Castelli, Benedetto, Of the mensuration of running waters, 1661

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1
Now touching this, I had the fortune to offer an admirable
accident that we meet with when we come to the effect, which
I verily believe will be an utter ruine to the Lake of Ve­
nice.
I ſay therefore, that by diverting theſe five Rivers that re­
main, although their water that they diſcharge for the preſent in­
to the Lake is not all taken together 4/5 parts of what the Brent
alone did carry, yet nevertheleſſe the abatement of the water of
the Lake which ſhall enſue upon this laſt diverſion of four parts,
which was the whole water, ſhall prove double to that which hath
happened by the diverſion of Brent onely, although that the
Brent alone carried five parts of that water, of which the Rivers
that are to be diverted carry four: A wonder really great, and
altogether unlikely; for the reducing all this Propoſition to be
underſtood, is as if we ſhould ſay, that there being given us
three Rivers, of which the firſt diſchargeth five parts, the ſecond
three, and the third one, and that from the diverſion of the
firſt, there did follow ſuch a certain abatement or fall; from
the taking away of the ſecond there ought to follow alſo ſo
much more abatement; And laſtly, from the withdrawing of
the third the water ought to fall ſo much more, which is wholly
impoſſible: And yet it is moſt certain, and beſides the demon­
ſtration that perſwades me to it, which I ſhall explain in due
time, I can ſet before your eyes ſuch an experiment as is not to
be denied by any one, although obſtinate: and I will make it
plainly ſeen and felt, that by taking away only four parts of the
five, which ſhall have been taken away, the abatement proveth
double to the abatement enſuing upon the diverting firſt of the
five onely; which thing being true, as moſt certainly it is, it
will give us to underſtand how pernicious this diverſion of five
Rivers is like to prove, if it ſhall be put in execution.
By this little that I have hinted, and the much that I could
ſay, let your Highneſſe gather with what circumſpection this bu­
ſineſſe ought to be managed, and with how great skill he ought
to be furniſhed who would behave himſelf well in theſe difficult
affairs.
I have not at this time explained the demonſtration, nor have
I ſo much as propounded the way to make the Experiment, that
I am able to make in confirmation of what I have ſaid, that ſo
by ſome one or others miſ-apprehending the Demonſtration,
and maiming the Experiment, the truth may not happen to ſhine
with leſſe clarity than it doth, when all miſts of difficulty are re­
moved: and if ſo be, no account ſhould be made of the Reaſons
by me alledged, and that men ſhould ſhut their eyes againſt the
Experiments that without coſt or charge may be made, I do de­

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