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The CONTENTS.

VII. Secret Tranfactions in relation to King

Charles the First: Written by Sir John

Bowring, Knight,
P. 78.

VIII. An Advertisement, written to a Secretary
of the Lord Treasurer's in England, con-
cerning Seminary Priefts: As alfo, a Let-
ter written by the Lord Treasurer, in Defence
of the Nobility and Gentry, intercepted ; Pub.
lifhed and Anfwered by the Papifts, An.

p. 175.

Sir HENRY SHEERE'S

DISCOURSE

OF THE

MEDITERANIAN SEA,

AND THE

Streights of GIBRALTAR.

T

HE moft Learned Gallileus, by a familiar Demonftration granting his Syfteme of the World, refolves that great Phenomenon of Nature, the Flux and Re Alux of the Ocean; the Speculation whereof [as Hiftory tells us,] coft the Famous Ariftotle fo dear: And, albeit, thefe, and multitudes of other fuccefsful Inquirers into Nature, have enlightned the World with Volumes of admirable Discoveries highly conducing to the Felicity of the prefent Age, yet either not convinced of the Fact, or wanting Years of Refidence upon the Place, which I have had, to perfect their Obfervations, none that I have read, or heard of, have ever yet publifh'd any

B

Reafons

Reafons to the purpose touching this useful Sub ject. It will appear therefore at firft fight, upon the Contemplation of barely Matter of Fact, a very knotty Propofition, how it fhould come to país, that a Lake or Stagnant Water, [for fuch we may esteem the Mediterranian,] fupplyed by the Tribute of above One hundred and fifty Rivers, many whereof reckoned amongst the greateft of the World, fhould not only not discover a very manifeft Superfluity by a violent difemboguing into the Atlantick Sea by the Streight of Gibraltar, but on the contrary, a Thirst for the most part, and want of greater Supply, as appears by an almost conftant Current running directly in fo ftrong in the Narrow or Straight, that in fome Seasons of the Year no Boat with ten Oars can ftem it, and in Calms, after a ftrong Levant is perceived, as high up as Majorca. Mariners, who are moft converfant in this Element, are very pofitive in their Affertions, affirming, that there is a Difemboguing, and that it is performed by a counter Current or invifible Stream some space beneath the Surface running continually back, and think they have the Authority of a Demonftration for this Opinion, from a vulgar Experiment they make by letting fall an Anchor, and veering but two or three Cables; and, albeit, the Anchor came not near the Bottom; yet they found that the Ship's Way or Motion, became by this means very much retarded, which was evident by their now ftemming the Current, which before carried them along with it. This Experiment at first View, one would think, ought to yield Reafon plaufible enough to back the Opinion of a counter Current; but an eafie Demonstration will dete& the Fallacy, and plainly evince how tamely Man

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