Page:Discourse Concerning the Natation of Bodies.djvu/62

 which I had not before observed, to wit, that in the Ascent of the Plate out of the water, it draws after it another Plate (if I may so call it) of water, which before it divides and parts from the inferiour Surface of the Plate of Lead, is raised above the Levell of the other water, more than the thickness of the back of a Knife: Then he goeth to repeat the Experiment with the Ball, and makes me see, that it is but a very small quantity of water, which cleaves to its compacted and contracted Figure: and then he subjoynes, that its no wonder, if in seperating the thinne and broad Plate from the water, we meet with much greater Resistance, than in seperating the Ball, since together with the Plate, we are to raise a great quantity of water, which occurreth not in the Ball: He telleth me moreover, how that our Question is, whether the Resistance of Elevation be greater in a dilated Plate of Lead, than in a Ball, and not whether more resisteth a Plate of Lead with a great quantity of water, or a Ball with a very little water: He sheweth me in the close, that the putting the Plate and the Ball first into the water, to make proofe thereby of their Resistance in the Air, is besides our case, which treats of Elivating in the Air, and of things placed in the Air, and not of the Resistance that is made in the Confines of the Air and water, and by things which are part in Air and part in water: and lastly, they make me feel with my hand, that when the thinne Plate is in the Air, and free from the weight of the water, it is raised with the very same Force that raiseth the Ball. Seeing, and understanding these things, I know not what to do, unless to grant my self convinced, and to thank such a Friend, for having made me to see that which I never till then observed: and, being advertised by this same Accident, to tell my Adversaries, that our Question is, whether a Board and a Ball of Ebony, equally go to the bottom in water, and not a Ball of Ebony and a Board of Ebony, joyned with another flat Body of Air: and, farthermore, that we speak of sinking, and not sinking to the bottom, in water, and not of that which happeneth in the Confines of the water and Air to Bodies that be part in the Air, and part in the water; nor much less do we treat of the greater or lesser Force requisite in seperating this or that Body from the Air; not omitting to tell them, in the last place, that the Air doth resist, and gravitate downwards in the water, just so much as the water (if I may so speak) gravitates and resists upwards in the Air, and that the same force is required to sinke a Bladder under water, that is full of Air, as to raise it in the Air, being full of water, removing the consideration of the weight of that Filme or Skinne, and considering the water and the Air only. And it is likewise true, that the same Force is required to sink a Cup or such like Vessell under water, whilst it is full of Air, as to raise it above the Superficies of the water, keeping