An Account of Books

X. An Account of BOOKS. 1. Diogenes Laertius Graece & Latine, cum Commentariis integris. Doctorum Virorum Amstelodami. Typis Henrici Wetstenii, Anno 1692. Prostant Londini apud S. Smith & B. Walford ad Insignia Principis in Coemeterio D. Pauli. The Ten Books of Diogenes Laertius, containing the Lives, Sayings and Opinions of the most ancient and eminent Philosophers of Greece, have been Printed more than Twenty times, (a good Testimony of their Acceptance with the Learned) as appeareth by a Catalogue of the several Editions, which we find set here in the Entry of the former Volume. All these Editions gradually surpassed each other by some new Accomplishments; yet all are very far short of that Perfection which this hath attained. It's evident that Mr. H. Wetsten before he adventured on this famous Piece, first took the Advice of his Learned Friends of several Nations; from whom he understood what further Improvements Diogenes might yet receive. After this he (and who could do it better?) cast the Work into the most useful Form and Model. Lastly, He spared no Cost in providing the most excellent paper, Types, Sculpts, and Heads of the Philosophers which could be found amongst the curious Antiquaries. And when we speak of the Elegancy of the Types and Letters used in this Impression, we cannot but observe to the Reader, that Mr. Wetsten, by Advice of that most Learned Man Mr. Mark Meibomius, hath in this Edition (and some other Greek Books) thrown away out of the Alphabet all those knotty and perplexing Abbreviations, commonly called by Printers Ligatures. These Ligatures have been a long time Thorns in the Eyes of all that first learn Greek. It may be hoped that all Founders of Greek Letters will for the future wholly omit, and banish these troublesome and useless Ligatures. The Greek Text of Diogenes Laertius was thought still, even after that Edition at London, 1663, very corrupt and unintelligible. Therefore Mr. Wetsten made a Journey into England, to see what Helps might here be had, to mend the Text. Two Copies in Greek of Diogenes were found; one in Trinity College in Cambridge, the other in the Arundelian Library, now in the Possession of the Royal Society. Out of both these the Publisher, Mr. Wetsten, obtained the Variantes Lectiones from his Friend Dr. Gale, who had entered them upon his Laertius, which he put into Mr. Wetsten's hand. Now whereas the famous Mr. Egidius Menagius in the London Edition of Diogenes, was thought to have left nothing untoucht in his Polite Notes, which might illustrate his Author; yet here, in this Edition, he hath added so wonderful Collections, that he hath now outdone not only Isaac Casaubone, Aldobrandinus and others, but even himself also. To him in the same Undertaking hath succeeded Mr. Kuhnus, who very happily hath cleared many places which seemed still dark and less intelligible. But to omit all others, we here find the most accurate Critick in the Greek and Latin Languages, M. Meibomius, far engaged: He undertook the revising of the Copy, the Correcting the Press, the directing and steering the whole whole Work; and also besides his commenting on a good part of it, he hath mended and supplied the Defects of the Latin Version; which was indeed hitherto very lame and insufficient. Here are in the end subjoyned Four very necessary Indexes: For all these we are beholden to the Learned Mr. John Clerk. The First, to mention no more, so far exceedeth that in the late Edition, which contained the Names of Authors alledged by Laertius, that it may well be judged to be totally a new one. In a word, this Age hath not seen any Work performed with so great Fidelity, Accuracy, Elegancy and Perfection in all Points, as we see meet here in this Edition, Mr. Wetten hath very highly, at his own proper Charge, obliged the Publick; may he find encouragement for other his worthy Undertakings in future. 2. Considerations on a Book Entituled, The Theory of the Earth: Publish'd some Years since by the Learned Dr. Burnet. Written by John Beaumont, jun. Gent. THO' several Persons before had printed some Reflections on this Theory, the Author of these Considerations, arguing generally in a way differing from them, thought it might not be a thing ungrateful to the Learned, if he publish'd what his own Thoughts might be towards the clearing of the abstruse matters there treated. He proceeds upon each Chapter, as the Author of the Theory has writ them, in his English Copy, first briefly stating the Contents, and then offering what he has to say upon them. The Theory is divided into Two Parts. The First treats of the Deluge and Dissolution of the Earth. The Second of the Primæval Earth and Paradise. As to the first part of the Theory, the Author of these Considerations on it, first sets forth, in opposition to it, what he finds the Grounds and Reasons of the Ancients generally were, for admitting Deluges and Conflagrations, and what their Learning was in General. Next, Whereas a Chaos is represented in the Theory (as the ground on which its Author proposes to build it), whence the World is said to have risen in time: He shews that there is no material Reason, why a Chaos should be admitted, and that, as far as Humane Understanding can reach, the World may have been in a perfect state from Eternity, according to the Opinion of Aristotle, its Rise in time being merely a Point of Faith. And admitting a Chaos, and a gradual Formation of the World from it, he conceives he has represented a more natural Explication of the Modus, than that which is propos’d in the Theory. And again, admitting the Original Formation of the World, as the Theory has represented it, viz By a first Sediment of the Chaos, and an Orb of Waters or an Abyss Orb over that, and an Orb of Earth over both; which made the Primigenial or Antidiluvian Earth, he thinks he has shewn it impossible, that Noah’s Deluge and the Formation of the present Earth should have been thence caus’d, and this both according to the Proportions of the Orbs of Earth and Waters, represented in the Schemes of the Theory, and according to other Proportions which seem to be there intimated; and he conceives no other Proportions whatsoever assignable to such Orbs, for producing the said Effects, but he shall be able to shew the same Impossibility. In the next place he argues against the assigning of any Natural Causes for the Deluge, which is undertaken in the Theory: And whereas its there set forth, that the Earth before the Deluge was all smooth and even, without Mountains and a Sea; he shews by many natural Reasons the necessity of both from the beginning of the World: And for a Conclusion to this part of the Theory, it being there set forth, that the first Order of things is regular and simple; and that the Deformity of the present Earth, as it appears all broken; and its Incommodiousness shew, that the present state of it was not Original, nor dispos'd according to the Laws of Gravity. He replies to this, that Common Gravitation rules not all in the Distribution of the parts of the World; as tho' all the heaviest parts were to be lowermost, and the lightest uppermost, no more than in the Distribution of the parts of Animals, in whom many times, in order to certain uses, the heaviest parts are plac'd uppermost, and lighter lowermost; and he thinks it easy to shew analogous uses in the parts of the Earth, if their Site be sometimes in the like Order. As to the Second Part of the Theory, concerning the Primæval Earth and Paradise, its there set forth, That the Ancients having represented in the Golden Age, or Paradisiacal Times, a perpetual Spring, a great Longevity of Animals, and the production of them out of the Earth, and the great Fertility of the Soil in all other things; the Earth, in the Antidiluvian times, must have had a right Situation and Posture to the Sun, which must then have constantly mov'd in the Equinox, for making good these things; and that upon the Earth's Disruption at the Deluge, it lost its equal Poyse, and so its right or parallel Situation, which it had before to the Sun, was chang'd into an Oblique, in which Posture it has stood ever since; and upon this Change, the Change of the the Form of the Year hapned, it bringing in the inequality of Seasons. Now the Author of the Considerations having made good, as he conceives, in the first part of them, That the Earth could not be otherwise ballanc'd before the Deluge than since, here farther shews the impossibility of the Earths changing its Posture, through the Causes assigned in the Theory; and subjoyns many Reasons why the Earth must have always had the same Posture to the Sun it has now; and represents many Absurdities which must follow, if it had that Posture to the Sun in the Antediluvian Times which is contended for in the Theory. And as for the Antediluvian Longevity's being ascrib'd to the said Posture of the Earth to the Sun, he shews that the varieties of Species and Constitutions in Animals being considered, the Diversity of Seasons is more commodious for their orderly Succession in Life, and assigns other Causes, more probable, as he conceives, for the said Longevity. Next; the Theory sets forth the Source and Origine of the Waters in the Primæval Earth, the Course the Rivers then had, and their issue; the state of the Air in the Antediluvian times, and the Origine of the Rainbow; against all which many things are objected in the Considerations. And whereas the Theory represents Paradise as plac'd in the other Hemisphere by the ancient Gentiles and Christian Fathers, the Considerations set forth, That as for the Ancient Gentiles, they meant Paradise only Intellectual, as the Allegorical Fathers did; and that tho' most of the Christian Fathers held a Topical Paradise, yet there is no ground for us to conclude, that they held it to be in the other Hemisphere, but rather in this we inhabit. In the next place the Theory gives an Explanation of the Ancient's Chaos; represents the Torrid Zone, uninhabitable before the Deluge, and the Changes of the Poles of the World at the Deluge; explains the Doctrine of the Ancients Ancients concerning the Mundane Egg, and how America was first Peopled: All which Points are oppos'd in the Considerations. As for the two last Chapters of the Theory, which treat concerning the Author of Nature, and Natural Providence; the Author of the Considerations owns them to be well and soundly reason'd; and for a Conclusion, gives his own Opinion, what he conceives may be said concerning the Creation, Deluge, Conflagration, New Heavens and New Earth, Paradise, &c. according to the Sence of the Ancients. And whereas the Motive which induc'd the Author of the Theory to write it, was (as he says) to justifie the Doctrines of the Universal Deluge and of Paradise, by a new Light of Nature and Philosophy; the Author of the Considerations thinks, that when things are represented in the Scriptures, as grounded on a particular Providence, as he conceives the Deluge and Paradise are, we ought not to endeavour to assign Natural Causes for them, which do but destroy the Miracle by lessening it; there being no Divine Law but must let forth God as a most free Agent, and often acting beside and contrary to the tendency and common course of any Natural Causes whatsoever. 3. Epistola ad Regiam Societatem Londinensem, qua de nuperis terrae-motibus differitur, &c. veræ eorum Causæ eruuntur. Lond. in 4to. 1693. THE Author of this little Tract, who is pleased to conceal his Name, complains in the first place of the little Regard many Learned Men have for Astrology, who account it trifling, false and impious; from which Imputations he by no means excuses that part which re- lates to Nativities and Humane Actions, but affirms it unjust so to judge of that part which searches after the general Causes of the great Alterations of the Air, Epi- demical Distempers, Comets, Earthquakes, and the like universal Effects of Nature. These he endeavours to shew proceed from the Influences of the Stars, from their constant Concomitancy to such returning Positions of the Heavens. Proceeding to the late Earthquakes, he shews them to be caused by the Stars, according to the Principles of the Astro-meteorological Art, publish'd by Dr. Goad, who foretold several great Alterations, as, Earthquakes, &c. to happen in the Years 92, 93, 94, 95: and gives a Scheme of the Heavens, Dec. 28. 92. St. V. hor. 10. noth. the time when Ætna began to roar, viz. II 12. 4 R. 7 17 H. 5 tard. 18 ⊙ ≈ 5 D.6 ⊙ tard. The next day the Earthquake began. He makes some Ob- servations on this Figure of the Heavens, and the Earth- quake that followed it; the greatest Shake being at the 7 of Jan. 93. By the same Art he attempts to give a reason of the Earthquake in Jamaica, Jun. 7, 92. semihora ante merid. consulting the same Treatises of Dr. Goad, and affirms the same may be observed of the Earthquake that happened at London, and other parts, Sept. 8. St. V. 92. a little after 2 p.m. He concludes these Warnings are given the World to forsake their Wickedness, and especially Idolatry, which will at last bring on the final Conflagration. 4. Traité des Moyens de rendre les Rivières navigables, &c. à Paris, 1693. in 8vo. The Author of this Treatise tells us in the Preface, that the Methods and Machines he proposes are not meer Imaginations, but are already put in practice chiefly by the Hollanders, who have the most cultivated this matter. Coming to the subject in hand, he supposes first, that all Impediments to its being Navigable, are of two sorts, either in the Channel itself, or out of it; the latter are caused either from the badness of the Banks, on which Men and Horses cannot easily pass to draw up the Vessels against the Stream, such as Trees, crofs Rivulets, &c. The other Hindrances in the Channel are from Rocks, inequality of the bottom, Falls, Mills, dividing of the Stream, Rapidity, overflowing and breaking down of the Banks. Banks of Sand, &c. all which he reduces chiefly to Four; too great a breadth in some places and by that reason Shalowness, especially in the Summer; Water-falls or Cascades; Rocks to be met with in the bottom; or lastly, Mills For each of these he proposes some Remedies; and for such as arise from the Banks, they are easy to be overcome by a little Labour: And here he shews the Method of drawing a Vessel up the Stream, where the winding of the Stream makes an acute Angle, so that Vessels are apt to strike against it, and gives the Figure of an Engine for that purpose. Proceeding to the other Impediments from the Channel: As to the first, He shews the ways of narrowing it by Piles drove down and inter-wound with Branches of Trees, the middle fill'd up with Fascines, and on those great Stones: These Works are to be made almost even with the Surface of the Water, that extraordinary Floods may go over them, rather than bear too hard upon them. He gives several Directions for this matter, with the shape of the Piles, and the ways of driving them above and under Water, annexing the Figures of them, and the Engines for that purpose. The means of remedying the second Inconvenience, caused by the inequality of the bottom, or by Cascades, are first by Bridges with Rollers, over which the Vessel, which ought to be flat bottom'd, is drawn. Secondly, by Sluces, especially for Water-falls: Of these he shews the make and use. For the third Obstacle, caused by Rocks, he shews the Method of working dry in the bottom of the Water, so to break and carry them away. Then he shews several ways of preserving the Banks of Rivers, by building Wings or Cribs to break the force of the Water; by Piles drove along the Shore; by making a new Channel, &c. He shews some ways of cleansing and evening the bottoms of Rivers, and proceeds to treat of Floods and Inundations, with their Causes, Effects and Remedies. He concludes his Treatise with the ways of cleansing and opening Ports and Channels, giving the Schemes of several Engines to this end. At the end of the Treatise he shews the means of weighing up sunken Vessels, blowing up the Decks under Water, and taking out the Goods by means of the Diving Bell, &c. ERRATA. Numb. 200. p. 748. l.14. r. at. p.749. l.12. r.atro. p.751. l.20. r. Plitistro- nites. l. 28. r. lapidis. l. 30. r. titulis. Numb. -201. in the engraved Plate of the Characters, No 2. l. 2. r. BACIAEON. p.784. l.12. r. considerable. p.791. l.15. r. at Col. Coles. LONDON: Printed for S. Smith and B. Walford, Printers to the Royal Society, at the Princes Arms in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1693.