoi
ding of a Vacuum.
Taking then a Vacuum in this vulgar
and obvious ſence, the common opinion
about it ſeems lyable to ſeveral Exce
ptions, whereof ſome of the chief are
ſuggeſted to us by our Engine.
and obvious ſence, the common opinion
about it ſeems lyable to ſeveral Exce
ptions, whereof ſome of the chief are
ſuggeſted to us by our Engine.
It will not eaſily then be intelligibly
made out, how hatred or averſation,
which is a paſſion of the Soule, can either
for a Vacuum, or any other object, be ſup
pos'd to be in Water, or ſuch like inani
mate Body, which cannot be preſum'd
to know when a Vacuum would enſue; if
made out, how hatred or averſation,
which is a paſſion of the Soule, can either
for a Vacuum, or any other object, be ſup
pos'd to be in Water, or ſuch like inani
mate Body, which cannot be preſum'd
to know when a Vacuum would enſue; if