The Creation

57. Regarding the opinion of the most noble Boyle, who traces Elastic force back to certain “springs” restoring themselves, I do not disapprove; however, I believe that even this restorative force of those springs must be sought from a higher principle, that is, as I believe, from the circulation of the aether. I believe that he himself, such is his ingenuity, would acknowledge this. For as to why air, other things being equal, enters narrow spaces with more difficulty than water, [it is] because…

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…it is for that reason that water in a narrow and long channel ascends beyond equilibrium, and that water penetrates mercury, whereas air does not. Although this has been referred to the “shagginess” and entanglements of the parts, the reason for the entanglement of cohesion must be given again; the ultimate reason for cohesion, demonstrated elsewhere, is internal motion. Therefore, the ultimate reason why air passes through narrows with more difficulty is this: because air is more Elastic and more cohesive, it is not easily dissipated or enters through parts, but rolls, is turned, and formed into one body. Why so? Because there is more aether in it, therefore more motion, restoration, and cohesion. The parts of water are moved toward each other not by motion but by density; therefore, they have less compression, restoration, and cohesion, and they flow more easily into parts, responding to the opening to be permeated. Thus, let it appear from this that density is not the true cause of hardness and cohesion.

The followers of the great men Descartes and Gassendi, and whoever teaches in sum that every variety in bodies is to be explained by magnitude, figure, and motion, have my full agreement. I have always believed, however, that whatever is said of atoms being variously shaped—of vortices, shavings, branches, hooks, or globes and such other apparatus—is more a play of wit, further removed from the simplicity of nature and from experiments, or too meager to be clearly connected with the Phenomena.