A compleat treatise on perspective, in theory and practice; on the true principles of Dr. Brook Taylor. Made clear, in theory, by various moveable schemes, and diagrams; and reduced to practice ... Containing diagrams, views, and original designs, in architecture, &c. ... All originals; / invented, delineated, and, great part, engraved by the author, Thomas Malton.

  • Malton, Thomas, 1726-1801.
Date:
1778
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A compleat treatise on perspective, in theory and practice; on the true principles of Dr. Brook Taylor. Made clear, in theory, by various moveable schemes, and diagrams; and reduced to practice ... Containing diagrams, views, and original designs, in architecture, &c. ... All originals; / invented, delineated, and, great part, engraved by the author, Thomas Malton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    52/426 (page 24)
    \ folid Body are, by any means, feparated, do they not cohere together again ? or, what reafon can be given, why they fhould cohere more ftrongly one way than another; as in Wood of all kinds? It is downright Sophiftry, all; a language without meaning. That Bodies may be feparated into Parts or Particles is undoubt¬ ed ; but, that they are compofed of Particles, is what 1 cannot give them credit for. Every Body, whether Solid or Fluid, before any of its parts are feparated, is one entire Mafs of Matter. Again, if Fluids are compofed of Particles, and allowing them to be tranfparent in their nature, their globular form would render them, in fome degree, opake; fo that, a Fluid would not admit of diftinCt Vilion through it. Now, I am clearly of opinion that all the parts of a Fluid lie perfectly dole to each other, without any Cavities interfperfed ; it is impoffible there can be any; confequently, there is not the leaft particle of Air contained in Fluids. If any difi'oluble Body be im- merfed, as Sugar, See. in Water; does not the Air, which is contained in its ca¬ vities, immediately afeend to the Surface, as foon as it is at liberty, by the diflo- lution of the immerfed Body ? The caufe of Tranfparency, either in Fluids, or, more particularly, in folid Bodies, is, to us, an impenetrable myftery. It is aftonifhing that there fhould be diftindt and perfect Vifion through Glafs, or pellucid Stones,; and, with all the knowledge and penetration human wifdom can pretend to, we cannot form an Idea tending to comprehend it. Yet, this afpiring, piefumptuous, all-fufficient Man, would pre¬ tend to account for the caufe of Vifion, itfelf, and for all the other Senfes; nay (if we will take their Words for it) for every operation in Nature. But I fhall make free to tell them, plainly, that they cannot account for one. Firft, let them account for their own Exiftence ; can they tell where the firft fpring of felf-motion begins ? no, not fo much as for the motion of a Finger. As for the generality of Mankind, they neither do nor are capable of judging for themfelves, in many cafes ; and only give their alfent, or diftent as they are influ¬ enced, or depending on the judgment of others, whom they either know or be¬ lieve to have Judgment. That this is the cafe, in general, is certain; and is the reafon why the opinions of fome great Men are, though ever fo arbitrary, adopted as orthodox ; becaule, there are but few who dare venture to contradict them, and think or judge for themfelves. And, becaufe thofe Perfons have advanced fome re¬ ceived and eftablifhed truths, thefe therefore conclude, that all which they prefume to advance mull neceflarily be fo. Thofe profound Gentlemen knowing their own importance, and the deference which the World pays to their Opinions, are but too apt to be intoxicated with it, and often take too much Confequence to themfelves; imagining, that they are really endowed with a penetration, into the myfteries of Nature, beyond the reft of Mankind. Or, from the knowledge they have of Mankind, the great deference they pay to their own fuperiority over them, and the implicit aflent which is given to all their productions, make them forget, that they, as well as the reft, are fallible. RefpeCting Vifion. It is faid in Smith’s Optices, Page the firft, and that from, the Authority of Sir Ifaac Newton, u that we fhall find it difficult to conceive, “ Light to be any thing elfe but very fmall and diftinCt particles of Matter, incef- “ fantly thrown out from fhining Subftances ; and every way difperfed by Reflec- “ tion from all others.” I freely own, that I am at a lofs to conceive how it can be Matter, and that for feveral reafons which may be given. Firft; it is an indifputable Maxim, univerfally allowed by all Men of common underftandings, that two Bodies cannot occupy or fill the lame Space at the fame Time ; even Air cannot be where there is already any other Body. Steam, or Water expanded, almoft, if not totally, excludes Air j confequently, no other Body can occupy the fame Space where there is Air. Now, fince the whole of Space, with¬ in our Atmofphere, at leaft, is filled with Air, how can it be alfo filled with Light, if Light be, alfo, a Body, compofed of Matter ? for, fince it is manifeft, to ocular