| Boyle, Robert New experiments physico-mechanicall, touching the spring of the air and its effects 1660 |
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what ease a Vacuum could be made near
the confines of the Atmosphere, where
the Air is probably but light in compari
son of what it is here below.
But our
present (three and thirtieth) Experiment
seems to manifest, not onely that the
power, exercis'd by Nature, to shun or re
plenish a Vacuum, is limited, but that it
may be determin'd even to Pounds and
Ounces: Insomuch that we might say,
such a weight Nature will sustain or will
lift up to resist a Vacuum in our Engine;
but if an Ounce more be added to that
weight, it will surmount Her so much
magnifi'd detestation of Vacuities.
And
thus, My Lord, our Experiments may
not onely answer those of the Plenists,
but enable us to retort their Arguments
against themselves: since, if that be true
which they alleadge, that, when Water
falls not down according to its nature, in
a Body wherein no Air can succeed to fill
up the place it must leave, the suspensi
on of the Liquor is made Ne detur Vacu
um, (as they speak) it will follow, that
if the Water can be brought to subside
in such a case, that deserted space may be
deem'd empty, according to their own
Doctrine; especially, since Nature (as
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