1what eaſe a Vacuum could be made near
the confines of the Atmoſphere, where
the Air is probably but light in compari
ſon of what it is here below. But our
preſent (three and thirtieth) Experiment
ſeems to manifeſt, not onely that the
power, exerciſ'd by Nature, to ſhun or re
pleniſh a Vacuum, is limited, but that it
may be determin'd even to Pounds and
Ounces: Inſomuch that we might ſay,
ſuch a weight Nature will ſuſtain or will
lift up to reſiſt a Vacuum in our Engine;
but if an Ounce more be added to that
weight, it will ſurmount Her ſo much
magnifi'd deteſtation of Vacuities. And
thus, My Lord, our Experiments may
not onely anſwer thoſe of the Pleniſts,
but enable us to retort their Arguments
againſt themſelves: ſince, if that be true
which they alleadge, that, when Water
falls not down according to its nature, in
a Body wherein no Air can ſucceed to fill
up the place it muſt leave, the ſuſpenſi
on of the Liquor is made Ne detur Vacu
um, (as they ſpeak) it will follow, that
if the Water can be brought to ſubſide
in ſuch a caſe, that deſerted ſpace may be
deem'd empty, according to their own
Doctrine; eſpecially, ſince Nature (as
the confines of the Atmoſphere, where
the Air is probably but light in compari
ſon of what it is here below. But our
preſent (three and thirtieth) Experiment
ſeems to manifeſt, not onely that the
power, exerciſ'd by Nature, to ſhun or re
pleniſh a Vacuum, is limited, but that it
may be determin'd even to Pounds and
Ounces: Inſomuch that we might ſay,
ſuch a weight Nature will ſuſtain or will
lift up to reſiſt a Vacuum in our Engine;
but if an Ounce more be added to that
weight, it will ſurmount Her ſo much
magnifi'd deteſtation of Vacuities. And
thus, My Lord, our Experiments may
not onely anſwer thoſe of the Pleniſts,
but enable us to retort their Arguments
againſt themſelves: ſince, if that be true
which they alleadge, that, when Water
falls not down according to its nature, in
a Body wherein no Air can ſucceed to fill
up the place it muſt leave, the ſuſpenſi
on of the Liquor is made Ne detur Vacu
um, (as they ſpeak) it will follow, that
if the Water can be brought to ſubſide
in ſuch a caſe, that deſerted ſpace may be
deem'd empty, according to their own
Doctrine; eſpecially, ſince Nature (as