161h, April 1856. Sin—Will any of the Wrangler tribe answer
three questions which occur to me respecting the proper language to be employed in stating the motion of the moon ?
1. Is there any point, within the body of the moon, describing by its motion such an arc as has its centre within the body of the moon ? 2. In designating the motion of a body whose central points on opposite surfaces describe two concentric arcs, a larger and a smaller, in (nearly) the same time, ought we not to employ some other term than " rotary " ? unless we use it with reference to the common centre, as we should in speaking of any two points opposite to each other on the outer and inner surfaces of a fixed 'wheel-tire?
3. Might not the so-called rotary motion of the moon, which causes it to " rotate ' with reference to a fixed star, be equally applied to a body in fixed contact with the earth ; and might we not as well say that the Star and Garter on Richmond Hill "rotates on its own axis " ?
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, RSTOLFO.
Previous page
