rence to the Center, is the natural Caufe why all the Dews and Rains which fall upon the Island, are conveyed in fmall Rivulets towards the Middle, where they are emptied into four large Bafons, each of about half a Mile in Circuit, and two hundred Yards diftant from the Center. From these Basons the Water is continually exhaled by the Sun in the Day-time, which effectually prevents their overflowing. Befides, as it is in the Power of the Monarch to raise the Ifland above the Region of Clouds and Vapours, he can prevent the falling of Dews and Rains whenever he pleaseth. For the higheft Clouds cannot rife above two Miles, as Naturalifts agree, at least they were never known to do fo in that Country. AT the Center of the Inland there is a Chafm about fifty Yards in Diameter, from whence the Aftronomers defcend into a large Dome, which is therefore called Flandona Gagnole, or the Aftronomers Cave; fituated at the Depth of an hundred Yards beneath the upper Surface of the Adamant. In this Cave are twenty Lamps continually burning, which from the Reflection of the Adamant cast a ftrong Light into every Part. The Place is ftored with great Variety of Sextants, Quadrants, Telefcopes, Aftrolabes, and other Aftronomical Inftruments. But the greatest Curiofity, upon which the Fate of the Island depends, is a Load-Stone of a prodigious Size, in Shape resembling a Weaver's Shuttle. It is in Length fix Yards, and in the thickeft Part at least three Yards over. This Magnet is fuftained by a very strong Axle of Adamant, paffing through its Middle, upon which it plays, and is poized fo exactly, that the weakest Hand can turn it. It is hooped round with an hollow Cylinder of Adamant, four Foot deep, as, many many thick, and twelve Yards in Diameter, placed horizontally, and fupported by eight Adamantine Feet, each fix Yards high. In the Middle of the Concave Side there is a Groove twelve Inches deep, in which the Extremities of the Axle are lodged, and turned round as there is Occafion. THIS Stone cannot be moved from its Place by any Force, because the Hoop and its Feet are one continued Piece with that Body of Adamant which conftitutes the Bottom of the Island. By Means of this Load-Stone, the Island is made to rife and fall, and move from one Place to another. For, with refpect to that Part of the Earth over which the Monarch prefides, the Stone is endued at one of its Sides with an attractive Power, and at the other with a repulfive. Upon placing the Magnet erect with its attracting End towards the Earth, the Ifland defcends; but when the repelling Extremity points downwards, the Island mounts directly upwards. When the Pöfition of the Stone is oblique, the Motion of the Inland is fo to. For in this Magnet the Forces always act in Lines parallel to its Direction. By this oblique Motion, the Island is conveyed to different Parts of the Monarch's Dominions. To explain the Manner of its Progrefs, let A B reprefent a Line drawn crofs the Dominions of Balnibarbi; let the Line cd reprefent the Load-Stone, of which let d be the repelling End, and c the attracting End, the Island being over C; let the Stone be placed in the Pofition cd with its repelling End downwards; then the Island will be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it is arrived at D, let the Stone be turned upon its Axle until its attracting End points towards E, and then the Inland will be carried obliquely towards E; where, 1 where, if the Stone be again turned upon its Axle until it stands in the Pofition E. F. with its repelling Point downwards, the Ifland will rife obliquely towards F, where, by directing the attracting End towards G, the Inland may be carried to G, and from G to H, by turning the Stone fo as to make its repelling Extremity point directly downwards. And thus by changing the Situation of the Stone as often as there is Occafion, the Ifland is made to rife and fall by Turns in an oblique Direction; and by those alternate Rifings and Fallings (the Obliquity being not confiderable) is conveyed from one Part of the Dominions to the other. BUT it must be observed, that this Island cannot move beyond the Extent of the Dominions below; nor can it rise above the Height of four Miles. For which the Aftronomers (who have written large Systems concerning this Stone) affign the following Reafon: That the Magnetick Virtue doth not extend beyond the Distance of four Miles, and that the Mineral which acts upon the Stone in the Bowels of the Earth, and in the Sea about fix Leagues diftant from the Shoar, is not diffufed through the whole Globe, but terminated with the Limits of the King's Dominions: And it was eafy from the great Advantage of fuch a fuperior Situation, for a Prince to bring under his Obedience whatever Country lay within the Attraction of that Magnet. WHEN the Stone is put parallel to the Plane of the Horizon, the Island ftandeth ftill; for in that Cafe, the Extremities of it being at equal Distance from the Earth, act with equal Force, the one in drawing downwards, the other in pufhing upwards; and confequently no Motion can enfue. THIS Load-Stone is under the Care of certain Aftronomers, who from Time to Time give it fuch Pofitions as the Monarch directs. They spend the greatest Part of their Lives in obferving the celeftial Bodies, which they do by the Affiftance of Glaffes, far excelling ours in Goodness. For, although their largest Telescopes do not exceed three Feet, they magnify much more than thofe of a hundred with us, and fhew the Stars with greater Clearness. This Advantage hath enabled them to extend their Discoveries much farther than our Aftronomers in Europe. They have made a Catalogue of ten thoufand fixed Stars, whereas the largest of ours do not contain above one third Part of that Number. They have likewise discovered two leffer Stars or Satellites, which revolve about Mars; whereof the innermoft is diftant from the Center of the primary Planet exactly three of his Diameters, and the outermoft five; the former revolves in the Space of ten Hours; and the latter in twenty one and an half; fo that the Squares of their periodical Times, are very near in the fame Proportion with the Cubes of their Distance from the Center of Mars; which evidently fhews them to be governed by the fame Law of Gravitation, that influences the other heavenly Bodies. THEY have obferved ninety-three different Comets, and fettled their Periods with great Exactnefs. If this be true, (and they affirm it with great Confidence) it is much to be wifhed that their Obfervations were made publick; whereby the Theory of Comets, which at prefent is very lame and defective, might be brought to the fame Perfection with other Parts of Aftronomy. THE King would be the most abfolute Prince in the Universe, if he could but prevail on a Ministry to joyn with him, but thefe having their Estates below below on the Continent, and confidering that the Office of a Favourite hath a very uncertain Tenure, would never confent to the enflaving their Country. or IF any Town fhould engage in Rebellion Mutiny, fall into violent Factions, or refufe to pay the ufual Tribute; the King hath two Methods of reducing them to Obedience. The firft and the mildest Course is by keeping the Island hovering over fuch a Town, and the Lands about it; whereby he can deprive them of the Benefit of the Sun and the Rain, and confequently afflict the Inhabitants with Dearth and Diseases. And, if the Crime deserve it, they are at the fame Time pelted from above with great Stones, against which they have no Defence, but by creeping into Cellars or Caves, while the Roofs of their Houfes are beaten to Pieces. But, if they ftill continue obftinate, or of fer to raise Infurrections; he proceeds to the last Remedy, by letting the Inland drop directly upon their Heads, which makes an universal Destruction both of Houses and Men. However, this is an Extremity to which the Prince is feldom driven, neither indeed is he willing to put it in Execution ; nor dare his Minifters advife him to an Action, which as it would render them odious, to the People, fo it would be a great Damage to their own Eftates that lie all below; for the Island is the King's Demefne, BUT, there is ftill indeed a more weighty Reason, why the Kings of this Country have been always averse from executing fo terrible an Action, unless upon the utmost Neceffity. For, if the Town intended to be destroyed should have in it any tall Rocks, as it generally falls out in the larger Cities; a Situation probably chofen at firft with a View to prevent |