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DOCUMENT 86.
SWEDENBORG TO BENZELIUS.*
Most honoured and dear Brother,
I am glad to hear that you are enjoying good
health, and am delighted also to hear that what I wrote you
in my last was to your liking; wherefore I feel encouraged
to give you some more of my thoughts on the subject. I
cannot derive any proofs from the velocity; but I believe
that so rapid a change in the earth’s motion could not have
taken place in so short a time; for you cannot make me believe
that a planet should all at once rush towards the centre, as
if it were driven by a Phaeton, without this being shown at
once by the sun’s diameter. If the sun became larger and
larger before our eyes, there would then be occasion for fear,
and it would be time to commend oneself into God’s hands.
That the earth is gradually drawing in towards its centre,
may also be inferred from the change in our horizon; for the
same shape which belongs to the vortex of our earth exhibits
itself in the sea, or upon the earth; and if the very horizon
has changed considerably during 100 years, i. e. if the sea
has become rounder, then this is a clear proof that the earth
revolves more slowly, and consequently draws itself inwards.
I have treated on this subject to some extent in the abused
little work on the “Depth of Water and the Tides in the Prim
eval ages," + which I send you.
It is very certain that the whole vortex of our earth, in
which we and our globe are contained, is held together merely
by motion ; if motion should cease, the very vortex itself would
be dispersed, and everything above and below would be
* « Benzelius’ Collection," Vol. XL, No. 141.
+ See Note to Document 85.
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