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.

    69/1070 (page 31)
    is expelled by that which is more prefled, as is plain from Experience. 3. That every Part of a Fluid is prefs’d by the Fluid above it perpendicularly, with re- ipedt to the Center of the Earth, if this Fluid defeend, or be prefs’d by another Body. For his Geometrical Demonftra- tion of this, we refer to the Book it ft If, He like wife proves, That the Ocean is no higher than the Shores of the Land • and therefore that the Land and the Sea are every where a 1 moll of the fame Height, excepting high Mountains. This is proved a Priori by the preceding Pro¬ portion ; and he proves it alfo a Pffie-* riori by the following Arguments : 1. We find by Experience, that Wa¬ ter, unlefs it be (lop’d, runs from higher to lower Places: Therefore if the Places about the Shores were lower than the middle of the Ocean, Part of the middle of the Sea would flow to the Shores. 2. If the Ocean far from the Shore were much higher than the Sea at the Shore, that Height would be perceiv’d at a greater Di(lance than a Spherical Surface admits of: Nay, it mull be feen at the fame Di(lance from which the inter¬ cepted Parts of the Ocean are feen be¬ twixt that Height and the Shore. But we find by Experience, that ’tis not feen at a greater Diliance, but that the more remote Part is gradually feen after the nearer Part, when we come to the Shore from Inland Places; and the nearer that any Part is to the Shore, fo much the fboner ’tis feen at the greater Diflance from the Shore. 3. When Mariners fail in the middle of the Ocean or deep Sea, tho’ they make nfe of Mathematical Inflruments, they find it no higher there than in the Parts next the Shore; which could not be, if the Sea were elevated like a. Tower or high Mountain : For as by Inflruments we difeern the Height of Towers or Mountains above the lower Parts of the Earth, we mull of Necedity by the fame Indruments perceive the middle of the 31 Ocean to be higher than the neighbour¬ ing Parts, if it were really fo. 4. In the middle of the Ocean Iflands are found here and there, and that alfo in great Numbers in fome Parts near the Continents: Therefore the middle of the Ocean is not higher than the Earth, be- caule ’tis not higher than the Shores of thole Iflands. 5. No Wave of the Ocean continues jong in the Form of a Heap or Hill, but is immediately difperfed, lb as to make an Equality with the neighbouring Parts. Therefore there can be no fuch Height in the middle of the Ocean above the adja¬ cent Parts of it. 6. If the Water were higher in the middle of the Ocean, no Reafon can be given why it Ihould not flow into the Channels of the Rivers, if their Waters were lower; for we find by Experience, that Water, wherever it is, flows into the lower Parts; and hence Inundations are occafioned. It makes nothing againfl this, that in fome few Places the Shores are higher than the neighbouring Inland Parts, fince in mod Parts ’tis otherwife » and’tis evident in the main, from the Courfe of Rivers, that the Midland Pla¬ ces are higher than the Shores. Be does not however deny, that there are Coun¬ tries fome what lower than the Water of the Ocean; but they are either defended by the Height of the Shores, or by Ram¬ parts made on Purpofe, which for molt part are not call up, beeaufe the Ocean is higher than that Part of the Shore in its natural and calm State; butto fave the Country from being overflowed, when the Sea is fvvollen by tempefluous Weather. From all this he concludes, That the Waters of the Ocean are no higher than the Earth; and that there is no need. of having Recourfe to the miraculous Pro¬ vidence, which prevents the whole Earth from being overflow’d. In the next Place* he gives us the Rea¬ fon why the Sea, view’d from the Shore* ferns to rife higher and higher the more remote: