Volume 1

Atlas geographus: or, a compleat system of geography, ancient and modern / Containing what is most of use in Bleau, Varenius, Cellarius, Cluverius, Baudrand, Brietius, Sanson, &c. With the discoveries and improvements of the best modern authors to this time. Illustrated with about 100 new maps, done from the latest observations, by Herman Moll, geographer. And many other cuts, by the best artists.

  • Moll, Herman, -1732
Date:
1711-1717
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Atlas geographus: or, a compleat system of geography, ancient and modern / Containing what is most of use in Bleau, Varenius, Cellarius, Cluverius, Baudrand, Brietius, Sanson, &c. With the discoveries and improvements of the best modern authors to this time. Illustrated with about 100 new maps, done from the latest observations, by Herman Moll, geographer. And many other cuts, by the best artists. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/1070 (page 16)
    ding to Pliny, makes 515000 Roman Miles. Hipparchus, who lived 100 Years after Eratojlhenes, added 25000 Stadia to Eratofthenes's Number. Poftdonius, a learned Philofopher, and particularly well vers'd in Agronomy, who lived in the Time of Cicero and P.ompey a little before our Saviour, laid the Circumference of the Earth was 240000 Stadia, as Cleomedes relates; but 180000 according to Stra¬ bo, which feems to be trued. How¬ ever, Eratojlhenes's Dimenfion was fol¬ low'd by mod till the Time of Ptolomy, who lived 144 Years after Chrid, and averted the Circumference to be 180000 Stadia. Maimon, King of the Arabians,- order’d fome learned Mathematicians to meet in the Fields of Alefopotamia, and enquire into the Circumference of the Earth, which they determined to be 20060 or 20340 Miles. From that Time till our Days this Problem lay neg- leded ; the Arabians follow’d their own Mathematicians, and the Latins follow’d Ptolomy. But about 60 Years ago, Snel- Hus, Profedor of Mathematicks at Ley¬ den,, a very learned Man, finding thefe Computations defective , demon drat ed one Degree in the Earth to confid of 28500 Perches of 12 Rheinlandifh Feet each, which make 19 Dutch. Miles ; and by Confequence the whole Circumference €tf the Earth to be 8640 Miles, each Mile containing 18000 Rheinlandifh Feet The Curious may find the feveral Ways of making up thofe Computations in Sir Jfaac Newtons Edition of Prarenius9 Lib. 1. Cap. 4. with his own Opinion and Ammadverfions upon them. The Sur¬ face of the Earth, Mr. Keif, in his Exa¬ mination of Dr. Burnet's Theory, makes to be 170981012 Italian Miles. The Cir¬ cumference of the Earth, according to the French Meafure, is 123249600 Paris Foot, or 24649 fo- Englifh Miles. The mean Semi-Diameter of the Earth is 19615800 Paris Foot, or 3933 Miles, of 5000 Foot to a Mile; but the Earth is higher at the Equator than at the Poles by 85200 Foot, or 17 Miles; fo that the Radius of the Earth may be taken in a round Number as 200000000 Feet. The folid Content of the Globe of the whole Earth is 30000.000000.000000.000000 Cubick Feet. Since in Geography we not only con- fider the greater Circles of the Earth* as the Equator, &c. but alfo the Parallels of the Equator ; therefore we mud alfo determine how many Miles or Perches anfwer to one Degree in each Parallel. I took, fays Nftrenius, the Computation of the Perches from Snellius ; but I com¬ puted the Miles my lelf; viz,. 1900 Perches for a German Mile, 1500 for a Dutch Mile, and 475 for an Italian Mile* A TABLE