,,eureka3 ,a ,,prose ,,poem4 ,,by ,,edgar ,a4 ,,poe4 ,,new-,,york3 ,,geo4 ,p4 ,,putnam1 ,,of ,,late ,,firm ,,of 8,,wiley ,,putnam10 #aee ,,broadway4 ,,mdcccxlviii4 ,,entered1 according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #ahdh1 ,,by ,,edgar ,a4 ,,poe1 ,in the ,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court for the ,southern ,district of ,new-,york4 ,,leavitt1 ,,trow ,,co ,prs41 #cc ,ann-street4 ,,with ,,very ,,profound ,,respect1 ,this ,work is ,dedicated ,,to ,,alexander ,,von ,,humboldt4 ,,preface4 ,to the few who love me and whom ,i love--to those who feel rather than to those who think--to the dreamers and those who put faith in dreams as in the only realities--,i offer this ,book of ,truths1 not in its character of ,truth-,teller1 but for the ,beauty that abounds in its ,truth2 constituting it true4 ,to these ,i present the composition as an ,art-,product alone3--let us say as a ,romance2 or1 if ,i be not urging too lofty a claim1 as a ,poem4 ,what ,i here propound is true3--therefore it cannot die3--or if by any means it be now trodden down so that it die1 it will 8rise again to the ,life ,everlasting40 ,nevertheless it is as a ,poem only that ,i wish this work to be judged after ,i am dead4 ,e4 ,a4 ,p4 ,,eureka3 ,,an ,,essay ,,on ,,the ,,material ,,and ,,spiritual ,,universe4 ,it is with humility really unassumed--it is with a sentiment even of awe--that ,i pen the opening sentence of this work3 for of all conceivable subjects ,i approach the reader with the most solemn--the most comprehensive--the most difficult--the most august4 ,what terms shall ,i find sufficiently simple in their sublimity--sufficiently sublime in their simplicity--for the mere enunciation of my theme8 ,i design to speak of the ,physical1 ,metaphysical and ,mathematical--of the ,material and ,spiritual ,universe3--of its ,essence1 its ,origin1 its ,creation1 its ,present ,condition and its ,destiny4 ,i shall be so rash1 moreover1 as to challenge the conclusions1 and thus1 in effect1 to question the sagacity1 of many of the greatest and most justly reverenced of men4 ,in the beginning1 let me as distinctly as possible announce--not the theorem which ,i hope to demonstrate--for1 whatever the mathematicians may assert1 there is1 in this world at least1 no such thing as demonstration--but the ruling idea which1 throughout this volume1 ,i shall be continually endeavoring to suggest4 ,my general proposition1 then1 is this3--,in the ,original ,unity of the ,first ,thing lies the ,secondary ,cause of ,all ,things1 with the ,germ of their ,inevitable ,annihilation4 ,in illustration of this idea1 ,i propose to take such a survey of the ,universe that the mind may be able really to receive and to perceive an individual impression4 ,he who from the top of tna casts his eyes leisurely around1 is affected chiefly by the extent and diversity of the scene4 ,only by a rapid whirling on his heel could he hope to comprehend the panorama in the sublimity of its oneness4 ,but as1 on the summit of tna1 no man has thought of whirling on his heel1 so no man has ever taken into his brain the full uniqueness of the prospect2 and so1 again1 whatever considerations lie involved in this uniqueness1 have as yet no practical existence for mankind4 ,i do not know a treatise in which a survey of the ,universe--using the word in its most comprehensive and only legitimate acceptation--is taken at all3--and it may be as well here to mention that by the term 8,universe10 wherever employed without qualification in this essay1 ,i mean to designate the utmost conceivable expanse of space1 with all things1 spiritual and material1 that can be imagined to exist within the compass of that expanse4 ,in speaking of what is ordinarily implied by the expression1 8,universe10 ,i shall take a phrase of limitation--8the ,universe of stars40 ,why this distinction is considered necessary1 will be seen in the sequel4 ,but even of treatises on the really limited1 although always assumed as the unlimited1 ,universe of stars1 ,i know none in which a survey1 even of this limited ,universe1 is so taken as to warrant deductions from its individuality4 ,the nearest approach to such a work is made in the 8,cosmos0 of ,alexander ,von ,humboldt4 ,he presents the subject1 however1 not in its individuality but in its generality4 ,his theme1 in its last result1 is the law of each portion of the merely physical ,universe1 as this law is related to the laws of every other portion of this merely physical ,universe4 ,his design is simply synretical4 ,in a word1 he discusses the universality of material relation1 and discloses to the eye of ,philosophy whatever inferences have hitherto lain hidden behind this universality4 ,but however admirable be the succinctness with which he has treated each particular point of his topic1 the mere multiplicity of these points occasions1 necessarily1 an amount of detail1 and thus an involution of idea1 which precludes all individuality of impression4 ,it seems to me that1 in aiming at this latter effect1 and1 through it1 at the consequences--the conclusions--the suggestions--the speculations--or1 if nothing better offer itself the mere guesses which may result from it--we require something like a mental gyration on the heel4 ,we need so rapid a revolution of all things about the central point of sight that1 while the minuti vanish altogether1 even the more conspicuous objects become blended into one4 ,among the vanishing minuti1 in a survey of this kind1 would be all exclusively terrestrial matters4 ,the ,earth would be considered in its planetary relations alone4 ,a man1 in this view1 becomes mankind2 mankind a member of the cosmical family of ,intelligences4 ,and now1 before proceeding to our subject proper1 let me beg the reader's attention to an extract or two from a somewhat remarkable letter1 which appears to have been found corked in a bottle and floating on the ,mare ,tenebrarum--an ocean well described by the ,nubian geographer1 ,ptolemy ,hephestion1 but little frequented in modern days unless by the ,transcendentalists and some other divers for crotchets4 ,the date of this letter1 ,i confess1 surprises me even more particularly than its contents2 for it seems to have been written in the year two thousand eight hundred and forty-eight4 ,as for the passages ,i am about to transcribe1 they1 ,i fancy1 will speak for themselves4 8,do you know1 my dear friend10 says the writer1 addressing1 no doubt1 a contemporary--8,do you know that it is scarcely more than eight or nine hundred years ago since the metaphysicians first consented to relieve the people of the singular fancy that there exist but two practicable roads to ,truth8 ,believe it if you can6 ,it appears1 however1 that long1 long ago1 in the night of ,time1 there lived a ,turkish philosopher called ,aries and surnamed ,tottle40 ,here1 possibly1 the letter-writer means ,aristotle2 the best names are wretchedly corrupted in two or three thousand years4 8,the fame of this great man depended mainly upon his demonstration that sneezing is a natural provision1 by means of which over-profound thinkers are enabled to expel superfluous ideas through the nose2 but he obtained a scarcely less valuable celebrity as the founder1 or at all events as the principal propagator1 of what was termed the deductive or priori philosophy4 ,he started with what he maintained to be axioms1 or self-evident truths3--and the now well understood fact that no truths are self-evident1 really does not make in the slightest degree against his speculations3--it was sufficient for his purpose that the truths in question were evident at all4 ,from axioms he proceeded1 logically1 to results4 ,his most illustrious disciples were one ,tuclid1 a geometrician10 meaning ,euclid 8and one ,kant1 a ,dutchman1 the originator of that species of ,transcendentalism which1 with the change merely of a ,c for a ,k1 now bears his peculiar name4 8,well1 ,aries ,tottle flourished supreme1 until the advent of one ,hog1 surnamed #8the ,ettrick shepherd1' who preached an entirely different system1 which he called the posteriori or inductive4 ,his plan referred altogether to sensation4 ,he proceeded by observing1 analyzing1 and classifying facts--instanti ,natur1 as they were somewhat affectedly called--and arranging them into general laws4 ,in a word1 while the mode of ,aries rested on noumena1 that of ,hog depended on phenomena2 and so great was the admiration excited by this latter system that1 at its first introduction1 ,aries fell into general disrepute4 ,finally1 however1 he recovered ground1 and was permitted to divide the empire of ,philosophy with his more modern rival3--the savans contenting themselves with proscribing all other competitors1 past1 present1 and to come2 putting an end to all controversy on the topic by the promulgation of a ,median law1 to the effect that the ,aristotelian and ,baconian roads are1 and of right ought to be1 the solo possible avenues to knowledge3--#8,baconian1' you must know1 my dear friend10 adds the letter-writer at this point1 8was an adjective invented as equivalent to ,hog-ian1 and at the same time more dignified and euphonious4 8,now ,i do assure you most positively0--proceeds the epistle--8that ,i represent these matters fairly2 and you can easily understand how restrictions so absurd on their very face must have operated1 in those days1 to retard the progress of true ,science1 which makes its most important advances--as all ,history will show--by seemingly intuitive leaps4 ,these ancient ideas confined investigation to crawling2 and ,i need not suggest to you that crawling1 among varieties of locomotion1 is a very capital thing of its kind2--but because the tortoise is sure of foot1 for this reason must we clip the wings of the eagles8 ,for many centuries1 so great was the infatuation1 about ,hog especially1 that a virtual stop was put to all thinking1 properly so called4 ,no man dared utter a truth for which he felt himself indebted to his soul alone4 ,it mattered not whether the truth was even demonstrably such2 for the dogmatizing philosophers of that epoch regarded only the road by which it professed to have been attained4 ,the end1 with them1 was a point of no moment1 whatever3--#8the means6' they vociferated--#8let us look at the means6'--and if1 on scrutiny of the means1 it was found to come neither under the category ,hog1 nor under the category ,aries 7which means ram71 why then the savans went no farther1 but1 calling the thinker a fool and branding him a #8theorist1' would never1 thenceforward1 have any thing to do either with him or with his truths4 8,now1 my dear friend10 continues the letter-writer1 8it cannot be maintained that by the crawling system1 exclusively adopted1 men would arrive at the maximum amount of truth1 even in any long series of ages2 for the repression of imagination was an evil not to be counterbalanced even by absolute certainty in the snail processes4 ,but their certainty was very far from absolute4 ,the error of our progenitors was quite analogous with that of the wiseacre who fancies he must necessarily see an object the more distinctly1 the more closely he holds it to his eyes4 ,they blinded themselves1 too1 with the impalpable1 titillating ,scotch snuff of detail2 and thus the boasted facts of the ,hog-ites were by no means always facts--a point of little importance but for the assumption that they always were4 ,the vital taint1 however1 in ,baconianism--its most lamentable fount of error--lay in its tendency to throw power and consideration into the hands of merely perceptive men--of those inter-,tritonic minnows1 the microscopical savans--the diggers and pedlers of minute facts1 for the most part in physical science--facts all of which they retailed at the same price upon the highway2 their value depending1 it was supposed1 simply upon the fact of their fact1 without reference to their applicability or inapplicability in the development of those ultimate and only legitimate facts1 called ,law4 8,than the persons0--the letter goes on to say--8,than the persons thus suddenly elevated by the ,hog-ian philosophy into a station for which they were unfitted--thus transferred from the sculleries into the parlors of ,science--from its pantries into its pulpits--than these individuals a more intolerant--a more intolerable set of bigots and tyrants never existed on the face of the earth4 ,their creed1 their text and their sermon were1 alike1 the one word #8fact'--but1 for the most part1 even of this one word1 they knew not even the meaning4 ,on those who ventured to disturb their facts with the view of putting them in order and to use1 the disciples of ,hog had no mercy whatever4 ,all attempts at generalization were met at once by the words #8theoretical1' #8theory1' #8theorist'--all thought1 to be brief1 was very properly resented as a personal affront to themselves4 ,cultivating the natural sciences to the exclusion of ,metaphysics1 the ,mathematics1 and ,logic1 many of these ,bacon-engendered philosophers--one-idead1 one-sided and lame of a leg--were more wretchedly helpless--more miserably ignorant1 in view of all the comprehensible objects of knowledge1 than the veriest unlettered hind who proves that he knows something at least1 in admitting that he knows absolutely nothing4 8,nor had our forefathers any better right to talk about certainty1 when pursuing1 in blind confidence1 the priori path of axioms1 or of the ,ram4 ,at innumerable points this path was scarcely as straight as a ram's-horn4 ,the simple truth is1 that the ,aristotelians erected their castles upon a basis far less reliable than air2 for no such things as axioms ever existed or can possibly exist at all4 ,this they must have been very blind1 indeed1 not to see1 or at least to suspect2 for1 even in their own day1 many of their long-admitted #8axioms' had been abandoned3--#8ex nihilo nihil fit1' for example1 and a #8thing cannot act where it is not1' and #8there cannot be antipodes1' and #8darkness cannot proceed from light4' ,these and numerous similar propositions formerly accepted1 without hesitation1 as axioms1 or undeniable truths1 were1 even at the period of which ,i speak1 seen to be altogether untenable3--how absurd in these people1 then1 to persist in relying upon a basis1 as immutable1 whose mutability had become so repeatedly manifest6 8,but1 even through evidence afforded by themselves against themselves1 it is easy to convict these priori reasoners of the grossest unreason--it is easy to show the futility--the impalpability of their axioms in general4 ,i have now lying before me0--it will be observed that we still proceed with the letter--8,i have now lying before me a book printed about a thousand years ago4 ,pundit assures me that it is decidedly the cleverest ancient work on its topic1 which is #8,logic4' ,the author1 who was much esteemed in his day1 was one ,miller1 or ,mill2 and we find it recorded of him1 as a point of some importance1 that he rode a mill-horse whom he called ,jeremy ,bentham3--but let us glance at the volume itself6 8,ah6--#8,ability or inability to conceive1' says ,mr4 ,mill very properly1 #8is in no case to be received as a criterion of axiomatic truth4' ,now1 that this is a palpable truism no one in his senses will deny4 ,not to admit the proposition1 is to insinuate a charge of variability in ,truth itself1 whose very title is a synonym of the ,steadfast4 ,if ability to conceive be taken as a criterion of ,truth1 then a truth to ,david ,hume would very seldom be a truth to ,joe2 and ninety-nine hundredths of what is undeniable in ,heaven would be demonstrable falsity upon ,earth4 ,the proposition of ,mr4 ,mill1 then1 is sustained4 ,i will not grant it to be an axiom2 and this merely because ,i am showing that no axioms exist2 but1 with a distinction which could not have been cavilled at even by ,mr4 ,mill himself1 ,i am ready to grant that1 if an axiom there be1 then the proposition of which we speak has the fullest right to be considered an axiom--that no more absolute axiom is--and1 consequently1 that any subsequent proposition which shall conflict with this one primarily advanced1 must be either a falsity in itself--that is to say no axiom--or1 if admitted axiomatic1 must at once neutralize both itself and its predecessor4 8,and now1 by the logic of their own propounder1 let us proceed to test any one of the axioms propounded4 ,let us give ,mr4 ,mill the fairest of play4 ,we will bring the point to no ordinary issue4 ,we will select for investigation no common-place axiom--no axiom of what1 not the less preposterously because only impliedly1 he terms his secondary class--as if a positive truth by definition could be either more or less positively a truth3--we will select1 ,i say1 no axiom of an unquestionability so questionable as is to be found in ,euclid4 ,we will not talk1 for example1 about such propositions as that two straight lines cannot enclose a space1 or that the whole is greater than any one of its parts4 ,we will afford the logician every advantage4 ,we will come at once to a proposition which he regards as the acme of the unquestionable--as the quintessence of axiomatic undeniability4 ,here it is3--#8,contradictions cannot both be true--that is1 cannot cexist in nature4' ,here ,mr4 ,mill means1 for instance1--and ,i give the most forcible instance conceivable--that a tree must be either a tree or not a tree--that it cannot be at the same time a tree and not a tree3--all which is quite reasonable of itself and will answer remarkably well as an axiom1 until we bring it into collation with an axiom insisted upon a few pages before--in other words--words which ,i have previously employed--until we test it by the logic of its own propounder4 #8,a tree1' ,mr4 ,mill asserts1 #8must be either a tree or not a tree4' ,very well3--and now let me ask him1 why4 ,to this little query there is but one response3--,i defy any man living to invent a second4 ,the sole answer is this3--#8,because we find it impossible to conceive that a tree can be any thing else than a tree or not a tree4' ,this1 ,i repeat1 is ,mr4 ,mill's sole answer3--he will not pretend to suggest another3--and yet1 by his own showing1 his answer is clearly no answer at all2 for has he not already required us to admit1 as an axiom1 that ability or inability to conceive is in no case to be taken as a criterion of axiomatic truth8 ,thus all--absolutely all his argumentation is at sea without a rudder4 ,let it not be urged that an exception from the general rule is to be made1 in cases where the #8impossibility to conceive' is so peculiarly great as when we are called upon to conceive a tree both a tree and not a tree4 ,let no attempt1 ,i say1 be made at urging this sotticism2 for1 in the first place1 there are no degrees of #8impossibility1' and thus no one impossible conception can be more peculiarly impossible than another impossible conception3--in the second place1 ,mr4 ,mill himself1 no doubt after thorough deliberation1 has most distinctly1 and most rationally1 excluded all opportunity for exception1 by the emphasis of his proposition1 that1 in no case1 is ability or inability to conceive1 to be taken as a criterion of axiomatic truth3--in the third place1 even were exceptions admissible at all1 it remains to be shown how any exception is admissible here4 ,that a tree can be both a tree and not a tree1 is an idea which the angels1 or the devils1 may entertain1 and which no doubt many an earthly ,bedlamite1 or ,transcendentalist1 does4 8,now ,i do not quarrel with these ancients10 continues the letter-writer1 8so much on account of the transparent frivolity of their logic--which1 to be plain1 was baseless1 worthless and fantastic altogether--as on account of their pompous and infatuate proscription of all other roads to ,truth than the two narrow and crooked paths--the one of creeping and the other of crawling--to which1 in their ignorant perversity1 they have dared to confine the ,soul--the ,soul which loves nothing so well as to soar in those regions of illimitable intuition which are utterly incognizant of #8path4' 8,by the bye1 my dear friend1 is it not an evidence of the mental slavery entailed upon those bigoted people by their ,hogs and ,rams1 that in spite of the eternal prating of their savans about roads to ,truth1 none of them fell1 even by accident1 into what we now so distinctly perceive to be the broadest1 the straightest and most available of all mere roads--the great thoroughfare--the majestic highway of the ,consistent8 ,is it not wonderful that they should have failed to deduce from the works of ,god the vitally momentous consideration that a perfect consistency can be nothing but an absolute truth8 ,how plain--how rapid our progress since the late announcement of this proposition6 ,by its means1 investigation has been taken out of the hands of the ground-moles1 and given as a duty1 rather than as a task1 to the true--to the only true thinkers--to the generally-educated men of ardent imagination4 ,these latter--our ,keplers--our ,laplaces--#8speculate'--#8theorize'--th ese are the terms--can you not fancy the shout of scorn with which they would be received by our progenitors1 were it possible for them to be looking over my shoulders as ,i write8 ,the ,keplers1 ,i repeat1 speculate--theorize--and their theories are merely corrected--reduced--sifted--cleared1 little by little1 of their chaff of inconsistency--until at length there stands apparent an unencumbered ,consistency--a consistency which the most stolid admit--because it is a consistency--to be an absolute and an unquestionable ,truth4 8,i have often thought1 my friend1 that it must have puzzled these dogmaticians of a thousand years ago1 to determine1 even1 by which of their two boasted roads it is that the cryptographist attains the solution of the more complicate cyphers--or by which of them ,champollion guided mankind to those important and innumerable truths which1 for so many centuries1 have lain entombed amid the phonetical hieroglyphics of ,egypt4 ,in especial1 would it not have given these bigots some trouble to determine by which of their two roads was reached the most momentous and sublime of all their truths--the truth--the fact of gravitation8 ,newton deduced it from the laws of ,kepler4 ,kepler admitted that these laws he guessed--these laws whose investigation disclosed to the greatest of ,british astronomers that principle1 the basis of all 7existing7 physical principle1 in going behind which we enter at once the nebulous kingdom of ,metaphysics4 ,yes6--these vital laws ,kepler guessed--that is to say1 he imagined them4 ,had he been asked to point out either the deductive or inductive route by which he attained them1 his reply might have been--#8,i know nothing about routes--but ,i do know the machinery of the ,universe4 ,here it is4 ,i grasped it with my soul--,i reached it through mere dint of intuition4' ,alas1 poor ignorant old man6 ,could not any metaphysician have told him that what he called #8intuition' was but the conviction resulting from deductions or inductions of which the processes were so shadowy as to have escaped his consciousness1 eluded his reason1 or bidden defiance to his capacity of expression8 ,how great a pity it is that some #8moral philosopher' had not enlightened him about all this6 ,how it would have comforted him on his death-bed to know that1 instead of having gone intuitively and thus unbecomingly1 he had1 in fact1 proceeded decorously and legitimately--that is to say ,hog-ishly1 or at least ,ram-ishly--into the vast halls where lay gleaming1 untended1 and hitherto untouched by mortal hand--unseen by mortal eye--the imperishable and priceless secrets of the ,universe6 8,yes1 ,kepler was essentially a theorist2 but this title1 now of so much sanctity1 was1 in those ancient days1 a designation of supreme contempt4 ,it is only now that men begin to appreciate that divine old man--to sympathize with the prophetical and poetical rhapsody of his ever-memorable words4 ,for my part10 continues the unknown correspondent1 8,i glow with a sacred fire when ,i even think of them1 and feel that ,i shall never grow weary of their repetition3--in concluding this letter1 let me have the real pleasure of transcribing them once again3--#8,i care not whether my work be read now or by posterity4 ,i can afford to wait a century for readers when ,god himself has waited six thousand years for an observer4 ,i triumph4 ,i have stolen the golden secret of the ,egyptians4 ,i will indulge my sacred fury4'0 ,here end my quotations from this very unaccountable and1 perhaps1 somewhat impertinent epistle2 and perhaps it would be folly to comment1 in any respect1 upon the chimerical1 not to say revolutionary1 fancies of the writer--whoever he is--fancies so radically at war with the well-considered and well-settled opinions of this age4 ,let us proceed1 then1 to our legitimate thesis1 ,the ,universe4 ,this thesis admits a choice between two modes of discussion3--,we may ascend or descend4 ,beginning at our own point of view--at the ,earth on which we stand--we may pass to the other planets of our system--thence to the ,sun--thence to our system considered collectively--and thence1 through other systems1 indefinitely outwards2 or1 commencing on high at some point as definite as we can make it or conceive it1 we may come down to the habitation of ,man4 ,usually--that is to say1 in ordinary essays on ,astronomy--the first of these two modes is1 with certain reservation1 adopted3--this for the obvious reason that astronomical facts1 merely1 and principles1 being the object1 that object is best fulfilled in stepping from the known because proximate1 gradually onward to the point where all certitude becomes lost in the remote4 ,for my present purpose1 however1--that of enabling the mind to take in1 as if from afar and at one glance1 a distinct conception of the individual ,universe--it is clear that a descent to small from great--to the outskirts from the centre 7if we could establish a centre7--to the end from the beginning 7if we could fancy a beginning7 would be the preferable course1 but for the difficulty1 if not impossibility1 of presenting1 in this course1 to the unastronomical1 a picture at all comprehensible in regard to such considerations as are involved in quantity--that is to say1 in number1 magnitude and distance4 ,now1 distinctness--intelligibility1 at all points1 is a primary feature in my general design4 ,on important topics it is better to be a good deal prolix than even a very little obscure4 ,but abstruseness is a quality appertaining to no subject per se4 ,all are alike1 in facility of comprehension1 to him who approaches them by properly graduated steps4 ,it is merely because a stepping-stone1 here and there1 is heedlessly left unsupplied in our road to the ,differential ,calculus1 that this latter is not altogether as simple a thing as a sonnet by ,mr4 ,solomon ,seesaw4 ,by way of admitting1 then1 no chance for misapprehension1 ,i think it advisable to proceed as if even the more obvious facts of ,astronomy were unknown to the reader4 ,in combining the two modes of discussion to which ,i have referred1 ,i propose to avail myself of the advantages peculiar to each--and very especially of the iteration in detail which will be unavoidable as a consequence of the plan4 ,commencing with a descent1 ,i shall reserve for the return upwards those indispensable considerations of quantity to which allusion has already been made4 ,let us begin1 then1 at once1 with that merest of words1 8,infinity40 ,this1 like 8,god10 8spirit10 and some other expressions of which the equivalents exist in all languages1 is by no means the expression of an idea--but of an effort at one4 ,it stands for the possible attempt at an impossible conception4 ,man needed a term by which to point out the direction of this effort--the cloud behind which lay1 forever invisible1 the object of this attempt4 ,a word1 in fine1 was demanded1 by means of which one human being might put himself in relation at once with another human being and with a certain tendency of the human intellect4 ,out of this demand arose the word1 8,infinity20 which is thus the representative but of the thought of a thought4 ,as regards that infinity now considered--the infinity of space--we often hear it said that 8its idea is admitted by the mind--is acquiesced in--is entertained--on account of the greater difficulty which attends the conception of a limit40 ,but this is merely one of those phrases by which even profound thinkers1 time out of mind1 have occasionally taken pleasure in deceiving themselves4 ,the quibble lies concealed in the word 8difficulty40 8,the mind10 we are told1 8entertains the idea of limitless1 through the greater difficulty which it finds in entertaining that of limited1 space40 ,now1 were the proposition but fairly put1 its absurdity would become transparent at once4 ,clearly1 there is no mere difficulty in the case4 ,the assertion intended1 if presented according to its intention and without sophistry1 would run thus3--8,the mind admits the idea of limitless1 through the greater impossibility of entertaining that of limited1 space40 ,it must be immediately seen that this is not a question of two statements between whose respective credibilities--or of two arguments between whose respective validities--the reason is called upon to decide3--it is a matter of two conceptions1 directly conflicting1 and each avowedly impossible1 one of which the intellect is supposed to be capable of entertaining1 on account of the greater impossibility of entertaining the other4 ,the choice is not made between two difficulties2--it is merely fancied to be made between two impossibilities4 ,now of the former1 there are degrees--but of the latter1 none3--just as our impertinent letter-writer has already suggested4 ,a task may be more or less difficult2 but it is either possible or not possible3--there are no gradations4 ,it might be more difficult to overthrow the ,andes than an ant-hill2 but it can be no more impossible to annihilate the matter of the one than the matter of the other4 ,a man may jump ten feet with less difficulty than he can jump twenty1 but the impossibility of his leaping to the moon is not a whit less than that of his leaping to the dog-star4 ,since all this is undeniable3 since the choice of the mind is to be made between impossibilities of conception3 since one impossibility cannot be greater than another3 and since1 thus1 one cannot be preferred to another3 the philosophers who not only maintain1 on the grounds mentioned1 man's idea of infinity but1 on account of such supposititious idea1 infinity itself--are plainly engaged in demonstrating one impossible thing to be possible by showing how it is that some one other thing--is impossible too4 ,this1 it will be said1 is nonsense2 and perhaps it is3--indeed ,i think it very capital nonsense--but forego all claim to it as nonsense of mine4 ,the readiest mode1 however1 of displaying the fallacy of the philosophical argument on this question1 is by simply adverting to a fact respecting it which has been hitherto quite overlooked--the fact that the argument alluded to both proves and disproves its own proposition4 8,the mind is impelled10 say the theologians and others1 8to admit a ,first ,cause1 by the superior difficulty it experiences in conceiving cause beyond cause without end40 ,the quibble1 as before1 lies in the word 8difficulty0--but here what is it employed to sustain8 ,a ,first ,cause4 ,and what is a ,first ,cause8 ,an ultimate termination of causes4 ,and what is an ultimate termination of causes8 ,finity--the ,finite4 ,thus the one quibble1 in two processes1 by ,god knows how many philosophers1 is made to support now ,finity and now ,infinity--could it not be brought to support something besides8 ,as for the quibblers--they1 at least1 are insupportable4 ,but--to dismiss them3--what they prove in the one case is the identical nothing which they demonstrate in the other4 ,of course1 no one will suppose that ,i here contend for the absolute impossibility of that which we attempt to convey in the word 8,infinity40 ,my purpose is but to show the folly of endeavoring to prove ,infinity itself or even our conception of it1 by any such blundering ratiocination as that which is ordinarily employed4 ,nevertheless1 as an individual1 ,i may be permitted to say that ,i cannot conceive ,infinity1 and am convinced that no human being can4 ,a mind not thoroughly self-conscious--not accustomed to the introspective analysis of its own operations--will1 it is true1 often deceive itself by supposing that it has entertained the conception of which we speak4 ,in the effort to entertain it1 we proceed step beyond step--we fancy point still beyond point2 and so long as we continue the effort1 it may be said1 in fact1 that we are tending to the formation of the idea designed2 while the strength of the impression that we actually form or have formed it1 is in the ratio of the period during which we keep up the mental endeavor4 ,but it is in the act of discontinuing the endeavor--of fulfilling 7as we think7 the idea--of putting the finishing stroke 7as we suppose7 to the conception--that we overthrow at once the whole fabric of our fancy by resting upon some one ultimate and therefore definite point4 ,this fact1 however1 we fail to perceive1 on account of the absolute coincidence1 in time1 between the settling down upon the ultimate point and the act of cessation in thinking4--,in attempting1 on the other hand1 to frame the idea of a limited space1 we merely converse the processes which involve the impossibility4 ,we believe in a ,god4 ,we may or may not believe in finite or in infinite space2 but our belief1 in such cases1 is more properly designated as faith1 and is a matter quite distinct from that belief proper--from that intellectual belief--which presupposes the mental conception4 ,the fact is1 that1 upon the enunciation of any one of that class of terms to which 8,infinity0 belongs--the class representing thoughts of thought--he who has a right to say that he thinks at all1 feels himself called upon1 not to entertain a conception1 but simply to direct his mental vision toward some given point1 in the intellectual firmament1 where lies a nebula never to be resolved4 ,to solve it1 indeed1 he makes no effort2 for with a rapid instinct he comprehends1 not only the impossibility1 but1 as regards all human purposes1 the inessentiality1 of its solution4 ,he perceives that the ,deity has not designed it to be solved4 ,he sees1 at once1 that it lies out of the brain of man1 and even how1 if not exactly why1 it lies out of it4 ,there are people1 ,i am aware1 who1 busying themselves in attempts at the unattainable1 acquire very easily1 by dint of the jargon they emit1 among those thinkers-that-they-think with whom darkness and depth are synonymous1 a kind of cuttle-fish reputation for profundity2 but the finest quality of ,thought is its self-cognizance2 and1 with some little equivocation1 it may be said that no fog of the mind can well be greater than that which1 extending to the very boundaries of the mental domain1 shuts out even these boundaries themselves from comprehension4 ,it will now be understood that1 in using the phrase1 8,infinity of ,space10 ,i make no call upon the reader to entertain the impossible conception of an absolute infinity4 ,i refer simply to the 8utmost conceivable expanse0 of space--a shadowy and fluctuating domain1 now shrinking1 now swelling1 in accordance with the vacillating energies of the imagination4 ,hitherto1 the ,universe of stars has always been considered as coincident with the ,universe proper1 as ,i have defined it in the commencement of this ,discourse4 ,it has been always either directly or indirectly assumed--at least since the dawn of intelligible ,astronomy--that1 were it possible for us to attain any given point in space1 we should still find1 on all sides of us1 an interminable succession of stars4 ,this was the untenable idea of ,pascal when making perhaps the most successful attempt ever made1 at periphrasing the conception for which we struggle in the word 8,universe40 8,it is a sphere10 he says1 8of which the centre is everywhere1 the circumference1 nowhere40 ,but although this intended definition is1 in fact1 no definition of the ,universe of stars1 we may accept it1 with some mental reservation1 as a definition 7rigorous enough for all practical purposes7 of the ,universe proper--that is to say1 of the ,universe of space4 ,this latter1 then1 let us regard as 8a sphere of which the centre is everywhere1 the circumference nowhere40 ,in fact1 while we find it impossible to fancy an end to space1 we have no difficulty in picturing to ourselves any one of an infinity of beginnings4 ,as our starting-point1 then1 let us adopt the ,godhead4 ,of this ,godhead1 in itself1 he alone is not imbecile--he alone is not impious who propounds--nothing4 8,nous ne connaissons rien10 says the ,baron de ,bielfeld--8,nous ne connaissons rien de la nature ou de l'essence de ,dieu3--pour savoir ce qu'il est1 il faut tre ,dieu mme40--8,we know absolutely nothing of the nature or essence of ,god3--in order to comprehend what he is1 we should have to be ,god ourselves40 8,we should have to be ,god ourselves60--,with a phrase so startling as this yet ringing in my ears1 ,i nevertheless venture to demand if this our present ignorance of the ,deity is an ignorance to which the soul is everlastingly condemned4 ,by ,him1 however--now1 at least1 the ,incomprehensible--by ,him--assuming him as ,spirit--that is to say1 as not ,matter--a distinction which1 for all intelligible purposes1 will stand well instead of a definition--by ,him1 then1 existing as ,spirit1 let us content ourselves1 to-night1 with supposing to have been created1 or made out of ,nothing1 by dint of his ,volition--at some point of ,space which we will take as a centre--at some period into which we do not pretend to inquire1 but at all events immensely remote--by ,him1 then again1 let us suppose to have been created----what8 ,this is a vitally momentous epoch in our considerations4 ,what is it that we are justified--that alone we are justified in supposing to have been1 primarily and solely1 created8 ,we have attained a point where only ,intuition can aid us3--but now let me recur to the idea which ,i have already suggested as that alone which we can properly entertain of intuition4 ,it is but the conviction arising from those inductions or deductions of which the processes are so shadowy as to escape our consciousness1 elude our reason1 or defy our capacity of expression4 ,with this understanding1 ,i now assert--that an intuition altogether irresistible1 although inexpressible1 forces me to the conclusion that what ,god originally created--that that ,matter which1 by dint of his ,volition1 he first made from his ,spirit1 or from ,nihility1 could have been nothing but ,matter in its utmost conceivable state of----what8--of ,simplicity8 ,this will be found the sole absolute assumption of my ,discourse4 ,i use the word 8assumption0 in its ordinary sense2 yet ,i maintain that even this my primary proposition1 is very1 very far indeed1 from being really a mere assumption4 ,nothing was ever more certainly--no human conclusion was ever1 in fact1 more regularly--more rigorously deduced3--but1 alas6 the processes lie out of the human analysis--at all events are beyond the utterance of the human tongue4 ,let us now endeavor to conceive what ,matter must be1 when1 or if1 in its absolute extreme of ,simplicity4 ,here the ,reason flies at once to ,imparticularity--to a particle--to one particle--a particle of one kind--of one character--of one nature--of one size--of one form--a particle1 therefore1 8without form and void0--a particle positively a particle at all points--a particle absolutely unique1 individual1 undivided1 and not indivisible only because ,he who created it1 by dint of his ,will1 can by an infinitely less energetic exercise of the same ,will1 as a matter of course1 divide it4 ,oneness1 then1 is all that ,i predicate of the originally created ,matter2 but ,i propose to show that this ,oneness is a principle abundantly sufficient to account for the constitution1 the existing phnomena and the plainly inevitable annihilation of at least the material ,universe4 ,the willing into being the primordial particle1 has completed the act1 or more properly the conception1 of ,creation4 ,we now proceed to the ultimate purpose for which we are to suppose the ,particle created--that is to say1 the ultimate purpose so far as our considerations yet enable us to see it--the constitution of the ,universe from it1 the ,particle4 ,this constitution has been effected by forcing the originally and therefore normally ,one into the abnormal condition of ,many4 ,an action of this character implies raction4 ,a diffusion from ,unity1 under the conditions1 involves a tendency to return into ,unity--a tendency ineradicable until satisfied4 ,but on these points ,i will speak more fully hereafter4 ,the assumption of absolute ,unity in the primordial ,particle includes that of infinite divisibility4 ,let us conceive the ,particle1 then1 to be only not totally exhausted by diffusion into ,space4 ,from the one ,particle1 as a centre1 let us suppose to be irradiated spherically--in all directions--to immeasurable but still to definite distances in the previously vacant space--a certain inexpressibly great yet limited number of unimaginably yet not infinitely minute atoms4 ,now1 of these atoms1 thus diffused1 or upon diffusion1 what conditions are we permitted--not to assume1 but to infer1 from consideration as well of their source as of the character of the design apparent in their diffusion8 ,unity being their source1 and difference from ,unity the character of the design manifested in their diffusion1 we are warranted in supposing this character to be at least generally preserved throughout the design1 and to form a portion of the design itself3--that is to say1 we shall be warranted in conceiving continual differences at all points from the uniquity and simplicity of the origin4 ,but1 for these reasons1 shall we be justified in imagining the atoms heterogeneous1 dissimilar1 unequal1 and inequidistant8 ,more explicitly--are we to consider no two atoms as1 at their diffusion1 of the same nature1 or of the same form1 or of the same size8--and1 after fulfilment of their diffusion into ,space1 is absolute inequidistance1 each from each1 to be understood of all of them8 ,in such arrangement1 under such conditions1 we most easily and immediately comprehend the subsequent most feasible carrying out to completion of any such design as that which ,i have suggested--the design of variety out of unity--diversity out of sameness--heterogeneity out of homogeneity--complexity out of simplicity--in a word1 the utmost possible multiplicity of relation out of the emphatically irrelative ,one4 ,undoubtedly1 therefore1 we should be warranted in assuming all that has been mentioned1 but for the reflection1 first1 that supererogation is not presumable of any ,divine ,act2 and1 secondly1 that the object supposed in view1 appears as feasible when some of the conditions in question are dispensed with1 in the beginning1 as when all are understood immediately to exist4 ,i mean to say that some are involved in the rest1 or so instantaneous a consequence of them as to make the distinction inappreciable4 ,difference of size1 for example1 will at once be brought about through the tendency of one atom to a second1 in preference to a third1 on account of particular inequidistance2 which is to be comprehended as particular inequidistances between centres of quantity1 in neighboring atoms of different form--a matter not at all interfering with the generally-equable distribution of the atoms4 ,difference of kind1 too1 is easily conceived to be merely a result of differences in size and form1 taken more or less conjointly3--in fact1 since the ,unity of the ,particle ,proper implies absolute homogeneity1 we cannot imagine the atoms1 at their diffusion1 differing in kind1 without imagining1 at the same time1 a special exercise of the ,divine ,will1 at the emission of each atom1 for the purpose of effecting1 in each1 a change of its essential nature3--so fantastic an idea is the less to be indulged1 as the object proposed is seen to be thoroughly attainable without such minute and elaborate interposition4 ,we perceive1 therefore1 upon the whole1 that it would be supererogatory1 and consequently unphilosophical1 to predicate of the atoms1 in view of their purposes1 any thing more than difference of form at their dispersion1 with particular inequidistance after it--all other differences arising at once out of these1 in the very first processes of mass-constitution3--,we thus establish the ,universe on a purely geometrical basis4 ,of course1 it is by no means necessary to assume absolute difference1 even of form1 among all the atoms irradiated--any more than absolute particular inequidistance of each from each4 ,we are required to conceive merely that no neighboring atoms are of similar form--no atoms which can ever approximate1 until their inevitable runition at the end4 ,although the immediate and perpetual tendency of the disunited atoms to return into their normal ,unity1 is implied1 as ,i have said1 in their abnormal diffusion2 still it is clear that this tendency will be without consequence--a tendency and no more--until the diffusive energy1 in ceasing to be exerted1 shall leave it1 the tendency1 free to seek its satisfaction4 ,the ,divine ,act1 however1 being considered as determinate1 and discontinued on fulfilment of the diffusion1 we understand1 at once1 a raction--in other words1 a satisfiable tendency of the disunited atoms to return into ,one4 ,but the diffusive energy being withdrawn1 and the raction having commenced in furtherance of the ultimate design--that of the utmost possible ,relation--this design is now in danger of being frustrated1 in detail1 by reason of that very tendency to return which is to effect its accomplishment in general4 ,multiplicity is the object2 but there is nothing to prevent proximate atoms1 from lapsing at once1 through the now satisfiable tendency--before the fulfilment of any ends proposed in multiplicity--into absolute oneness among themselves3--there is nothing to impede the aggregation of various unique masses1 at various points of space3--in other words1 nothing to interfere with the accumulation of various masses1 each absolutely ,one4 ,for the effectual and thorough completion of the general design1 we thus see the necessity for a repulsion of limited capacity--a separative something which1 on withdrawal of the diffusive ,volition1 shall at the same time allow the approach1 and forbid the junction1 of the atoms2 suffering them infinitely to approximate1 while denying them positive contact2 in a word1 having the power--up to a certain epoch--of preventing their coalition1 but no ability to interfere with their coalescence in any respect or degree4 ,the repulsion1 already considered as so peculiarly limited in other regards1 must be understood1 let me repeat1 as having power to prevent absolute coalition1 only up to a certain epoch4 ,unless we are to conceive that the appetite for ,unity among the atoms is doomed to be satisfied never2--unless we are to conceive that what had a beginning is to have no end--a conception which cannot really be entertained1 however much we may talk or dream of entertaining it--we are forced to conclude that the repulsive influence imagined1 will1 finally--under pressure of the ,unitendency collectively applied1 but never and in no degree until1 on fulfilment of the ,divine purposes1 such collective application shall be naturally made--yield to a force which1 at that ultimate epoch1 shall be the superior force precisely to the extent required1 and thus permit the universal subsidence into the inevitable1 because original and therefore normal1 ,one4--,the conditions here to be reconciled are difficult indeed3--we cannot even comprehend the possibility of their conciliation2--nevertheless1 the apparent impossibility is brilliantly suggestive4 ,that the repulsive something actually exists1 we see4 ,man neither employs1 nor knows1 a force sufficient to bring two atoms into contact4 ,this is but the well-established proposition of the impenetrability of matter4 ,all ,experiment proves--all ,philosophy admits it4 ,the design of the repulsion--the necessity for its existence--,i have endeavored to show2 but from all attempt at investigating its nature have religiously abstained2 this on account of an intuitive conviction that the principle at issue is strictly spiritual--lies in a recess impervious to our present understanding--lies involved in a consideration of what now--in our human state--is not to be considered--in a consideration of ,spirit in itself4 ,i feel1 in a word1 that here the ,god has interposed1 and here only1 because here and here only the knot demanded the interposition of the ,god4 ,in fact1 while the tendency of the diffused atoms to return into ,unity1 will be recognized1 at once1 as the principle of the ,newtonian ,gravity1 what ,i have spoken of as a repulsive influence prescribing limits to the 7immediate7 satisfaction of the tendency1 will be understood as that which we have been in the practice of designating now as heat1 now as magnetism1 now as electricity2 displaying our ignorance of its awful character in the vacillation of the phraseology with which we endeavor to circumscribe it4 ,calling it1 merely for the moment1 electricity1 we know that all experimental analysis of electricity has given1 as an ultimate result1 the principle1 or seeming principle1 heterogeneity4 ,only where things differ is electricity apparent2 and it is presumable that they never differ where it is not developed at least1 if not apparent4 ,now1 this result is in the fullest keeping with that which ,i have reached unempirically4 ,the design of the repulsive influence ,i have maintained to be that of preventing immediate ,unity among the diffused atoms2 and these atoms are represented as different each from each4 ,difference is their character--their essentiality--just as no-difference was the essentiality of their source4 ,when we say1 then1 that an attempt to bring any two of these atoms together would induce an effort1 on the part of the repulsive influence1 to prevent the contact1 we may as well use the strictly convertible sentence that an attempt to bring together any two differences will result in a development of electricity4 ,all existing bodies1 of course1 are composed of these atoms in proximate contact1 and are therefore to be considered as mere assemblages of more or fewer differences2 and the resistance made by the repulsive spirit1 on bringing together any two such assemblages1 would be in the ratio of the two sums of the differences in each3--an expression which1 when reduced1 is equivalent to this3--,the amount of electricity developed on the approximation of two bodies1 is proportional to the difference between the respective sums of the atoms of which the bodies are composed4 ,that no two bodies are absolutely alike1 is a simple corollary from all that has been here said4 ,electricity1 therefore1 existing always1 is developed whenever any bodies1 but manifested only when bodies of appreciable difference1 are brought into approximation4 ,to electricity--so1 for the present1 continuing to call it--we may not be wrong in referring the various physical appearances of light1 heat and magnetism2 but far less shall we be liable to err in attributing to this strictly spiritual principle the more important phnomena of vitality1 consciousness and ,thought4 ,on this topic1 however1 ,i need pause here merely to suggest that these phnomena1 whether observed generally or in detail1 seem to proceed at least in the ratio of the heterogeneous4 ,discarding now the two equivocal terms1 8gravitation0 and 8electricity10 let us adopt the more definite expressions1 8attraction0 and 8repulsion40 ,the former is the body2 the latter the soul3 the one is the material2 the other the spiritual1 principle of the ,universe4 ,no other principles exist4 ,all phnomena are referable to one1 or to the other1 or to both combined4 ,so rigorously is this the case--so thoroughly demonstrable is it that attraction and repulsion are the sole properties through which we perceive the ,universe--in other words1 by which ,matter is manifested to ,mind--that1 for all merely argumentative purposes1 we are fully justified in assuming that matter exists only as attraction and repulsion--that attraction and repulsion are matter3--there being no conceivable case in which we may not employ the term 8matter0 and the terms 8attraction0 and 8repulsion10 taken together1 as equivalent1 and therefore convertible1 expressions in ,logic4 ,i said1 just now1 that what ,i have described as the tendency of the diffused atoms to return into their original unity1 would be understood as the principle of the ,newtonian law of gravity3 and1 in fact1 there can be little difficulty in such an understanding1 if we look at the ,newtonian gravity in a merely general view1 as a force impelling matter to seek matter2 that is to say1 when we pay no attention to the known modus operandi of the ,newtonian force4 ,the general coincidence satisfies us2 but1 upon looking closely1 we see1 in detail1 much that appears incoincident1 and much in regard to which no coincidence1 at least1 is established4 ,for example2 the ,newtonian gravity1 when we think of it in certain moods1 does not seem to be a tendency to oneness at all1 but rather a tendency of all bodies in all directions--a phrase apparently expressive of a tendency to diffusion4 ,here1 then1 is an incoincidence4 ,again2 when we reflect on the mathematical law governing the ,newtonian tendency1 we see clearly that no coincidence has been made good1 in respect of the modus operandi1 at least1 between gravitation as known to exist and that seemingly simple and direct tendency which ,i have assumed4 ,in fact1 ,i have attained a point at which it will be advisable to strengthen my position by reversing my processes4 ,so far1 we have gone on priori1 from an abstract consideration of ,simplicity1 as that quality most likely to have characterized the original action of ,god4 ,let us now see whether the established facts of the ,newtonian ,gravitation may not afford us1 posteriori1 some legitimate inductions4 ,what does the ,newtonian law declare8--,that all bodies attract each other with forces proportional to their quantities of matter and inversely proportional to the squares of their distances4 ,purposely1 ,i have here given1 in the first place1 the vulgar version of the law2 and ,i confess that in this1 as in most other vulgar versions of great truths1 we find little of a suggestive character4 ,let us now adopt a more philosophical phraseology3--,every atom1 of every body1 attracts every other atom1 both of its own and of every other body1 with a force which varies inversely as the squares of the distances between the attracting and attracted atom4--,here1 indeed1 a flood of suggestion bursts upon the mind4 ,but let us see distinctly what it was that ,newton proved--according to the grossly irrational definitions of proof prescribed by the metaphysical schools4 ,he was forced to content himself with showing how thoroughly the motions of an imaginary ,universe1 composed of attracting and attracted atoms obedient to the law he announced1 coincide with those of the actually existing ,universe so far as it comes under our observation4 ,this was the amount of his demonstration--that is to say1 this was the amount of it1 according to the conventional cant of the 8philosophies40 ,his successes added proof multiplied by proof--such proof as a sound intellect admits--but the demonstration of the law itself1 persist the metaphysicians1 had not been strengthened in any degree4 8,ocular1 physical proof10 however1 of attraction1 here upon ,earth1 in accordance with the ,newtonian theory1 was1 at length1 much to the satisfaction of some intellectual grovellers1 afforded4 ,this proof arose collaterally and incidentally 7as nearly all important truths have arisen7 out of an attempt to ascertain the mean density of the ,earth4 ,in the famous ,maskelyne1 ,cavendish and ,bailly experiments for this purpose1 the attraction of the mass of a mountain was seen1 felt1 measured1 and found to be mathematically consistent with the immortal theory of the ,british astronomer4 ,but in spite of this confirmation of that which needed none--in spite of the so-called corroboration of the 8theory0 by the so-called 8ocular and physical proof0--in spite of the character of this corroboration--the ideas which even really philosophical men cannot help imbibing of gravity--and1 especially1 the ideas of it which ordinary men get and contentedly maintain1 are seen to have been derived1 for the most part1 from a consideration of the principle as they find it developed--merely in the planet upon which they stand4 ,now1 to what does so partial a consideration tend--to what species of error does it give rise8 ,on the ,earth we see and feel1 only that gravity impels all bodies towards the centre of the ,earth4 ,no man in the common walks of life could be made to see or to feel anything else--could be made to perceive that anything1 anywhere1 has a perpetual1 gravitating tendency in any other direction than to the centre of the ,earth2 yet 7with an exception hereafter to be specified7 it is a fact that every earthly thing 7not to speak now of every heavenly thing7 has a tendency not only to the ,earth's centre but in every conceivable direction besides4 ,now1 although the philosophic cannot be said to err with the vulgar in this matter1 they nevertheless permit themselves to be influenced1 without knowing it1 by the sentiment of the vulgar idea4 8,although the ,pagan fables are not believed10 says ,bryant1 in his very erudite 8,mythology10 8yet we forget ourselves continually and make inferences from them as from existing realities40 ,i mean to assert that the merely sensitive perception of gravity as we experience it on ,earth1 beguiles mankind into the fancy of concentralization or especiality respecting it--has been continually biasing towards this fancy even the mightiest intellects--perpetually1 although imperceptibly1 leading them away from the real characteristics of the principle2 thus preventing them1 up to this date1 from ever getting a glimpse of that vital truth which lies in a diametrically opposite direction--behind the principle's essential characteristics--those1 not of concentralization or especiality--but of universality and diffusion4 ,this 8vital truth0 is ,unity as the source of the phnomenon4 ,let me now repeat the definition of gravity3--,every atom1 of every body1 attracts every other atom1 both of its own and of every other body1 with a force which varies inversely as the squares of the distances of the attracting and attracted atom4 ,here let the reader pause with me1 for a moment1 in contemplation of the miraculous--of the ineffable--of the altogether unimaginable complexity of relation involved in the fact that each atom attracts every other atom--involved merely in this fact of the attraction1 without reference to the law or mode in which the attraction is manifested--involved merely in the fact that each atom attracts every other atom at all1 in a wilderness of atoms so numerous that those which go to the composition of a cannon-ball1 exceed1 probably1 in mere point of number1 all the stars which go to the constitution of the ,universe4 ,had we discovered1 simply1 that each atom tended to some one favorite point--to some especially attractive atom--we should still have fallen upon a discovery which1 in itself1 would have sufficed to overwhelm the mind3--but what is it that we are actually called upon to comprehend8 ,that each atom attracts--sympathizes with the most delicate movements of every other atom1 and with each and with all at the same time1 and forever1 and according to a determinate law of which the complexity1 even considered by itself solely1 is utterly beyond the grasp of the imagination of man4 ,if ,i propose to ascertain the influence of one mote in a sunbeam upon its neighboring mote1 ,i cannot accomplish my purpose without first counting and weighing all the atoms in the ,universe and defining the precise positions of all at one particular moment4 ,if ,i venture to displace1 by even the billionth part of an inch1 the microscopical speck of dust which lies now upon the point of my finger1 what is the character of that act upon which ,i have adventured8 ,i have done a deed which shakes the ,moon in her path1 which causes the ,sun to be no longer the ,sun1 and which alters forever the destiny of the multitudinous myriads of stars that roll and glow in the majestic presence of their ,creator4 ,these ideas--conceptions such as these--unthoughtlike thoughts--soul-reveries rather than conclusions or even considerations of the intellect3--ideas1 ,i repeat1 such as these1 are such as we can alone hope profitably to entertain in any effort at grasping the great principle1 ,attraction4 ,but now1--with such ideas--with such a vision of the marvellous complexity of ,attraction fairly in his mind--let any person competent of thought on such topics as these1 set himself to the task of imagining a principle for the phnomena observed--a condition from which they sprang4 ,does not so evident a brotherhood among the atoms point to a common parentage8 ,does not a sympathy so omniprevalent1 so ineradicable1 and so thoroughly irrespective1 suggest a common paternity as its source8 ,does not one extreme impel the reason to the other8 ,does not the infinitude of division refer to the utterness of individuality8 ,does not the entireness of the complex hint at the perfection of the simple8 ,it is not that the atoms1 as we see them1 are divided or that they are complex in their relations--but that they are inconceivably divided and unutterably complex3--it is the extremeness of the conditions to which ,i now allude1 rather than to the conditions themselves4 ,in a word1 is it not because the atoms were1 at some remote epoch of time1 even more than together--is it not because originally1 and therefore normally1 they were ,one--that now1 in all circumstances--at all points--in all directions--by all modes of approach--in all relations and through all conditions--they struggle back to this absolutely1 this irrelatively1 this unconditionally one8 ,some person may here demand3--8,why--since it is to the ,one that the atoms struggle back--do we not find and define ,attraction #8a merely general tendency to a centre8'--why1 in especial1 do not your atoms--the atoms which you describe as having been irradiated from a centre--proceed at once1 rectilinearly1 back to the central point of their origin80 ,i reply that they do2 as will be distinctly shown2 but that the cause of their so doing is quite irrespective of the centre as such4 ,they all tend rectilinearly towards a centre1 because of the sphereicity with which they have been irradiated into space4 ,each atom1 forming one of a generally uniform globe of atoms1 finds more atoms in the direction of the centre1 of course1 than in any other1 and in that direction1 therefore1 is impelled--but is not thus impelled because the centre is the point of its origin4 ,it is not to any point that the atoms are allied4 ,it is not any locality1 either in the concrete or in the abstract1 to which ,i suppose them bound4 ,nothing like location was conceived as their origin4 ,their source lies in the principle1 ,unity4 ,this is their lost parent4 ,this they seek always--immediately--in all directions--wherever it is even partially to be found2 thus appeasing1 in some measure1 the ineradicable tendency1 while on the way to its absolute satisfaction in the end4 ,it follows from all this1 that any principle which shall be adequate to account for the law1 or modus operandi1 of the attractive force in general1 will account for this law in particular3--that is to say1 any principle which will show why the atoms should tend to their general centre of irradiation with forces inversely proportional to the squares of the distances1 will be admitted as satisfactorily accounting1 at the same time1 for the tendency1 according to the same law1 of these atoms each to each3--for the tendency to the centre is merely the tendency each to each1 and not any tendency to a centre as such4--,thus it will be seen1 also1 that the establishment of my propositions would involve no necessity of modification in the terms of the ,newtonian definition of ,gravity1 which declares that each atom attracts each other atom and so forth1 and declares this merely2 but 7always under the supposition that what ,i propose be1 in the end1 admitted7 it seems clear that some error might occasionally be avoided1 in the future processes of ,science1 were a more ample phraseology adopted3--for instance3--8,each atom tends to every other atom c4 with a force c43 the general result being a tendency of all1 with a similar force1 to a general centre40 ,the reversal of our processes has thus brought us to an identical result2 but1 while in the one process intuition was the starting-point1 in the other it was the goal4 ,in commencing the former journey ,i could only say that1 with an irresistible intuition1 ,i felt ,simplicity to have been the characteristic of the original action of ,god3--in ending the latter ,i can only declare that1 with an irresistible intuition1 ,i perceive ,unity to have been the source of the observed phnomena of the ,newtonian gravitation4 ,thus1 according to the schools1 ,i prove nothing4 ,so be it3--,i design but to suggest--and to convince through the suggestion4 ,i am proudly aware that there exist many of the most profound and cautiously discriminative human intellects which cannot help being abundantly content with my--suggestions4 ,to these intellects--as to my own--there is no mathematical demonstration which could bring the least additional true proof of the great ,truth which ,i have advanced--the truth of ,original ,unity as the source--as the principle of the ,universal ,phnomena4 ,for my part1 ,i am not so sure that ,i speak and see--,i am not so sure that my heart beats and that my soul lives3--of the rising of to-morrow's sun--a probability that as yet lies in the ,future--,i do not pretend to be one thousandth part as sure--as ,i am of the irretrievably by-gone ,fact that ,all ,things and ,all ,thoughts of ,things1 with all their ineffable ,multiplicity of ,relation1 sprang at once into being from the primordial and irrelative ,one4 ,referring to the ,newtonian ,gravity1 ,dr4 ,nichol1 the eloquent author of 8,the ,architecture of the ,heavens10 says3--8,in truth we have no reason to suppose this great ,law1 as now revealed1 to be the ultimate or simplest1 and therefore the universal and all-comprehensive1 form of a great ,ordinance4 ,the mode in which its intensity diminishes with the element of distance1 has not the aspect of an ultimate principle2 which always assumes the simplicity and self-evidence of those axioms which constitute the basis of ,geometry40 ,now1 it is quite true that 8ultimate principles10 in the common understanding of the words1 always assume the simplicity of geometrical axioms--7as for 8self-evidence10 there is no such thing7--but these principles are clearly not 8ultimate20 in other terms what we are in the habit of calling principles are no principles1 properly speaking--since there can be but one principle1 the ,volition of ,god4 ,we have no right to assume1 then1 from what we observe in rules that we choose foolishly to name 8principles10 anything at all in respect to the characteristics of a principle proper4 ,the 8ultimate principles0 of which ,dr4 ,nichol speaks as having geometrical simplicity1 may and do have this geometrical turn1 as being part and parcel of a vast geometrical system1 and thus a system of simplicity itself--in which1 nevertheless1 the truly ultimate principle is1 as we know1 the consummation of the complex--that is to say1 of the unintelligible--for is it not the ,spiritual ,capacity of ,god8 ,i quoted ,dr4 ,nichol's remark1 however1 not so much to question its philosophy1 as by way of calling attention to the fact that1 while all men have admitted some principle as existing behind the ,law of ,gravity1 no attempt has been yet made to point out what this principle in particular is3--if we except1 perhaps1 occasional fantastic efforts at referring it to ,magnetism1 or ,mesmerism1 or ,swedenborgianism1 or ,transcendentalism1 or some other equally delicious ism of the same species1 and invariably patronized by one and the same species of people4 ,the great mind of ,newton1 while boldly grasping the ,law itself1 shrank from the principle of the ,law4 ,the more fluent and comprehensive at least1 if not the more patient and profound1 sagacity of ,laplace1 had not the courage to attack it4 ,but hesitation on the part of these two astronomers it is1 perhaps1 not so very difficult to understand4 ,they1 as well as all the first class of mathematicians1 were mathematicians solely3--their intellect1 at least1 had a firmly-pronounced mathematico-physical tone4 ,what lay not distinctly within the domain of ,physics1 or of ,mathematics1 seemed to them either ,non-,entity or ,shadow4 ,nevertheless1 we may well wonder that ,leibnitz1 who was a marked exception to the general rule in these respects1 and whose mental temperament was a singular admixture of the mathematical with the physico-metaphysical1 did not at once investigate and establish the point at issue4 ,either ,newton or ,laplace1 seeking a principle and discovering none physical1 would have rested contentedly in the conclusion that there was absolutely none2 but it is almost impossible to fancy1 of ,leibnitz1 that1 having exhausted in his search the physical dominions1 he would not have stepped at once1 boldly and hopefully1 amid his old familiar haunts in the kingdom of ,metaphysics4 ,here1 indeed1 it is clear that he must have adventured in search of the treasure3--that he did not find it after all1 was1 perhaps1 because his fairy guide1 ,imagination1 was not sufficiently well-grown1 or well-educated1 to direct him aright4 ,i observed1 just now1 that1 in fact1 there had been certain vague attempts at referring ,gravity to some very uncertain isms4 ,these attempts1 however1 although considered bold and justly so considered1 looked no farther than to the generality--the merest generality--of the ,newtonian ,law4 ,its modus operandi has never1 to my knowledge1 been approached in the way of an effort at explanation4 ,it is1 therefore1 with no unwarranted fear of being taken for a madman at the outset1 and before ,i can bring my propositions fairly to the eye of those who alone are competent to decide upon them1 that ,i here declare the modus operandi of the ,law of ,gravity to be an exceedingly simple and perfectly explicable thing--that is to say1 when we make our advances towards it in just gradations and in the true direction--when we regard it from the proper point of view4 ,whether we reach the idea of absolute ,unity as the source of ,all ,things1 from a consideration of ,simplicity as the most probable characteristic of the original action of ,god2--whether we arrive at it from an inspection of the universality of relation in the gravitating phnomena2--or whether we attain it as a result of the mutual corroboration afforded by both processes2--still1 the idea itself1 if entertained at all1 is entertained in inseparable connection with another idea--that of the condition of the ,universe of stars as we now perceive it--that is to say1 a condition of immeasurable diffusion through space4 ,now a connection between these two ideas--unity and diffusion--cannot be established unless through the entertainment of a third idea--that of irradiation4 ,absolute ,unity being taken as a centre1 then the existing ,universe of stars is the result of irradiation from that centre4 ,now1 the laws of irradiation are known4 ,they are part and parcel of the sphere4 ,they belong to the class of indisputable geometrical properties4 ,we say of them1 8they are true--they are evident40 ,to demand why they are true1 would be to demand why the axioms are true upon which their demonstration is based4 ,nothing is demonstrable1 strictly speaking2 but if anything be1 then the properties--the laws in question are demonstrated4 ,but these laws--what do they declare8 ,irradiation--how--by what steps does it proceed outwardly from a centre8 ,from a luminous centre1 ,light issues by irradiation2 and the quantities of light received upon any given plane1 supposed to be shifting its position so as to be now nearer the centre and now farther from it1 will be diminished in the same proportion as the squares of the distances of the plane from the luminous body1 are increased2 and will be increased in the same proportion as these squares are diminished4 ,the expression of the law may be thus generalized3--the number of light-particles 7or1 if the phrase be preferred1 the number of light-impressions7 received upon the shifting plane1 will be inversely proportional with the squares of the distances of the plane4 ,generalizing yet again1 we may say that the diffusion--the scattering--the irradiation1 in a word--is directly proportional with the squares of the distances4 ,illustration ,for example3 at the distance ,b1 from the luminous centre ,a1 a certain number of particles are so diffused as to occupy the surface ,b4 ,then at double the distance--that is to say at ,c--they will be so much farther diffused as to occupy four such surfaces3--at treble the distance1 or at ,d1 they will be so much farther separated as to occupy nine such surfaces3--while1 at quadruple the distance1 or at ,e1 they will have become so scattered as to spread themselves over sixteen such surfaces--and so on forever4 ,in saying1 generally1 that the irradiation proceeds in direct proportion with the squares of the distances1 we use the term irradiation to express the degree of the diffusion as we proceed outwardly from the centre4 ,conversing the idea1 and employing the word 8concentralization0 to express the degree of the drawing together as we come back toward the centre from an outward position1 we may say that concentralization proceeds inversely as the squares of the distances4 ,in other words1 we have reached the conclusion that1 on the hypothesis that matter was originally irradiated from a centre and is now returning to it1 the concentralization1 in the return1 proceeds exactly as we know the force of gravitation to proceed4 ,now here1 if we could be permitted to assume that concentralization exactly represented the force of the tendency to the centre--that the one was exactly proportional to the other1 and that the two proceeded together--we should have shown all that is required4 ,the sole difficulty existing1 then1 is to establish a direct proportion between 8concentralization0 and the force of concentralization2 and this is done1 of course1 if we establish such proportion between 8irradiation0 and the force of irradiation4 ,a very slight inspection of the ,heavens assures us that the stars have a certain general uniformity1 equability1 or equidistance1 of distribution through that region of space in which1 collectively1 and in a roughly globular form1 they are situated3--this species of very general1 rather than absolute1 equability1 being in full keeping with my deduction of inequidistance1 within certain limits1 among the originally diffused atoms1 as a corollary from the evident design of infinite complexity of relation out of irrelation4 ,i started1 it will be remembered1 with the idea of a generally uniform but particularly ununiform distribution of the atoms2--an idea1 ,i repeat1 which an inspection of the stars1 as they exist1 confirms4 ,but even in the merely general equability of distribution1 as regards the atoms1 there appears a difficulty which1 no doubt1 has already suggested itself to those among my readers who have borne in mind that ,i suppose this equability of distribution effected through irradiation from a centre4 ,the very first glance at the idea1 irradiation1 forces us to the entertainment of the hitherto unseparated and seemingly inseparable idea of agglomeration about a centre1 with dispersion as we recede from it--the idea1 in a word1 of inequability of distribution in respect to the matter irradiated4 ,now1 ,i have elsewhere#a observed that it is by just such difficulties as the one now in question--such roughnesses--such peculiarities--such protuberances above the plane of the ordinary--that ,reason feels her way1 if at all1 in her search for the ,true4 ,by the difficulty--the 8peculiarity0--now presented1 ,i leap at once to the secret--a secret which ,i might never have attained but for the peculiarity and the inferences which1 in its mere character of peculiarity1 it affords me4 #a 8,murders in the ,rue ,morgue0--p4 #acc4 ,the process of thought1 at this point1 may be thus roughly sketched3--,i say to myself--8,unity1 as ,i have explained it1 is a truth--,i feel it4 ,diffusion is a truth--,i see it4 ,irradiation1 by which alone these two truths are reconciled1 is a consequent truth--,i perceive it4 ,equability of diffusion1 first deduced priori and then corroborated by the inspection of phnomena1 is also a truth--,i fully admit it4 ,so far all is clear around me3--there are no clouds behind which the secret--the great secret of the gravitating modus operandi--can possibly lie hidden2--but this secret lies hereabouts1 most assuredly2 and were there but a cloud in view1 ,i should be driven to suspicion of that cloud40 ,and now1 just as ,i say this1 there actually comes a cloud into view4 ,this cloud is the seeming impossibility of reconciling my truth1 irradiation1 with my truth1 equability of diffusion4 ,i say now3--8,behind this seeming impossibility is to be found what ,i desire40 ,i do not say 8real impossibility20 for invincible faith in my truths assures me that it is a mere difficulty after all--but ,i go on to say1 with unflinching confidence1 that1 when this difficulty shall be solved1 we shall find1 wrapped up in the process of solution1 the key to the secret at which we aim4 ,moreover--,i feel that we shall discover but one possible solution of the difficulty2 this for the reason that1 were there two1 one would be supererogatory--would be fruitless--would be empty--would contain no key--since no duplicate key can be needed to any secret of ,nature4 ,and now1 let us see3--,our usual notions of irradiation--in fact all our distinct notions of it--are caught merely from the process as we see it exemplified in ,light4 ,here there is a continuous outpouring of ray-streams1 and with a force which we have at least no right to suppose varies at all4 ,now1 in any such irradiation as this--continuous and of unvarying force--the regions nearer the centre must inevitably be always more crowded with the irradiated matter than the regions more remote4 ,but ,i have assumed no such irradiation as this4 ,i assumed no continuous irradiation2 and for the simple reason that such an assumption would have involved1 first1 the necessity of entertaining a conception which ,i have shown no man can entertain1 and which 7as ,i will more fully explain hereafter7 all observation of the firmament refutes--the conception of the absolute infinity of the ,universe of stars--and would have involved1 secondly1 the impossibility of understanding a raction--that is1 gravitation--as existing now--since1 while an act is continued1 no raction1 of course1 can take place4 ,my assumption1 then1 or rather my inevitable deduction from just premises--was that of a determinate irradiation--one finally discontinued4 ,let me now describe the sole possible mode in which it is conceivable that matter could have been diffused through space1 so as to fulfil the conditions at once of irradiation and of generally equable distribution4 ,for convenience of illustration1 let us imagine1 in the first place1 a hollow sphere of glass1 or of anything else1 occupying the space throughout which the universal matter is to be thus equally diffused1 by means of irradiation1 from the absolute1 irrelative1 unconditional particle1 placed in the centre of the sphere4 ,now1 a certain exertion of the diffusive power 7presumed to be the ,divine ,volition7--in other words1 a certain force--whose measure is the quantity of matter--that is to say1 the number of atoms--emitted2 emits1 by irradiation1 this certain number of atoms2 forcing them in all directions outwardly from the centre--their proximity to each other diminishing as they proceed--until1 finally1 they are distributed1 loosely1 over the interior surface of the sphere4 ,when these atoms have attained this position1 or while proceeding to attain it1 a second and inferior exercise of the same force--or a second and inferior force of the same character--emits1 in the same manner--that is to say1 by irradiation as before--a second stratum of atoms which proceeds to deposit itself upon the first2 the number of atoms1 in this case as in the former1 being of course the measure of the force which emitted them2 in other words the force being precisely adapted to the purpose it effects--the force and the number of atoms sent out by the force1 being directly proportional4 ,when this second stratum has reached its destined position--or while approaching it--a third still inferior exertion of the force1 or a third inferior force of a similar character--the number of atoms emitted being in all cases the measure of the force--proceeds to deposit a third stratum upon the second3--and so on1 until these concentric strata1 growing gradually less and less1 come down at length to the central point2 and the diffusive matter1 simultaneously with the diffusive force1 is exhausted4 ,we have now the sphere filled1 through means of irradiation1 with atoms equably diffused4 ,the two necessary conditions--those of irradiation and of equable diffusion--are satisfied2 and by the sole process in which the possibility of their simultaneous satisfaction is conceivable4 ,for this reason1 ,i confidently expect to find1 lurking in the present condition of the atoms as distributed throughout the sphere1 the secret of which ,i am in search--the all-important principle of the modus operandi of the ,newtonian law4 ,let us examine1 then1 the actual condition of the atoms4 ,they lie in a series of concentric strata4 ,they are equably diffused throughout the sphere4 ,they have been irradiated into these states4 ,the atoms being equably distributed1 the greater the superficial extent of any of these concentric strata1 or spheres1 the more atoms will lie upon it4 ,in other words1 the number of atoms lying upon the surface of any one of the concentric spheres1 is directly proportional with the extent of that surface4 ,but1 in any series of concentric spheres1 the surfaces are directly proportional with the squares of the distances from the centre4#b #b ,succinctly--,the surfaces of spheres are as the squares of their radii4 ,therefore the number of atoms in any stratum is directly proportional with the square of that stratum's distance from the centre4 ,but the number of atoms in any stratum is the measure of the force which emitted that stratum--that is to say1 is directly proportional with the force4 ,therefore the force which irradiated any stratum is directly proportional with the square of that stratum's distance from the centre3--or1 generally1 ,the force of the irradiation has been directly proportional with the squares of the distances4 ,now1 ,raction1 as far as we know anything of it1 is ,action conversed4 ,the general principle of ,gravity being1 in the first place1 understood as the raction of an act--as the expression of a desire on the part of ,matter1 while existing in a state of diffusion1 to return into the ,unity whence it was diffused2 and1 in the second place1 the mind being called upon to determine the character of the desire--the manner in which it would1 naturally1 be manifested2 in other words1 being called upon to conceive a probable law1 or modus operandi1 for the return2 could not well help arriving at the conclusion that this law of return would be precisely the converse of the law of departure4 ,that such would be the case1 any one1 at least1 would be abundantly justified in taking for granted1 until such time as some person should suggest something like a plausible reason why it should not be the case--until such period as a law of return shall be imagined which the intellect can consider as preferable4 ,matter1 then1 irradiated into space with a force varying as the squares of the distances1 might1 priori1 be supposed to return towards its centre of irradiation with a force varying inversely as the squares of the distances3 and ,i have already shown#c that any principle which will explain why the atoms should tend1 according to any law1 to the general centre1 must be admitted as satisfactorily explaining1 at the same time1 why1 according to the same law1 they should tend each to each4 ,for1 in fact1 the tendency to the general centre is not to a centre as such1 but because of its being a point in tending towards which each atom tends most directly to its real and essential centre1 ,unity--the absolute and final ,union of all4 #c ,page #dd4 ,the consideration here involved presents to my own mind no embarrassment whatever--but this fact does not blind me to the possibility of its being obscure to those who may have been less in the habit of dealing with abstractions3--and1 upon the whole1 it may be as well to look at the matter from one or two other points of view4 ,the absolute1 irrelative particle primarily created by the ,volition of ,god1 must have been in a condition of positive normality1 or rightfulness--for wrongfulness implies relation4 ,right is positive2 wrong is negative--is merely the negation of right2 as cold is the negation of heat--darkness of light4 ,that a thing may be wrong1 it is necessary that there be some other thing in relation to which it is wrong--some condition which it fails to satisfy2 some law which it violates2 some being whom it aggrieves4 ,if there be no such being1 law1 or condition1 in respect to which the thing is wrong--and1 still more especially1 if no beings1 laws1 or conditions exist at all--then the thing cannot be wrong and consequently must be right4 ,any deviation from normality involves a tendency to return into it4 ,a difference from the normal--from the right--from the just--can be understood as effected only by the overcoming a difficulty2 and if the force which overcomes the difficulty be not infinitely continued1 the ineradicable tendency to return will at length be permitted to act for its own satisfaction4 ,upon withdrawal of the force1 the tendency acts4 ,this is the principle of raction as the inevitable consequence of finite action4 ,employing a phraseology of which the seeming affectation will be pardoned for its expressiveness1 we may say that ,raction is the return from the condition of as it is and ought not to be into the condition of as it was1 originally1 and therefore ought to be3--and let me add here that the absolute force of ,raction would no doubt be always found in direct proportion with the reality--the truth--the absoluteness--of the originality--if ever it were possible to measure this latter3--and1 consequently1 the greatest of all conceivable reactions must be that produced by the tendency which we now discuss--the tendency to return into the absolutely original--into the supremely primitive4 ,gravity1 then1 must be the strongest of forces--an idea reached priori and abundantly confirmed by induction4 ,what use ,i make of the idea1 will be seen in the sequel4 ,the atoms1 now1 having been diffused from their normal condition of ,unity1 seek to return to----what8 ,not to any particular point1 certainly2 for it is clear that if1 upon the diffusion1 the whole ,universe of matter had been projected1 collectively1 to a distance from the point of irradiation1 the atomic tendency to the general centre of the sphere would not have been disturbed in the least3--the atoms would not have sought the point in absolute space from which they were originally impelled4 ,it is merely the condition1 and not the point or locality at which this condition took its rise1 that these atoms seek to re-establish2--it is merely that condition which is their normality1 that they desire4 8,but they seek a centre10 it will be said1 8and a centre is a point40 ,true2 but they seek this point not in its character of point--7for1 were the whole sphere moved from its position1 they would seek1 equally1 the centre2 and the centre then would be a new point7--but because it so happens1 on account of the form in which they collectively exist--7that of the sphere7--that only through the point in question--the sphere's centre--they can attain their true object1 ,unity4 ,in the direction of the centre each atom perceives more atoms than in any other direction4 ,each atom is impelled towards the centre because along the straight line joining it and the centre and passing on to the circumference beyond1 there lie a greater number of atoms than along any other straight line--a greater number of objects that seek it1 the individual atom--a greater number of tendencies to ,unity--a greater number of satisfactions for its own tendency to ,unity--in a word1 because in the direction of the centre lies the utmost possibility of satisfaction1 generally1 for its own individual appetite4 ,to be brief1 the condition1 ,unity1 is all that is really sought2 and if the atoms seem to seek the centre of the sphere1 it is only impliedly1 through implication--because such centre happens to imply1 to include1 or to involve1 the only essential centre1 ,unity4 ,but on account of this implication or involution1 there is no possibility of practically separating the tendency to ,unity in the abstract1 from the tendency to the concrete centre4 ,thus the tendency of the atoms to the general centre is1 to all practical intents and for all logical purposes1 the tendency each to each2 and the tendency each to each is the tendency to the centre2 and the one tendency may be assumed as the other2 whatever will apply to the one must be thoroughly applicable to the other2 and1 in conclusion1 whatever principle will satisfactorily explain the one1 cannot be questioned as an explanation of the other4 ,in looking carefully around me for rational objection to what ,i have advanced1 ,i am able to discover nothing2--but of that class of objections usually urged by the doubters for ,doubt's sake1 ,i very readily perceive three2 and proceed to dispose of them in order4 ,it may be said1 first3 8,the proof that the force of irradiation 7in the case described7 is directly proportional to the squares of the distances1 depends upon an unwarranted assumption--that of the number of atoms in each stratum being the measure of the force with which they are emitted40 ,i reply1 not only that ,i am warranted in such assumption1 but that ,i should be utterly unwarranted in any other4 ,what ,i assume is1 simply1 that an effect is the measure of its cause--that every exercise of the ,divine ,will will be proportional to that which demands the exertion--that the means of ,omnipotence1 or of ,omniscience1 will be exactly adapted to its purposes4 ,neither can a deficiency nor an excess of cause bring to pass any effect4 ,had the force which irradiated any stratum to its position1 been either more or less than was needed for the purpose--that is to say1 not directly proportional to the purpose--then to its position that stratum could not have been irradiated4 ,had the force which1 with a view to general equability of distribution1 emitted the proper number of atoms for each stratum1 been not directly proportional to the number1 then the number would not have been the number demanded for the equable distribution4 ,the second supposable objection is somewhat better entitled to an answer4 ,it is an admitted principle in ,dynamics that every body1 on receiving an impulse1 or disposition to move1 will move onward in a straight line1 in the direction imparted by the impelling force1 until deflected1 or stopped1 by some other force4 ,how then1 it may be asked1 is my first or external stratum of atoms to be understood as discontinuing their movement at the circumference of the imaginary glass sphere1 when no second force1 of more than an imaginary character1 appears1 to account for the discontinuance8 ,i reply that the objection1 in this case1 actually does arise out of 8an unwarranted assumption0--on the part of the objector--the assumption of a principle1 in ,dynamics1 at an epoch when no 8principles10 in anything1 exist3--,i use the word 8principle10 of course1 in the objector's understanding of the word4 8,in the beginning0 we can admit--indeed we can comprehend--but one ,first ,cause--the truly ultimate ,principle--the ,volition of ,god4 ,the primary act--that of ,irradiation from ,unity--must have been independent of all that which the world now calls 8principle0--because all that we so designate is but a consequence of the raction of that primary act3--,i say 8primary0 act2 for the creation of the absolute material particle is more properly to be regarded as a conception than as an 8act0 in the ordinary meaning of the term4 ,thus1 we must regard the primary act as an act for the establishment of what we now call 8principles40 ,but this primary act itself is to be considered as continuous ,volition4 ,the ,thought of ,god is to be understood as originating the ,diffusion--as proceeding with it--as regulating it--and1 finally1 as being withdrawn from it upon its completion4 ,then commences ,raction1 and through ,raction1 8,principle10 as we employ the word4 ,it will be advisable1 however1 to limit the application of this word to the two immediate results of the discontinuance of the ,divine ,volition--that is1 to the two agents1 ,attraction and ,repulsion4 ,every other ,natural agent depends1 either more or less immediately1 upon these two1 and therefore would be more conveniently designated as sub-principle4 ,it may be objected1 thirdly1 that1 in general1 the peculiar mode of distribution which ,i have suggested for the atoms1 is 8an hypothesis and nothing more40 ,now1 ,i am aware that the word hypothesis is a ponderous sledge-hammer1 grasped immediately1 if not lifted1 by all very diminutive thinkers1 upon the first appearance of any proposition wearing1 in any particular1 the garb of a theory4 ,but 8hypothesis0 cannot be wielded here to any good purpose1 even by those who succeed in lifting it--little men or great4 ,i maintain1 first1 that only in the mode described is it conceivable that ,matter could have been diffused so as to fulfil at once the conditions of irradiation and of generally equable distribution4 ,i maintain1 secondly1 that these conditions themselves have been imposed upon me1 as necessities1 in a train of ratiocination as rigorously logical as that which establishes any demonstration in ,euclid2 and ,i maintain1 thirdly1 that even if the charge of 8hypothesis0 were as fully sustained as it is1 in fact1 unsustained and untenable1 still the validity and indisputability of my result would not1 even in the slightest particular1 be disturbed4 ,to explain3--,the ,newtonian ,gravity--a law of ,nature--a law whose existence as such no one out of ,bedlam questions--a law whose admission as such enables us to account for nine-tenths of the ,universal phnomena--a law which1 merely because it does so enable us to account for these phnomena1 we are perfectly willing1 without reference to any other considerations1 to admit1 and cannot help admitting1 as a law--a law1 nevertheless1 of which neither the principle nor the modus operandi of the principle1 has ever yet been traced by the human analysis--a law1 in short1 which1 neither in its detail nor in its generality1 has been found susceptible of explanation at all--is at length seen to be at every point thoroughly explicable1 provided only we yield our assent to----what8 ,to an hypothesis8 ,why if an hypothesis--if the merest hypothesis--if an hypothesis for whose assumption--as in the case of that pure hypothesis the ,newtonian law itself--no shadow of priori reason could be assigned--if an hypothesis1 even so absolute as all this implies1 would enable us to perceive a principle for the ,newtonian law--would enable us to understand as satisfied1 conditions so miraculously--so ineffably complex and seemingly irreconcileable as those involved in the relations of which ,gravity tells us1--what rational being could so expose his fatuity as to call even this absolute hypothesis an hypothesis any longer--unless1 indeed1 he were to persist in so calling it1 with the understanding that he did so1 simply for the sake of consistency in words8 ,but what is the true state of our present case8 ,what is the fact8 ,not only that it is not an hypothesis which we are required to adopt1 in order to admit the principle at issue explained1 but that it is a logical conclusion which we are requested not to adopt if we can avoid it--which we are simply invited to deny if we can3--a conclusion of so accurate a logicality that to dispute it would be the effort--to doubt its validity beyond our power3--a conclusion from which we see no mode of escape1 turn as we will2 a result which confronts us either at the end of an inductive journey from the phnomena of the very ,law discussed1 or at the close of a deductive career from the most rigorously simple of all conceivable assumptions--the assumption1 in a word1 of ,simplicity itself4 ,and if here1 for the mere sake of cavilling1 it be urged1 that although my starting-point is1 as ,i assert1 the assumption of absolute ,simplicity1 yet ,simplicity1 considered merely in itself1 is no axiom2 and that only deductions from axioms are indisputable--it is thus that ,i reply3-- ,every other science than ,logic is the science of certain concrete relations4 ,arithmetic1 for example1 is the science of the relations of number--,geometry1 of the relations of form--,mathematics in general1 of the relations of quantity in general--of whatever can be increased or diminished4 ,logic1 however1 is the science of ,relation in the abstract--of absolute ,relation--of ,relation considered solely in itself4 ,an axiom in any particular science other than ,logic is1 thus1 merely a proposition announcing certain concrete relations which seem to be too obvious for dispute--as when we say1 for instance1 that the whole is greater than its part3--and1 thus again1 the principle of the ,logical axiom--in other words1 of an axiom in the abstract--is1 simply1 obviousness of relation4 ,now1 it is clear1 not only that what is obvious to one mind may not be obvious to another1 but that what is obvious to one mind at one epoch1 may be anything but obvious1 at another epoch1 to the same mind4 ,it is clear1 moreover1 that what1 to-day1 is obvious even to the majority of mankind1 or to the majority of the best intellects of mankind1 may to-morrow be1 to either majority1 more or less obvious1 or in no respect obvious at all4 ,it is seen1 then1 that the axiomatic principle itself is susceptible of variation1 and of course that axioms are susceptible of similar change4 ,being mutable1 the 8truths0 which grow out of them are necessarily mutable too2 or1 in other words1 are never to be positively depended upon as truths at all--since ,truth and ,immutability are one4 ,it will now be readily understood that no axiomatic idea--no idea founded in the fluctuating principle1 obviousness of relation--can possibly be so secure--so reliable a basis for any structure erected by the ,reason1 as that idea--7whatever it is1 wherever we can find it1 or if it be practicable to find it anywhere7--which is irrelative altogether--which not only presents to the understanding no obviousness of relation1 either greater or less1 to be considered1 but subjects the intellect1 not in the slightest degree1 to the necessity of even looking at any relation at all4 ,if such an idea be not what we too heedlessly term 8an axiom10 it is at least preferable1 as a ,logical basis1 to any axiom ever propounded1 or to all imaginable axioms combined3--and such1 precisely1 is the idea with which my deductive process1 so thoroughly corroborated by induction1 commences4 ,my particle proper is but absolute ,irrelation4 ,to sum up what has been here advanced3--,as a starting point ,i have taken it for granted1 simply1 that the ,beginning had nothing behind it or before it--that it was a ,beginning in fact--that it was a beginning and nothing different from a beginning--in short that this ,beginning was----that which it was4 ,if this be a 8mere assumption0 then a 8mere assumption0 let it be4 ,to conclude this branch of the subject3--,i am fully warranted in announcing that the ,law which we have been in the habit of calling ,gravity exists on account of ,matter's having been irradiated1 at its origin1 atomically1 into a limited#d sphere of ,space1 from one1 individual1 unconditional1 irrelative1 and absolute ,particle ,proper1 by the sole process in which it was possible to satisfy1 at the same time1 the two conditions1 irradiation1 and generally-equable distribution throughout the sphere--that is to say1 by a force varying in direct proportion with the squares of the distances between the irradiated atoms1 respectively1 and the ,particular centre of ,irradiation4 #d ,limited sphere--,a sphere is necessarily limited4 ,i prefer tautology to a chance of misconception4 ,i have already given my reasons for presuming ,matter to have been diffused by a determinate rather than by a continuous or infinitely continued force4 ,supposing a continuous force1 we should be unable1 in the first place1 to comprehend a raction at all2 and we should be required1 in the second place1 to entertain the impossible conception of an infinite extension of ,matter4 ,not to dwell upon the impossibility of the conception1 the infinite extension of ,matter is an idea which1 if not positively disproved1 is at least not in any respect warranted by telescopic observation of the stars--a point to be explained more fully hereafter2 and this empirical reason for believing in the original finity of ,matter is unempirically confirmed4 ,for example3--,admitting1 for the moment1 the possibility of understanding ,space filled with the irradiated atoms--that is to say1 admitting1 as well as we can1 for argument's sake1 that the succession of the irradiated atoms had absolutely no end--then it is abundantly clear that1 even when the ,volition of ,god had been withdrawn from them1 and thus the tendency to return into ,unity permitted 7abstractly7 to be satisfied1 this permission would have been nugatory and invalid--practically valueless and of no effect whatever4 ,no ,raction could have taken place2 no movement toward ,unity could have been made2 no ,law of ,gravity could have obtained4 ,to explain3--,grant the abstract tendency of any one atom to any one other as the inevitable result of diffusion from the normal ,unity3--or1 what is the same thing1 admit any given atom as proposing to move in any given direction--it is clear that1 since there is an infinity of atoms on all sides of the atom proposing to move1 it never can actually move toward the satisfaction of its tendency in the direction given1 on account of a precisely equal and counterbalancing tendency in the direction diametrically opposite4 ,in other words1 exactly as many tendencies to ,unity are behind the hesitating atom as before it2 for it is a mere sotticism to say that one infinite line is longer or shorter than another infinite line1 or that one infinite number is greater or less than another number that is infinite4 ,thus the atom in question must remain stationary forever4 ,under the impossible circumstances which we have been merely endeavoring to conceive for argument's sake1 there could have been no aggregation of ,matter--no stars--no worlds--nothing but a perpetually atomic and inconsequential ,universe4 ,in fact1 view it as we will1 the whole idea of unlimited ,matter is not only untenable1 but impossible and preposterous4 ,with the understanding of a sphere of atoms1 however1 we perceive1 at once1 a satisfiable tendency to union4 ,the general result of the tendency each to each1 being a tendency of all to the centre1 the general process of condensation1 or approximation1 commences immediately1 by a common and simultaneous movement1 on withdrawal of the ,divine ,volition2 the individual approximations1 or coalescences--not calitions--of atom with atom1 being subject to almost infinite variations of time1 degree1 and condition1 on account of the excessive multiplicity of relation1 arising from the differences of form assumed as characterizing the atoms at the moment of their quitting the ,particle ,proper2 as well as from the subsequent particular inequidistance1 each from each4 ,what ,i wish to impress upon the reader is the certainty of there arising1 at once1 7on withdrawal of the diffusive force1 or ,divine ,volition17 out of the condition of the atoms as described1 at innumerable points throughout the ,universal sphere1 innumerable agglomerations1 characterized by innumerable specific differences of form1 size1 essential nature1 and distance each from each4 ,the development of ,repulsion 7,electricity7 must have commenced1 of course1 with the very earliest particular efforts at ,unity1 and must have proceeded constantly in the ratio of ,coalescence--that is to say1 in that of ,condensation1 or1 again1 of ,heterogeneity4 ,thus the two ,principles ,proper1 ,attraction and ,repulsion--the ,material and the ,spiritual--accompany each other1 in the strictest fellowship1 forever4 ,thus ,the ,body and ,the ,soul walk hand in hand4 ,if now1 in fancy1 we select any one of the agglomerations considered as in their primary stages throughout the ,universal sphere1 and suppose this incipient agglomeration to be taking place at that point where the centre of our ,sun exists--or rather where it did exist originally2 for the ,sun is perpetually shifting his position--we shall find ourselves met1 and borne onward for a time at least1 by the most magnificent of theories--by the ,nebular ,cosmogony of ,laplace3--although 8,cosmogony0 is far too comprehensive a term for what he really discusses--which is the constitution of our solar system alone--of one among the myriad of similar systems which make up the ,universe ,proper--that ,universal sphere--that all-inclusive and absolute ,kosmos which forms the subject of my present ,discourse4 ,confining himself to an obviously limited region--that of our solar system with its comparatively immediate vicinity--and merely assuming--that is to say1 assuming without any basis whatever1 either deductive or inductive--much of what ,i have been just endeavoring to place upon a more stable basis than assumption2 assuming1 for example1 matter as diffused 7without pretending to account for the diffusion7 throughout1 and somewhat beyond1 the space occupied by our system--diffused in a state of heterogeneous nebulosity and obedient to that omniprevalent law of ,gravity at whose principle he ventured to make no guess2--assuming all this 7which is quite true1 although he had no logical right to its assumption7 ,laplace has shown1 dynamically and mathematically1 that the results in such case necessarily ensuing1 are those and those alone which we find manifested in the actually existing condition of the system itself4 ,to explain3--,let us conceive that particular agglomeration of which we have just spoken--the one at the point designated by our ,sun's centre--to have so far proceeded that a vast quantity of nebulous matter has here assumed a roughly globular form2 its centre being1 of course1 coincident with what is now1 or rather was originally1 the centre of our ,sun2 and its periphery extending out beyond the orbit of ,neptune1 the most remote of our planets3--in other words1 let us suppose the diameter of this rough sphere to be some #fjjj millions of miles4 ,for ages1 this mass of matter has been undergoing condensation1 until at length it has become reduced into the bulk we imagine2 having proceeded gradually1 of course1 from its atomic and imperceptible state1 into what we understand of visible1 palpable1 or otherwise appreciable nebulosity4 ,now1 the condition of this mass implies a rotation about an imaginary axis--a rotation which1 commencing with the absolute incipiency of the aggregation1 has been ever since acquiring velocity4 ,the very first two atoms which met1 approaching each other from points not diametrically opposite1 would1 in rushing partially past each other1 form a nucleus for the rotary movement described4 ,how this would increase in velocity1 is readily seen4 ,the two atoms are joined by others3--an aggregation is formed4 ,the mass continues to rotate while condensing4 ,but any atom at the circumference has1 of course1 a more rapid motion than one nearer the centre4 ,the outer atom1 however1 with its superior velocity1 approaches the centre2 carrying this superior velocity with it as it goes4 ,thus every atom1 proceeding inwardly1 and finally attaching itself to the condensed centre1 adds something to the original velocity of that centre--that is to say1 increases the rotary movement of the mass4 ,let us now suppose this mass so far condensed that it occupies precisely the space circumscribed by the orbit of ,neptune1 and that the velocity with which the surface of the mass moves1 in the general rotation1 is precisely that velocity with which ,neptune now revolves about the ,sun4 ,at this epoch1 then1 we are to understand that the constantly increasing centrifugal force1 having gotten the better of the non-increasing centripetal1 loosened and separated the exterior and least condensed stratum1 or a few of the exterior and least condensed strata1 at the equator of the sphere1 where the tangential velocity predominated2 so that these strata formed about the main body an independent ring encircling the equatorial regions3--just as the exterior portion thrown off1 by excessive velocity of rotation1 from a grindstone1 would form a ring about the grindstone1 but for the solidity of the superficial material3 were this caoutchouc1 or anything similar in consistency1 precisely the phnomenon ,i describe would be presented4 ,the ring thus whirled from the nebulous mass1 revolved1 of course1 as a separate ring1 with just that velocity with which1 while the surface of the mass1 it rotated4 ,in the meantime1 condensation still proceeding1 the interval between the discharged ring and the main body continued to increase1 until the former was left at a vast distance from the latter4 ,now1 admitting the ring to have possessed1 by some seemingly accidental arrangement of its heterogeneous materials1 a constitution nearly uniform1 then this ring1 as such1 would never have ceased revolving about its primary2 but1 as might have been anticipated1 there appears to have been enough irregularity in the disposition of the materials1 to make them cluster about centres of superior solidity2 and thus the annular form was destroyed4#e ,no doubt1 the band was soon broken up into several portions1 and one of these portions1 predominating in mass1 absorbed the others into itself2 the whole settling1 spherically1 into a planet4 ,that this latter1 as a planet1 continued the revolutionary movement which characterized it while a ring1 is sufficiently clear2 and that it took upon itself also1 an additional movement in its new condition of sphere1 is readily explained4 ,the ring being understood as yet unbroken1 we see that its exterior1 while the whole revolves about the parent body1 moves more rapidly than its interior4 ,when the rupture occurred1 then1 some portion in each fragment must have been moving with greater velocity than the others4 ,the superior movement prevailing1 must have whirled each fragment round--that is to say1 have caused it to rotate2 and the direction of the rotation must1 of course1 have been the direction of the revolution whence it arose4 ,all the fragments having become subject to the rotation described1 must1 in coalescing1 have imparted it to the one planet constituted by their coalescence4--,this planet was ,neptune4 ,its material continuing to undergo condensation1 and the centrifugal force generated in its rotation getting1 at length1 the better of the centripetal1 as before in the case of the parent orb1 a ring was whirled also from the equatorial surface of this planet3 this ring1 having been ununiform in its constitution1 was broken up1 and its several fragments1 being absorbed by the most massive1 were collectively spherified into a moon4 ,subsequently1 the operation was repeated1 and a second moon was the result4 ,we thus account for the planet ,neptune1 with the two satellites which accompany him4 #e ,laplace assumed his nebulosity heterogeneous1 merely that he might be thus enabled to account for the breaking up of the rings2 for had the nebulosity been homogeneous1 they would not have broken4 ,i reach the same result--heterogeneity of the secondary masses immediately resulting from the atoms--purely from an priori consideration of their general design--,relation4 ,in throwing off a ring from its equator1 the ,sun re-established that equilibrium between its centripetal and centrifugal forces which had been disturbed in the process of condensation2 but1 as this condensation still proceeded1 the equilibrium was again immediately disturbed1 through the increase of rotation4 ,by the time the mass had so far shrunk that it occupied a spherical space just that circumscribed by the orbit of ,uranus1 we are to understand that the centrifugal force had so far obtained the ascendency that new relief was needed3 a second equatorial band was1 consequently1 thrown off1 which1 proving ununiform1 was broken up1 as before in the case of ,neptune2 the fragments settling into the planet ,uranus2 the velocity of whose actual revolution about the ,sun indicates1 of course1 the rotary speed of that ,sun's equatorial surface at the moment of the separation4 ,uranus1 adopting a rotation from the collective rotations of the fragments composing it1 as previously explained1 now threw off ring after ring2 each of which1 becoming broken up1 settled into a moon3--three moons1 at different epochs1 having been formed1 in this manner1 by the rupture and general spherification of as many distinct ununiform rings4 ,by the time the ,sun had shrunk until it occupied a space just that circumscribed by the orbit of ,saturn1 the balance1 we are to suppose1 between its centripetal and centrifugal forces had again become so far disturbed1 through increase of rotary velocity1 the result of condensation1 that a third effort at equilibrium became necessary2 and an annular band was therefore whirled off as twice before2 which1 on rupture through ununiformity1 became consolidated into the planet ,saturn4 ,this latter threw off1 in the first place1 seven uniform bands1 which1 on rupture1 were spherified respectively into as many moons2 but1 subsequently1 it appears to have discharged1 at three distinct but not very distant epochs1 three rings whose equability of constitution was1 by apparent accident1 so considerable as to present no occasion for their rupture2 thus they continue to revolve as rings4 ,i use the phrase 8apparent accident20 for of accident in the ordinary sense there was1 of course1 nothing3--the term is properly applied only to the result of indistinguishable or not immediately traceable law4 ,shrinking still farther1 until it occupied just the space circumscribed by the orbit of ,jupiter1 the ,sun now found need of farther effort to restore the counterbalance of its two forces1 continually disarranged in the still continued increase of rotation4 ,jupiter1 accordingly1 was now thrown off2 passing from the annular to the planetary condition2 and1 on attaining this latter1 threw off in its turn1 at four different epochs1 four rings1 which finally resolved themselves into so many moons4 ,still shrinking1 until its sphere occupied just the space defined by the orbit of the ,asteroids1 the ,sun now discarded a ring which appears to have had eight centres of superior solidity1 and1 on breaking up1 to have separated into eight fragments no one of which so far predominated in mass as to absorb the others4 ,all therefore1 as distinct although comparatively small planets1 proceeded to revolve in orbits whose distances1 each from each1 may be considered as in some degree the measure of the force which drove them asunder3--all the orbits1 nevertheless1 being so closely coincident as to admit of our calling them one1 in view of the other planetary orbits4 ,continuing to shrink1 the ,sun1 on becoming so small as just to fill the orbit of ,mars1 now discharged this planet--of course by the process repeatedly described4 ,having no moon1 however1 ,mars could have thrown off no ring4 ,in fact1 an epoch had now arrived in the career of the parent body1 the centre of the system4 ,the decrease of its nebulosity1 which is the increase of its density1 and which again is the decrease of its condensation1 out of which latter arose the constant disturbance of equilibrium--must1 by this period1 have attained a point at which the efforts for restoration would have been more and more ineffectual just in proportion as they were less frequently needed4 ,thus the processes of which we have been speaking would everywhere show signs of exhaustion--in the planets1 first1 and secondly1 in the original mass4 ,we must not fall into the error of supposing the decrease of interval observed among the planets as we approach the ,sun1 to be in any respect indicative of an increase of frequency in the periods at which they were discarded4 ,exactly the converse is to be understood4 ,the longest interval of time must have occurred between the discharges of the two interior2 the shortest1 between those of the two exterior1 planets4 ,the decrease of the interval of space is1 nevertheless1 the measure of the density1 and thus inversely of the condensation1 of the ,sun1 throughout the processes detailed4 ,having shrunk1 however1 so far as to fill only the orbit of our ,earth1 the parent sphere whirled from itself still one other body--the ,earth--in a condition so nebulous as to admit of this body's discarding1 in its turn1 yet another1 which is our ,moon2--but here terminated the lunar formations4 ,finally1 subsiding to the orbits first of ,venus and then of ,mercury1 the ,sun discarded these two interior planets2 neither of which has given birth to any moon4 ,thus from his original bulk--or1 to speak more accurately1 from the condition in which we first considered him--from a partially spherified nebular mass1 certainly much more than #e1fjj millions of miles in diameter--the great central orb and origin of our solar-planetary-lunar system1 has gradually descended1 by condensation1 in obedience to the law of ,gravity1 to a globe only #hhb1jjj miles in diameter2 but it by no means follows1 either that its condensation is yet complete1 or that it may not still possess the capacity of whirling from itself another planet4 ,i have here given--in outline of course1 but still with all the detail necessary for distinctness--a view of the ,nebular ,theory as its author himself conceived it4 ,from whatever point we regard it1 we shall find it beautifully true4 ,it is by far too beautiful1 indeed1 not to possess ,truth as its essentiality--and here ,i am very profoundly serious in what ,i say4 ,in the revolution of the satellites of ,uranus1 there does appear something seemingly inconsistent with the assumptions of ,laplace2 but that one inconsistency can invalidate a theory constructed from a million of intricate consistencies1 is a fancy fit only for the fantastic4 ,in prophecying1 confidently1 that the apparent anomaly to which ,i refer1 will1 sooner or later1 be found one of the strongest possible corroborations of the general hypothesis1 ,i pretend to no especial spirit of divination4 ,it is a matter which the only difficulty seems not to foresee4#f #f ,i am prepared to show that the anomalous revolution of the satellites of ,uranus is a simply perspective anomaly arising from the inclination of the axis of the planet4 ,the bodies whirled off in the processes described1 would exchange1 it has been seen1 the superficial rotation of the orbs whence they originated1 for a revolution of equal velocity about these orbs as distant centres2 and the revolution thus engendered must proceed1 so long as the centripetal force1 or that with which the discarded body gravitates toward its parent1 is neither greater nor less than that by which it was discarded2 that is1 than the centrifugal1 or1 far more properly1 than the tangential1 velocity4 ,from the unity1 however1 of the origin of these two forces1 we might have expected to find them as they are found--the one accurately counterbalancing the other4 ,it has been shown1 indeed1 that the act of whirling-off is1 in every case1 merely an act for the preservation of the counterbalance4 ,after referring1 however1 the centripetal force to the omniprevalent law of ,gravity1 it has been the fashion with astronomical treatises1 to seek beyond the limits of mere ,nature--that is to say1 of ,secondary ,cause--a solution of the phnomenon of tangential velocity4 ,this latter they attribute directly to a ,first ,cause--to ,god4 ,the force which carries a stellar body around its primary they assert to have originated in an impulse given immediately by the finger--this is the childish phraseology employed--by the finger of ,deity itself4 ,in this view1 the planets1 fully formed1 are conceived to have been hurled from the ,divine hand1 to a position in the vicinity of the suns1 with an impetus mathematically adapted to the masses1 or attractive capacities1 of the suns themselves4 ,an idea so grossly unphilosophical1 although so supinely adopted1 could have arisen only from the difficulty of otherwise accounting for the absolutely accurate adaptation1 each to each1 of two forces so seemingly independent1 one of the other1 as are the gravitating and tangential4 ,but it should be remembered that1 for a long time1 the coincidence between the moon's rotation and her sidereal revolution--two matters seemingly far more independent than those now considered--was looked upon as positively miraculous2 and there was a strong disposition1 even among astronomers1 to attribute the marvel to the direct and continual agency of ,god--who1 in this case1 it was said1 had found it necessary to interpose1 specially1 among his general laws1 a set of subsidiary regulations1 for the purpose of forever concealing from mortal eyes the glories1 or perhaps the horrors1 of the other side of the ,moon--of that mysterious hemisphere which has always avoided1 and must perpetually avoid1 the telescopic scrutiny of mankind4 ,the advance of ,science1 however1 soon demonstrated--what to the philosophical instinct needed no demonstration--that the one movement is but a portion--something more1 even1 than a consequence--of the other4 ,for my part1 ,i have no patience with fantasies at once so timorous1 so idle1 and so awkward4 ,they belong to the veriest cowardice of thought4 ,that ,nature and the ,god of ,nature are distinct1 no thinking being can long doubt4 ,by the former we imply merely the laws of the latter4 ,but with the very idea of ,god1 omnipotent1 omniscient1 we entertain1 also1 the idea of the infallibility of his laws4 ,with ,him there being neither ,past nor ,future--with ,him all being ,now--do we not insult him in supposing his laws so contrived as not to provide for every possible contingency8--or1 rather1 what idea can we have of any possible contingency1 except that it is at once a result and a manifestation of his laws8 ,he who1 divesting himself of prejudice1 shall have the rare courage to think absolutely for himself1 cannot fail to arrive1 in the end1 at the condensation of laws into ,law--cannot fail of reaching the conclusion that each law of ,nature is dependent at all points upon all other laws1 and that all are but consequences of one primary exercise of the ,divine ,volition4 ,such is the principle of the ,cosmogony which1 with all necessary deference1 ,i here venture to suggest and to maintain4 ,in this view1 it will be seen that1 dismissing as frivolous1 and even impious1 the fancy of the tangential force having been imparted to the planets immediately by 8the finger of ,god10 ,i consider this force as originating in the rotation of the stars3--this rotation as brought about by the in-rushing of the primary atoms1 towards their respective centres of aggregation3--this in-rushing as the consequence of the law of ,gravity3--this law as but the mode in which is necessarily manifested the tendency of the atoms to return into imparticularity3--this tendency to return as but the inevitable raction of the first and most sublime of ,acts--that act by which a ,god1 self-existing and alone existing1 became all things at once1 through dint of his volition1 while all things were thus constituted a portion of ,god4 ,the radical assumptions of this ,discourse suggest to me1 and in fact imply1 certain important modifications of the ,nebular ,theory as given by ,laplace4 ,the efforts of the repulsive power ,i have considered as made for the purpose of preventing contact among the atoms1 and thus as made in the ratio of the approach to contact--that is to say1 in the ratio of condensation4#g ,in other words1 ,electricity1 with its involute phnomena1 heat1 light and magnetism1 is to be understood as proceeding as condensation proceeds1 and1 of course1 inversely as density proceeds1 or the cessation to condense4 ,thus the ,sun1 in the process of its aggregation1 must soon1 in developing repulsion1 have become excessively heated--perhaps incandescent3 and we can perceive how the operation of discarding its rings must have been materially assisted by the slight incrustation of its surface consequent on cooling4 ,any common experiment shows us how readily a crust of the character suggested1 is separated1 through heterogeneity1 from the interior mass4 ,but1 on every successive rejection of the crust1 the new surface would appear incandescent as before2 and the period at which it would again become so far encrusted as to be readily loosened and discharged1 may well be imagined as exactly coincident with that at which a new effort would be needed1 by the whole mass1 to restore the equilibrium of its two forces1 disarranged through condensation4 ,in other words3--by the time the electric influence 7,repulsion7 has prepared the surface for rejection1 we are to understand that the gravitating influence 7,attraction7 is precisely ready to reject it4 ,here1 then1 as everywhere1 the ,body and the ,soul walk hand in hand4 #g ,see page #gj4 ,these ideas are empirically confirmed at all points4 ,since condensation can never1 in any body1 be considered as absolutely at an end1 we are warranted in anticipating that1 whenever we have an opportunity of testing the matter1 we shall find indications of resident luminosity in all the stellar bodies--moons and planets as well as suns4 ,that our ,moon is strongly self-luminous1 we see at her every total eclipse1 when1 if not so1 she would disappear4 ,on the dark part of the satellite1 too1 during her phases1 we often observe flashes like our own ,auroras2 and that these latter1 with our various other so-called electrical phnomena1 without reference to any more steady radiance1 must give our ,earth a certain appearance of luminosity to an inhabitant of the ,moon1 is quite evident4 ,in fact1 we should regard all the phnomena referred to1 as mere manifestations1 in different moods and degrees1 of the ,earth's feebly-continued condensation4 ,if my views are tenable1 we should be prepared to find the newer planets--that is to say1 those nearer the ,sun--more luminous than those older and more remote3--and the extreme brilliancy of ,venus 7on whose dark portions1 during her phases1 the ,auroras are frequently visible7 does not seem to be altogether accounted for by her mere proximity to the central orb4 ,she is no doubt vividly self-luminous1 although less so than ,mercury3 while the luminosity of ,neptune may be comparatively nothing4 ,admitting what ,i have urged1 it is clear that1 from the moment of the ,sun's discarding a ring1 there must be a continuous diminution both of his heat and light1 on account of the continuous encrustation of his surface2 and that a period would arrive--the period immediately previous to a new discharge--when a very material decrease of both light and heat1 must become apparent4 ,now1 we know that tokens of such changes are distinctly recognizable4 ,on the ,melville islands--to adduce merely one out of a hundred examples--we find traces of ultra-tropical vegetation--of plants that never could have flourished without immensely more light and heat than are at present afforded by our ,sun to any portion of the surface of the ,earth4 ,is such vegetation referable to an epoch immediately subsequent to the whirling-off of ,venus8 ,at this epoch must have occurred to us our greatest access of solar influence2 and1 in fact1 this influence must then have attained its maximum3--leaving out of view1 of course1 the period when the ,earth itself was discarded--the period of its mere organization4 ,again3--we know that there exist non-luminous suns--that is to say1 suns whose existence we determine through the movements of others1 but whose luminosity is not sufficient to impress us4 ,are these suns invisible merely on account of the length of time elapsed since their discharge of a planet8 ,and yet again3--may we not--at least in certain cases--account for the sudden appearances of suns where none had been previously suspected1 by the hypothesis that1 having rolled with encrusted surfaces throughout the few thousand years of our astronomical history1 each of these suns1 in whirling off a new secondary1 has at length been enabled to display the glories of its still incandescent interior8--,to the well-ascertained fact of the proportional increase of heat as we descend into the ,earth1 ,i need of course1 do nothing more than refer3--it comes in the strongest possible corroboration of all that ,i have said on the topic now at issue4 ,in speaking1 not long ago1 of the repulsive or electrical influence1 ,i remarked that 8the important phnomena of vitality1 consciousness1 and thought1 whether we observe them generally or in detail1 seem to proceed at least in the ratio of the heterogeneous40#h ,i mentioned1 too1 that ,i would recur to the suggestion3--and this is the proper point at which to do so4 ,looking at the matter1 first1 in detail1 we perceive that not merely the manifestation of vitality1 but its importance1 consequence1 and elevation of character1 keep pace1 very closely1 with the heterogeneity1 or complexity1 of the animal structure4 ,looking at the question1 now1 in its generality1 and referring to the first movements of the atoms towards mass-constitution1 we find that heterogeneousness1 brought about directly through condensation1 is proportional with it forever4 ,we thus reach the proposition that the importance of the development of the terrestrial vitality proceeds equably with the terrestrial condensation4 #h ,page #cf4 ,now this is in precise accordance with what we know of the succession of animals on the ,earth4 ,as it has proceeded in its condensation1 superior and still superior races have appeared4 ,is it impossible that the successive geological revolutions which have attended1 at least1 if not immediately caused1 these successive elevations of vitalic character--is it improbable that these revolutions have themselves been produced by the successive planetary discharges from the ,sun--in other words1 by the successive variations in the solar influence on the ,earth8 ,were this idea tenable1 we should not be unwarranted in the fancy that the discharge of yet a new planet1 interior to ,mercury1 may give rise to yet a new modification of the terrestrial surface--a modification from which may spring a race both materially and spiritually superior to ,man4 ,these thoughts impress me with all the force of truth--but ,i throw them out1 of course1 merely in their obvious character of suggestion4 ,the ,nebular ,theory of ,laplace has lately received far more confirmation than it needed1 at the hands of the philosopher1 ,compte4 ,these two have thus together shown--not1 to be sure1 that ,matter at any period actually existed as described1 in a state of nebular diffusion1 but that1 admitting it so to have existed throughout the space and much beyond the space now occupied by our solar system1 and to have commenced a movement towards a centre--it must gradually have assumed the various forms and motions which are now seen1 in that system1 to obtain4 ,a demonstration such as this--a dynamical and mathematical demonstration1 as far as demonstration can be--unquestionable and unquestioned--unless1 indeed1 by that unprofitable and disreputable tribe1 the professional questioners--the mere madmen who deny the ,newtonian law of ,gravity on which the results of the ,french mathematicians are based--a demonstration1 ,i say1 such as this1 would to most intellects be conclusive--and ,i confess that it is so to mine--of the validity of the nebular hypothesis upon which the demonstration depends4 ,that the demonstration does not prove the hypothesis1 according to the common understanding of the word 8proof10 ,i admit1 of course4 ,to show that certain existing results--that certain established facts--may be1 even mathematically1 accounted for by the assumption of a certain hypothesis1 is by no means to establish the hypothesis itself4 ,in other words3--to show that1 certain data being given1 a certain existing result might1 or even must1 have ensued1 will fail to prove that this result did ensue1 from the data1 until such time as it shall be also shown that there are1 and can be1 no other data from which the result in question might equally have ensued4 ,but1 in the case now discussed1 although all must admit the deficiency of what we are in the habit of terming 8proof10 still there are many intellects1 and those of the loftiest order1 to which no proof could bring one iota of additional conviction4 ,without going into details which might impinge upon the ,cloud-,land of ,metaphysics1 ,i may as well here observe that the force of conviction1 in cases such as this1 will always1 with the right-thinking1 be proportional to the amount of complexity intervening between the hypothesis and the result4 ,to be less abstract3--,the greatness of the complexity found existing among cosmical conditions1 by rendering great in the same proportion the difficulty of accounting for all these conditions at once1 strengthens1 also in the same proportion1 our faith in that hypothesis which does1 in such manner1 satisfactorily account for them3--and as no complexity can well be conceived greater than that of the astronomical conditions1 so no conviction can be stronger--to my mind at least--than that with which ,i am impressed by an hypothesis that not only reconciles these conditions1 with mathematical accuracy1 and reduces them into a consistent and intelligible whole1 but is1 at the same time1 the sole hypothesis by means of which the human intellect has been ever enabled to account for them at all4 ,a most unfounded opinion has become latterly current in gossiping and even in scientific circles--the opinion that the so-called ,nebular ,cosmogony has been overthrown4 ,this fancy has arisen from the report of late observations made1 among what hitherto have been termed the 8nebul10 through the large telescope of ,cincinnati1 and the world-renowned instrument of ,lord ,rosse4 ,certain spots in the firmament which presented1 even to the most powerful of the old telescopes1 the appearance of nebulosity1 or haze1 had been regarded for a long time as confirming the theory of ,laplace4 ,they were looked upon as stars in that very process of condensation which ,i have been attempting to describe4 ,thus it was supposed that we 8had ocular evidence0--an evidence1 by the way1 which has always been found very questionable--of the truth of the hypothesis2 and1 although certain telescopic improvements1 every now and then1 enabled us to perceive that a spot1 here and there1 which we had been classing among the nebul1 was1 in fact1 but a cluster of stars deriving its nebular character only from its immensity of distance--still it was thought that no doubt could exist as to the actual nebulosity of numerous other masses1 the strong-holds of the nebulists1 bidding defiance to every effort at segregation4 ,of these latter the most interesting was the great 8nebul0 in the constellation ,orion3--but this1 with innumerable other mis-called 8nebul10 when viewed through the magnificent modern telescopes1 has become resolved into a simple collection of stars4 ,now this fact has been very generally understood as conclusive against the ,nebular ,hypothesis of ,laplace2 and1 on announcement of the discoveries in question1 the most enthusiastic defender and most eloquent popularizer of the theory1 ,dr4 ,nichol1 went so far as to 8admit the necessity of abandoning0 an idea which had formed the material of his most praiseworthy book4#i #i 8,views of the ,architecture of the ,heavens40 ,a letter1 purporting to be from ,dr4 ,nichol to a friend in ,america1 went the rounds of our newspapers1 about two years ago1 ,i think1 admitting 8the necessity0 to which ,i refer4 ,in a subsequent ,lecture1 however1 ,dr4 ,n4 appears in some manner to have gotten the better of the necessity1 and does not quite renounce the theory1 although he seems to wish that he could sneer at it as 8a purely hypothetical one40 ,what else was the ,law of ,gravity before the ,maskelyne experiments8 and who questioned the ,law of ,gravity1 even then8 ,many of my readers will no doubt be inclined to say that the result of these new investigations has at least a strong tendency to overthrow the hypothesis2 while some of them1 more thoughtful1 will suggest that1 although the theory is by no means disproved through the segregation of the particular 8nebul10 alluded to1 still a failure to segregate them1 with such telescopes1 might well have been understood as a triumphant corroboration of the theory3--and this latter class will be surprised1 perhaps1 to hear me say that even with them ,i disagree4 ,if the propositions of this ,discourse have been comprehended1 it will be seen that1 in my view1 a failure to segregate the 8nebul0 would have tended to the refutation1 rather than to the confirmation1 of the ,nebular ,hypothesis4 ,let me explain3--,the ,newtonian ,law of ,gravity we may1 of course1 assume as demonstrated4 ,this law1 it will be remembered1 ,i have referred to the raction of the first ,divine ,act--to the raction of an exercise of the ,divine ,volition temporarily overcoming a difficulty4 ,this difficulty is that of forcing the normal into the abnormal--of impelling that whose originality1 and therefore whose rightful condition1 was ,one1 to take upon itself the wrongful condition of ,many4 ,it is only by conceiving this difficulty as temporarily overcome1 that we can comprehend a raction4 ,there could have been no raction had the act been infinitely continued4 ,so long as the act lasted1 no raction1 of course1 could commence2 in other words1 no gravitation could take place--for we have considered the one as but the manifestation of the other4 ,but gravitation has taken place2 therefore the act of ,creation has ceased3 and gravitation has long ago taken place2 therefore the act of ,creation has long ago ceased4 ,we can no more expect1 then1 to observe the primary processes of ,creation2 and to these primary processes the condition of nebulosity has already been explained to belong4 ,through what we know of the propagation of light1 we have direct proof that the more remote of the stars have existed1 under the forms in which we now see them1 for an inconceivable number of years4 ,so far back at least1 then1 as the period when these stars underwent condensation1 must have been the epoch at which the mass-constitutive processes began4 ,that we may conceive these processes1 then1 as still going on in the case of certain 8nebul10 while in all other cases we find them thoroughly at an end1 we are forced into assumptions for which we have really no basis whatever--we have to thrust in1 again1 upon the revolting ,reason1 the blasphemous idea of special interposition--we have to suppose that1 in the particular instances of these 8nebul10 an unerring ,god found it necessary to introduce certain supplementary regulations--certain improvements of the general law--certain retouchings and emendations1 in a word1 which had the effect of deferring the completion of these individual stars for centuries of centuries beyond the ra during which all the other stellar bodies had time1 not only to be fully constituted1 but to grow hoary with an unspeakable old age4 ,of course1 it will be immediately objected that since the light by which we recognize the nebul now1 must be merely that which left their surfaces a vast number of years ago1 the processes at present observed1 or supposed to be observed1 are1 in fact1 not processes now actually going on1 but the phantoms of processes completed long in the ,past--just as ,i maintain all these mass-constitutive processes must have been4 ,to this ,i reply that neither is the now-observed condition of the condensed stars their actual condition1 but a condition completed long in the ,past2 so that my argument drawn from the relative condition of the stars and the 8nebul10 is in no manner disturbed4 ,moreover1 those who maintain the existence of nebul1 do not refer the nebulosity to extreme distance2 they declare it a real and not merely a perspective nebulosity4 ,that we may conceive1 indeed1 a nebular mass as visible at all1 we must conceive it as very near us in comparison with the condensed stars brought into view by the modern telescopes4 ,in maintaining the appearances in question1 then1 to be really nebulous1 we maintain their comparative vicinity to our point of view4 ,thus1 their condition1 as we see them now1 must be referred to an epoch far less remote than that to which we may refer the now-observed condition of at least the majority of the stars4--,in a word1 should ,astronomy ever demonstrate a 8nebula10 in the sense at present intended1 ,i should consider the ,nebular ,cosmogony--not1 indeed1 as corroborated by the demonstration--but as thereby irretrievably overthrown4 ,by way1 however1 of rendering unto ,csar no more than the things that are ,csar's1 let me here remark that the assumption of the hypothesis which led him to so glorious a result1 seems to have been suggested to ,laplace in great measure by a misconception--by the very misconception of which we have just been speaking--by the generally prevalent misunderstanding of the character of the nebul1 so mis-named4 ,these he supposed to be1 in reality1 what their designation implies4 ,the fact is1 this great man had1 very properly1 an inferior faith in his own merely perceptive powers4 ,in respect1 therefore1 to the actual existence of nebul--an existence so confidently maintained by his telescopic contemporaries--he depended less upon what he saw than upon what he heard4 ,it will be seen that the only valid objections to his theory1 are those made to its hypothesis as such--to what suggested it--not to what it suggests2 to its propositions rather than to its results4 ,his most unwarranted assumption was that of giving the atoms a movement towards a centre1 in the very face of his evident understanding that these atoms1 in unlimited succession1 extended throughout the ,universal space4 ,i have already shown that1 under such circumstances1 there could have occurred no movement at all2 and ,laplace1 consequently1 assumed one on no more philosophical ground than that something of the kind was necessary for the establishment of what he intended to establish4 ,his original idea seems to have been a compound of the true ,epicurean atoms with the false nebul of his contemporaries2 and thus his theory presents us with the singular anomaly of absolute truth deduced1 as a mathematical result1 from a hybrid datum of ancient imagination intertangled with modern inacumen4 ,laplace's real strength lay1 in fact1 in an almost miraculous mathematical instinct3--on this he relied2 and in no instance did it fail or deceive him3--in the case of the ,nebular ,cosmogony1 it led him1 blindfolded1 through a labyrinth of ,error1 into one of the most luminous and stupendous temples of ,truth4 ,let us now fancy1 for the moment1 that the ring first thrown off by the ,sun--that is to say1 the ring whose breaking-up constituted ,neptune--did not1 in fact1 break up until the throwing-off of the ring out of which ,uranus arose2 that this latter ring1 again1 remained perfect until the discharge of that out of which sprang ,saturn2 that this latter1 again1 remained entire until the discharge of that from which originated ,jupiter--and so on4 ,let us imagine1 in a word1 that no dissolution occurred among the rings until the final rejection of that which gave birth to ,mercury4 ,we thus paint to the eye of the mind a series of cexistent concentric circles2 and looking as well at them as at the processes by which1 according to ,laplace's hypothesis1 they were constructed1 we perceive at once a very singular analogy with the atomic strata and the process of the original irradiation as ,i have described it4 ,is it impossible that1 on measuring the forces1 respectively1 by which each successive planetary circle was thrown off--that is to say1 on measuring the successive excesses of rotation over gravitation which occasioned the successive discharges--we should find the analogy in question more decidedly confirmed8 ,is it improbable that we should discover these forces to have varied--as in the original radiation--proportionally to the squares of the distances8 ,our solar system1 consisting1 in chief1 of one sun1 with sixteen planets certainly1 and possibly a few more1 revolving about it at various distances1 and attended by seventeen moons assuredly1 but very probably by several others--is now to be considered as an example of the innumerable agglomerations which proceeded to take place throughout the ,universal ,sphere of atoms on withdrawal of the ,divine ,volition4 ,i mean to say that our solar system is to be understood as affording a generic instance of these agglomerations1 or1 more correctly1 of the ulterior conditions at which they arrived4 ,if we keep our attention fixed on the idea of the utmost possible ,relation as the ,omnipotent design1 and on the precautions taken to accomplish it through difference of form1 among the original atoms1 and particular inequidistance1 we shall find it impossible to suppose for a moment that even any two of the incipient agglomerations reached precisely the same result in the end4 ,we shall rather be inclined to think that no two stellar bodies in the ,universe--whether suns1 planets or moons--are particularly1 while all are generally1 similar4 ,still less1 then1 can we imagine any two assemblages of such bodies--any two 8systems0--as having more than a general resemblance4#aj ,our telescopes1 at this point1 thoroughly confirm our deductions4 ,taking our own solar system1 then1 as merely a loose or general type of all1 we have so far proceeded in our subject as to survey the ,universe under the aspect of a spherical space1 throughout which1 dispersed with merely general equability1 exist a number of but generally similar systems4 #aj ,it is not impossible that some unlooked-for optical improvement may disclose to us1 among innumerable varieties of systems1 a luminous sun1 encircled by luminous and non-luminous rings1 within and without and between which1 revolve luminous and non-luminous planets1 attended by moons having moons--and even these latter again having moons4 ,let us now1 expanding our conceptions1 look upon each of these systems as in itself an atom2 which in fact it is1 when we consider it as but one of the countless myriads of systems which constitute the ,universe4 ,regarding all1 then1 as but colossal atoms1 each with the same ineradicable tendency to ,unity which characterizes the actual atoms of which it consists--we enter at once upon a new order of aggregations4 ,the smaller systems1 in the vicinity of a larger one1 would1 inevitably1 be drawn into still closer vicinity4 ,a thousand would assemble here2 a million there--perhaps here1 again1 even a billion--leaving1 thus1 immeasurable vacancies in space4 ,and if now1 it be demanded why1 in the case of these systems--of these merely ,titanic atoms--,i speak1 simply1 of an 8assemblage10 and not1 as in the case of the actual atoms1 of a more or less consolidated agglomeration3--if it be asked1 for instance1 why ,i do not carry what ,i suggest to its legitimate conclusion1 and describe1 at once1 these assemblages of system-atoms as rushing to consolidation in spheres--as each becoming condensed into one magnificent sun--my reply is that --,i am but pausing1 for a moment1 on the awful threshold of the ,future4 ,for the present1 calling these assemblages 8clusters10 we see them in the incipient stages of their consolidation4 ,their absolute consolidation is to come4 ,we have now reached a point from which we behold the ,universe as a spherical space1 interspersed1 unequably1 with clusters4 ,it will be noticed that ,i here prefer the adverb 8unequably0 to the phrase 8with a merely general equability10 employed before4 ,it is evident1 in fact1 that the equability of distribution will diminish in the ratio of the agglomerative processes--that is to say1 as the things distributed diminish in number4 ,thus the increase of in-equability--an increase which must continue until1 sooner or later1 an epoch will arrive at which the largest agglomeration will absorb all the others--should be viewed as1 simply1 a corroborative indication of the tendency to ,one4 ,and here1 at length1 it seems proper to inquire whether the ascertained facts of ,astronomy confirm the general arrangement which ,i have thus1 deductively1 assigned to the ,heavens4 ,thoroughly1 they do4 ,telescopic observation1 guided by the laws of perspective1 enables us to understand that the perceptible ,universe exists as a cluster of clusters1 irregularly disposed4 ,the 8clusters0 of which this ,universal 8cluster of clusters0 consists1 are merely what we have been in the practice of designating 8nebul0--and1 of these 8nebul10 one is of paramount interest to mankind4 ,i allude to the ,galaxy1 or ,milky ,way4 ,this interests us1 first and most obviously1 on account of its great superiority in apparent size1 not only to any one other cluster in the firmament1 but to all the other clusters taken together4 ,the largest of these latter occupies a mere point1 comparatively1 and is distinctly seen only with the aid of a telescope4 ,the ,galaxy sweeps throughout the ,heaven and is brilliantly visible to the naked eye4 ,but it interests man chiefly1 although less immediately1 on account of its being his home2 the home of the ,earth on which he exists2 the home of the ,sun about which this ,earth revolves2 the home of that 8system0 of orbs of which the ,sun is the centre and primary--the ,earth one of sixteen secondaries1 or planets--the ,moon one of seventeen tertiaries1 or satellites4 ,the ,galaxy1 let me repeat1 is but one of the clusters which ,i have been describing--but one of the mis-called 8nebul0 revealed to us--by the telescope alone1 sometimes--as faint hazy spots in various quarters of the sky4 ,we have no reason to suppose the ,milky ,way really more extensive than the least of these 8nebul40 ,its vast superiority in size is but an apparent superiority arising from our position in regard to it--that is to say1 from our position in its midst4 ,however strange the assertion may at first appear to those unversed in ,astronomy1 still the astronomer himself has no hesitation in asserting that we are in the midst of that inconceivable host of stars--of suns--of systems--which constitute the ,galaxy4 ,moreover1 not only have we--not only has our ,sun a right to claim the ,galaxy as its own especial cluster1 but1 with slight reservation1 it may be said that all the distinctly visible stars of the firmament--all the stars ,visible to the naked eye--have equally a right to claim it as their own4 ,there has been a great deal of misconception in respect to the shape of the ,galaxy2 which1 in nearly all our astronomical treatises1 is said to resemble that of a capital ,y4 ,the cluster in question has1 in reality1 a certain general--very general resemblance to the planet ,saturn1 with its encompassing triple ring4 ,instead of the solid orb of that planet1 however1 we must picture to ourselves a lenticular star-island1 or collection of stars2 our ,sun lying excentrically--near the shore of the island--on that side of it which is nearest the constellation of the ,cross and farthest from that of ,cassiopeia4 ,the surrounding ring1 where it approaches our position1 has in it a longitudinal gash1 which does1 in fact1 cause the ring1 in our vicinity1 to assume1 loosely1 the appearance of a capital ,y4 ,we must not fall into the error1 however1 of conceiving the somewhat indefinite girdle as at all remote1 comparatively speaking1 from the also indefinite lenticular cluster which it surrounds2 and thus1 for mere purpose of explanation1 we may speak of our ,sun as actually situated at that point of the ,y where its three component lines unite2 and1 conceiving this letter to be of a certain solidity--of a certain thickness1 very trivial in comparison with its length--we may even speak of our position as in the middle of this thickness4 ,fancying ourselves thus placed1 we shall no longer find difficulty in accounting for the phnomena presented--which are perspective altogether4 ,when we look upward or downward--that is to say1 when we cast our eyes in the direction of the letter's thickness--we look through fewer stars than when we cast them in the direction of its length1 or along either of the three component lines4 ,of course1 in the former case1 the stars appear scattered--in the latter1 crowded4--,to reverse this explanation3--,an inhabitant of the ,earth1 when looking1 as we commonly express ourselves1 at the ,galaxy1 is then beholding it in some of the directions of its length--is looking along the lines of the ,y--but when1 looking out into the general ,heaven1 he turns his eyes from the ,galaxy1 he is then surveying it in the direction of the letter's thickness2 and on this account the stars seem to him scattered2 while1 in fact1 they are as close together1 on an average1 as in the mass of the cluster4 ,no consideration could be better adapted to convey an idea of this cluster's stupendous extent4 ,if1 with a telescope of high space-penetrating power1 we carefully inspect the firmament1 we shall become aware of a belt of clusters--of what we have hitherto called 8nebul0--a band1 of varying breadth1 stretching from horizon to horizon1 at right angles to the general course of the ,milky ,way4 ,this band is the ultimate cluster of clusters4 ,this belt is ,the ,universe4 ,our ,galaxy is but one1 and perhaps one of the most inconsiderable1 of the clusters which go to the constitution of this ultimate1 ,universal belt or band4 ,the appearance of this cluster of clusters1 to our eyes1 as a belt or band1 is altogether a perspective phnomenon of the same character as that which causes us to behold our own individual and roughly-spherical cluster1 the ,galaxy1 under guise also of a belt1 traversing the ,heavens at right angles to the ,universal one4 ,the shape of the all-inclusive cluster is1 of course generally1 that of each individual cluster which it includes4 ,just as the scattered stars which1 on looking from the ,galaxy1 we see in the general sky1 are1 in fact1 but a portion of that ,galaxy itself1 and as closely intermingled with it as any of the telescopic points in what seems the densest portion of its mass--so are the scattered 8nebul0 which1 on casting our eyes from the ,universal belt1 we perceive at all points of the firmament--so1 ,i say1 are these scattered 8nebul0 to be understood as only perspectively scattered1 and as part and parcel of the one supreme and ,universal sphere4 ,no astronomical fallacy is more untenable1 and none has been more pertinaciously adhered to1 than that of the absolute illimitation of the ,universe of ,stars4 ,the reasons for limitation1 as ,i have already assigned them1 priori1 seem to me unanswerable2 but1 not to speak of these1 observation assures us that there is1 in numerous directions around us1 certainly1 if not in all1 a positive limit--or1 at the very least1 affords us no basis whatever for thinking otherwise4 ,were the succession of stars endless1 then the background of the sky would present us an uniform luminosity1 like that displayed by the ,galaxy--since there could be absolutely no point1 in all that background1 at which would not exist a star4 ,the only mode1 therefore1 in which1 under such a state of affairs1 we could comprehend the voids which our telescopes find in innumerable directions1 would be by supposing the distance of the invisible background so immense that no ray from it has yet been able to reach us at all4 ,that this may be so1 who shall venture to deny8 ,i maintain1 simply1 that we have not even the shadow of a reason for believing that it is so4 ,when speaking of the vulgar propensity to regard all bodies on the ,earth as tending merely to the ,earth's centre1 ,i observed that1 8with certain exceptions to be specified hereafter1 every body on the ,earth tended not only to the ,earth's centre1 but in every conceivable direction besides40#aa ,the 8exceptions0 refer to those frequent gaps in the ,heavens1 where our utmost scrutiny can detect not only no stellar bodies1 but no indications of their existence3--where yawning chasms1 blacker than ,erebus1 seem to afford us glimpses1 through the boundary walls of the ,universe of ,stars1 into the illimitable ,universe of ,vacancy1 beyond4 ,now as any body1 existing on the ,earth1 chances to pass1 either through its own movement or the ,earth's1 into a line with any one of these voids1 or cosmical abysses1 it clearly is no longer attracted in the direction of that void1 and for the moment1 consequently1 is 8heavier0 than at any period1 either after or before4 ,independently of the consideration of these voids1 however1 and looking only at the generally unequable distribution of the stars1 we see that the absolute tendency of bodies on the ,earth to the ,earth's centre1 is in a state of perpetual variation4 #aa ,page #fb4 ,we comprehend1 then1 the insulation of our ,universe4 ,we perceive the isolation of that--of all that which we grasp with the senses4 ,we know that there exists one cluster of clusters--a collection around which1 on all sides1 extend the immeasurable wildernesses of a ,space to all human perception untenanted4 ,but because upon the confines of this ,universe of ,stars we are compelled to pause1 through want of farther evidence from the senses1 is it right to conclude that1 in fact1 there is no material point beyond that which we have thus been permitted to attain8 ,have we1 or have we not1 an analogical right to the inference that this perceptible ,universe--that this cluster of clusters--is but one of a series of clusters of clusters1 the rest of which are invisible through distance--through the diffusion of their light being so excessive1 ere it reaches us1 as not to produce upon our retinas a light-impression--or from there being no such emanation as light at all1 in these unspeakably distant worlds--or1 lastly1 from the mere interval being so vast1 that the electric tidings of their presence in ,space1 have not yet--through the lapsing myriads of years--been enabled to traverse that interval8 ,have we any right to inferences--have we any ground whatever for visions such as these8 ,if we have a right to them in any degree1 we have a right to their infinite extension4 ,the human brain has obviously a leaning to the 8,infinite10 and fondles the phantom of the idea4 ,it seems to long with a passionate fervor for this impossible conception1 with the hope of intellectually believing it when conceived4 ,what is general among the whole race of ,man1 of course no individual of that race can be warranted in considering abnormal2 nevertheless1 there may be a class of superior intelligences1 to whom the human bias alluded to may wear all the character of monomania4 ,my question1 however1 remains unanswered3--,have we any right to infer--let us say1 rather1 to imagine--an interminable succession of the 8clusters of clusters10 or of 8,universes0 more or less similar8 ,i reply that the 8right10 in a case such as this1 depends absolutely upon the hardihood of that imagination which ventures to claim the right4 ,let me declare1 only1 that1 as an individual1 ,i myself feel impelled to the fancy--without daring to call it more--that there does exist a limitless succession of ,universes1 more or less similar to that of which we have cognizance--to that of which alone we shall ever have cognizance--at the very least until the return of our own particular ,universe into ,unity4 ,if such clusters of clusters exist1 however--and they do--it is abundantly clear that1 having had no part in our origin1 they have no portion in our laws4 ,they neither attract us1 nor we them4 ,their material--their spirit is not ours--is not that which obtains in any part of our ,universe4 ,they could not impress our senses or our souls4 ,among them and us--considering all1 for the moment1 collectively--there are no influences in common4 ,each exists1 apart and independently1 in the bosom of its proper and particular ,god4 ,in the conduct of this ,discourse1 ,i am aiming less at physical than at metaphysical order4 ,the clearness with which even material phnomena are presented to the understanding1 depends very little1 ,i have long since learned to perceive1 upon a merely natural1 and almost altogether upon a moral1 arrangement4 ,if then ,i seem to step somewhat too discursively from point to point of my topic1 let me suggest that ,i do so in the hope of thus the better keeping unbroken that chain of graduated impression by which alone the intellect of ,man can expect to encompass the grandeurs of which ,i speak1 and1 in their majestic totality1 to comprehend them4 ,so far1 our attention has been directed1 almost exclusively1 to a general and relative grouping of the stellar bodies in space4 ,of specification there has been little2 and whatever ideas of quantity have been conveyed--that is to say1 of number1 magnitude1 and distance--have been conveyed incidentally and by way of preparation for more definitive conceptions4 ,these latter let us now attempt to entertain4 ,our solar system1 as has been already mentioned1 consists1 in chief1 of one sun and sixteen planets certainly1 but in all probability a few others1 revolving around it as a centre1 and attended by seventeen moons of which we know1 with possibly several more of which as yet we know nothing4 ,these various bodies are not true spheres1 but oblate spheroids--spheres flattened at the poles of the imaginary axes about which they rotate3--the flattening being a consequence of the rotation4 ,neither is the ,sun absolutely the centre of the system2 for this ,sun itself1 with all the planets1 revolves about a perpetually shifting point of space1 which is the system's general centre of gravity4 ,neither are we to consider the paths through which these different spheroids move--the moons about the planets1 the planets about the ,sun1 or the ,sun about the common centre--as circles in an accurate sense4 ,they are1 in fact1 ellipses--one of the foci being the point about which the revolution is made4 ,an ellipse is a curve1 returning into itself1 one of whose diameters is longer than the other4 ,in the longer diameter are two points1 equidistant from the middle of the line1 and so situated otherwise that if1 from each of them a straight line be drawn to any one point of the curve1 the two lines1 taken together1 will be equal to the longer diameter itself4 ,now let us conceive such an ellipse4 ,at one of the points mentioned1 which are the foci1 let us fasten an orange4 ,by an elastic thread let us connect this orange with a pea2 and let us place this latter on the circumference of the ellipse4 ,let us now move the pea continuously around the orange--keeping always on the circumference of the ellipse4 ,the elastic thread1 which1 of course1 varies in length as we move the pea1 will form what in geometry is called a radius vector4 ,now1 if the orange be understood as the ,sun1 and the pea as a planet revolving about it1 then the revolution should be made at such a rate--with a velocity so varying--that the radius vector may pass over equal areas of space in equal times4 ,the progress of the pea should be--in other words1 the progress of the planet is1 of course1--slow in proportion to its distance from the ,sun--swift in proportion to its proximity4 ,those planets1 moreover1 move the more slowly which are the farther from the ,sun2 the squares of their periods of revolution having the same proportion to each other1 as have to each other the cubes of their mean distances from the ,sun4 ,the wonderfully complex laws of revolution here described1 however1 are not to be understood as obtaining in our system alone4 ,they everywhere prevail where ,attraction prevails4 ,they control the ,universe4 ,every shining speck in the firmament is1 no doubt1 a luminous sun1 resembling our own1 at least in its general features1 and having in attendance upon it a greater or less number of planets1 greater or less1 whose still lingering luminosity is not sufficient to render them visible to us at so vast a distance1 but which1 nevertheless1 revolve1 moon-attended1 about their starry centres1 in obedience to the principles just detailed--in obedience to the three omniprevalent laws of revolution--the three immortal laws guessed by the imaginative ,kepler1 and but subsequently demonstrated and accounted for by the patient and mathematical ,newton4 ,among a tribe of philosophers who pride themselves excessively upon matter-of-fact1 it is far too fashionable to sneer at all speculation under the comprehensive sobriquet1 8guess-work40 ,the point to be considered is1 who guesses4 ,in guessing with ,plato1 we spend our time to better purpose1 now and then1 than in hearkening to a demonstration by ,alcmon4 ,in many works on ,astronomy ,i find it distinctly stated that the laws of ,kepler are the basis of the great principle1 ,gravitation4 ,this idea must have arisen from the fact that the suggestion of these laws by ,kepler1 and his proving them posteriori to have an actual existence1 led ,newton to account for them by the hypothesis of ,gravitation1 and1 finally1 to demonstrate them priori1 as necessary consequences of the hypothetical principle4 ,thus so far from the laws of ,kepler being the basis of ,gravity1 ,gravity is the basis of these laws--as it is1 indeed1 of all the laws of the material ,universe which are not referable to ,repulsion alone4 ,the mean distance of the ,earth from the ,moon--that is to say1 from the heavenly body in our closest vicinity--is #bcg1jjj miles4 ,mercury1 the planet nearest the ,sun1 is distant from him #cg millions of miles4 ,venus1 the next1 revolves at a distance of #fh millions3--the ,earth1 which comes next1 at a distance of #ie millions3--,mars1 then1 at a distance of #add millions4 ,now come the eight ,asteroids 7,ceres1 ,juno1 ,vesta1 ,pallas1 ,astra1 ,flora1 ,iris1 and ,hebe7 at an average distance of about #bej millions4 ,then we have ,jupiter1 distant #dij millions2 then ,saturn1 #ijj millions2 then ,uranus1 #ai hundred millions2 finally ,neptune1 lately discovered1 and revolving at a distance1 say of #bh hundred millions4 ,leaving ,neptune out of the account--of which as yet we know little accurately and which is1 possibly1 one of a system of ,asteroids--it will be seen that1 within certain limits1 there exists an order of interval among the planets4 ,speaking loosely1 we may say that each outer planet is twice as far from the ,sun as is the next inner one4 ,may not the order here mentioned--may not the law of ,bode--be deduced from consideration of the analogy suggested by me as having place between the solar discharge of rings and the mode of the atomic irradiation8 ,the numbers hurriedly mentioned in this summary of distance1 it is folly to attempt comprehending1 unless in the light of abstract arithmetical facts4 ,they are not practically tangible ones4 ,they convey no precise ideas4 ,i have stated that ,neptune1 the planet farthest from the ,sun1 revolves about him at a distance of #bh hundred millions of miles4 ,so far good3--,i have stated a mathematical fact2 and1 without comprehending it in the least1 we may put it to use--mathematically4 ,but in mentioning1 even1 that the ,moon revolves about the ,earth at the comparatively trifling distance of #bcg1jjj miles1 ,i entertained no expectation of giving any one to understand--to know--to feel--how far from the ,earth the ,moon actually is4 #bcg1jjj miles6 ,there are1 perhaps1 few of my readers who have not crossed the ,atlantic ocean2 yet how many of them have a distinct idea of even the #c1jjj miles intervening between shore and shore8 ,i doubt1 indeed1 whether the man lives who can force into his brain the most remote conception of the interval between one milestone and its next neighbor upon the turnpike4 ,we are in some measure aided1 however1 in our consideration of distance1 by combining this consideration with the kindred one of velocity4 ,sound passes through #aajj feet of space in a second of time4 ,now were it possible for an inhabitant of the ,earth to see the flash of a cannon discharged in the ,moon1 and to hear the report1 he would have to wait1 after perceiving the former1 more than #ac entire days and nights before getting any intimation of the latter4 ,however feeble be the impression1 even thus conveyed1 of the ,moon's real distance from the ,earth1 it will1 nevertheless1 effect a good object in enabling us more clearly to see the futility of attempting to grasp such intervals as that of the #bh hundred millions of miles between our ,sun and ,neptune2 or even that of the #ie millions between the ,sun and the ,earth we inhabit4 ,a cannon-ball1 flying at the greatest velocity with which such a ball has ever been known to fly1 could not traverse the latter interval in less than #bj years2 while for the former it would require #eij4 ,our ,moon's real diameter is #bafj miles2 yet she is comparatively so trifling an object that it would take nearly #ej such orbs to compose one as great as the ,earth4 ,the diameter of our own globe is #giab miles--but from the enunciation of these numbers what positive idea do we derive8 ,if we ascend an ordinary mountain and look around us from its summit1 we behold a landscape stretching1 say #dj miles1 in every direction2 forming a circle #bej miles in circumference2 and including an area of #ejjj square miles4 ,the extent of such a prospect1 on account of the successiveness with which its portions necessarily present themselves to view1 can be only very feebly and very partially appreciated3--yet the entire panorama would comprehend no more than one #dj1jjjth part of the mere surface of our globe4 ,were this panorama1 then1 to be succeeded1 after the lapse of an hour1 by another of equal extent2 this again by a third1 after the lapse of another hour2 this again by a fourth after lapse of another hour--and so on1 until the scenery of the whole ,earth were exhausted2 and were we to be engaged in examining these various panoramas for twelve hours of every day2 we should nevertheless1 be #i years and #dh days in completing the general survey4 ,but if the mere surface of the ,earth eludes the grasp of the imagination1 what are we to think of its cubical contents8 ,it embraces a mass of matter equal in weight to at least #b sextillions1 #bjj quintillions of tons4 ,let us suppose it in a state of quiescence2 and now let us endeavor to conceive a mechanical force sufficient to set it in motion6 ,not the strength of all the myriads of beings whom we may conclude to inhabit the planetary worlds of our system--not the combined physical strength of all these beings--even admitting all to be more powerful than man--would avail to stir the ponderous mass a single inch from its position4 ,what are we to understand1 then1 of the force1 which under similar circumstances1 would be required to move the largest of our planets1 ,jupiter8 ,this is #hf1jjj miles in diameter1 and would include within its periphery more than a thousand orbs of the magnitude of our own4 ,yet this stupendous body is actually flying around the ,sun at the rate of #bi1jjj miles an hour--that is to say1 with a velocity #dj times greater than that of a cannon-ball6 ,the thought of such a phnomenon cannot well be said to startle the mind3--it palsies and appals it4 ,not unfrequently we task our imagination in picturing the capacities of an angel4 ,let us fancy such a being at a distance of some hundred miles from ,jupiter--a close eye-witness of this planet as it speeds on its annual revolution4 ,now can we1 ,i demand1 fashion for ourselves any conception so distinct of this ideal being's spiritual exaltation1 as that involved in the supposition that1 even by this immeasurable mass of matter1 whirled immediately before his eyes1 with a velocity so unutterable1 he--an angel--angelic though he be--is not at once struck into nothingness and overwhelmed8 ,at this point1 however1 it seems proper to suggest that1 in fact1 we have been speaking of comparative trifles4 ,our ,sun1 the central and controlling orb of the system to which ,jupiter belongs1 is not only greater than ,jupiter1 but greater by far than all the planets of the system taken together4 ,this fact is an essential condition1 indeed1 of the stability of the system itself4 ,the diameter of ,jupiter has been mentioned3--it is #hf1jjj miles3--that of the ,sun is #hhb1jjj miles4 ,an inhabitant of the latter1 travelling #ij miles a day1 would be more than #hj years in going round a great circle of its circumference4 ,it occupies a cubical space of #fha quadrillions1 #dgb trillions of miles4 ,the ,moon1 as has been stated1 revolves about the ,earth at a distance of #bcg1jjj miles--in an orbit1 consequently1 of nearly a million and a half4 ,now1 were the ,sun placed upon the ,earth1 centre over centre1 the body of the former would extend1 in every direction1 not only to the line of the ,moon's orbit1 but beyond it1 a distance of #bjj1jjj miles4 ,and here1 once again1 let me suggest that1 in fact1 we have still been speaking of comparative trifles4 ,the distance of the planet ,neptune from the ,sun has been stated3--it is #bh hundred millions of miles2 the circumference of its orbit1 therefore1 is about #ag billions4 ,let this be borne in mind while we glance at some one of the brightest stars4 ,between this and the star of our system1 7the ,sun17 there is a gulf of space1 to convey any idea of which we should need the tongue of an archangel4 ,from our system1 then1 and from our ,sun1 or star1 the star at which we suppose ourselves glancing is a thing altogether apart3--still1 for the moment1 let us imagine it placed upon our ,sun1 centre over centre1 as we just now imagined this ,sun itself placed upon the ,earth4 ,let us now conceive the particular star we have in mind1 extending1 in every direction1 beyond the orbit of ,mercury--of ,venus--of the ,earth3--still on1 beyond the orbit of ,mars--of ,jupiter--of ,uranus--until1 finally1 we fancy it filling the circle--#ag billions of miles in circumference--which is described by the revolution of ,leverrier's planet4 ,when we have conceived all this1 we shall have entertained no extravagant conception4 ,there is the very best reason for believing that many of the stars are even far larger than the one we have imagined4 ,i mean to say that we have the very best empirical basis for such belief3--and1 in looking back at the original1 atomic arrangements for diversity1 which have been assumed as a part of the ,divine plan in the constitution of the ,universe1 we shall be enabled easily to understand1 and to credit1 the existence of even far vaster disproportions in stellar size than any to which ,i have hitherto alluded4 ,the largest orbs1 of course1 we must expect to find rolling through the widest vacancies of ,space4 ,i remarked1 just now1 that to convey an idea of the interval between our ,sun and any one of the other stars1 we should require the eloquence of an archangel4 ,in so saying1 ,i should not be accused of exaggeration2 for1 in simple truth1 these are topics on which it is scarcely possible to exaggerate4 ,but let us bring the matter more distinctly before the eye of the mind4 ,in the first place1 we may get a general1 relative conception of the interval referred to1 by comparing it with the inter-planetary spaces4 ,if1 for example1 we suppose the ,earth1 which is1 in reality1 #ie millions of miles from the ,sun1 to be only one foot from that luminary2 then ,neptune would be #dj feet distant2 and the star ,alpha ,lyr1 at the very least1 #aei4 ,now ,i presume that1 in the termination of my last sentence1 few of my readers have noticed anything especially objectionable--particularly wrong4 ,i said that the distance of the ,earth from the ,sun being taken at one foot1 the distance of ,neptune would be #dj feet1 and that of ,alpha ,lyr1 #aei4 ,the proportion between one foot and #aei has appeared1 perhaps1 to convey a sufficiently definite impression of the proportion between the two intervals--that of the ,earth from the ,sun and that of ,alpha ,lyr from the same luminary4 ,but my account of the matter should1 in reality1 have run thus3--,the distance of the ,earth from the ,sun being taken at one foot1 the distance of ,neptune would be #dj feet1 and that of ,alpha ,lyr1 #aei----miles3--that is to say1 ,i had assigned to ,alpha ,lyr1 in my first statement of the case1 only the #ebhjth part of that distance which is the least distance possible at which it can actually lie4 ,to proceed3--,however distant a mere planet is1 yet when we look at it through a telescope1 we see it under a certain form--of a certain appreciable size4 ,now ,i have already hinted at the probable bulk of many of the stars2 nevertheless1 when we view any one of them1 even through the most powerful telescope1 it is found to present us with no form1 and consequently with no magnitude whatever4 ,we see it as a point and nothing more4 ,again2--,let us suppose ourselves walking1 at night1 on a highway4 ,in a field on one side of the road1 is a line of tall objects1 say trees1 the figures of which are distinctly defined against the background of the sky4 ,this line of objects extends at right angles to the road1 and from the road to the horizon4 ,now1 as we proceed along the road1 we see these objects changing their positions1 respectively1 in relation to a certain fixed point in that portion of the firmament which forms the background of the view4 ,let us suppose this fixed point--sufficiently fixed for our purpose--to be the rising moon4 ,we become aware1 at once1 that while the tree nearest us so far alters its position in respect to the moon1 as to seem flying behind us1 the tree in the extreme distance has scarcely changed at all its relative position with the satellite4 ,we then go on to perceive that the farther the objects are from us1 the less they alter their positions2 and the converse4 ,then we begin1 unwittingly1 to estimate the distances of individual trees by the degrees in which they evince the relative alteration4 ,finally1 we come to understand how it might be possible to ascertain the actual distance of any given tree in the line1 by using the amount of relative alteration as a basis in a simple geometrical problem4 ,now this relative alteration is what we call 8parallax20 and by parallax we calculate the distances of the heavenly bodies4 ,applying the principle to the trees in question1 we should1 of course1 be very much at a loss to comprehend the distance of that tree1 which1 however far we proceeded along the road1 should evince no parallax at all4 ,this1 in the case described1 is a thing impossible2 but impossible only because all distances on our ,earth are trivial indeed3--in comparison with the vast cosmical quantities1 we may speak of them as absolutely nothing4 ,now1 let us suppose the star ,alpha ,lyr directly overhead2 and let us imagine that1 instead of standing on the ,earth1 we stand at one end of a straight road stretching through ,space to a distance equalling the diameter of the ,earth's orbit--that is to say1 to a distance of #aij millions of miles4 ,having observed1 by means of the most delicate micrometrical instruments1 the exact position of the star1 let us now pass along this inconceivable road1 until we reach its other extremity4 ,now1 once again1 let us look at the star4 ,it is precisely where we left it4 ,our instruments1 however delicate1 assure us that its relative position is absolutely--is identically the same as at the commencement of our unutterable journey4 ,no parallax--none whatever--has been found4 ,the fact is1 that1 in regard to the distance of the fixed stars--of any one of the myriads of suns glistening on the farther side of that awful chasm which separates our system from its brothers in the cluster to which it belongs--astronomical science1 until very lately1 could speak only with a negative certainty4 ,assuming the brightest as the nearest1 we could say1 even of them1 only that there is a certain incomprehensible distance on the hither side of which they cannot be3--how far they are beyond it we had in no case been able to ascertain4 ,we perceived1 for example1 that ,alpha ,lyr cannot be nearer to us than #ai trillions1 #bjj billions of miles2 but1 for all we knew1 and indeed for all we now know1 it may be distant from us the square1 or the cube1 or any other power of the number mentioned4 ,by dint1 however1 of wonderfully minute and cautious observations1 continued1 with novel instruments1 for many laborious years1 ,bessel1 not long ago deceased1 has lately succeeded in determining the distance of six or seven stars2 among others1 that of the star numbered #fa in the constellation of the ,swan4 ,the distance in this latter instance ascertained1 is #fgj1jjj times that of the ,sun2 which last it will be remembered1 is #ie millions of miles4 ,the star #fa ,cygni1 then1 is nearly #fd trillions of miles from us--or more than three times the distance assigned1 as the least possible1 for ,alpha ,lyr4 ,in attempting to appreciate this interval by the aid of any considerations of velocity1 as we did in endeavoring to estimate the distance of the moon1 we must leave out of sight1 altogether1 such nothings as the speed of a cannon-ball1 or of sound4 ,light1 however1 according to the latest calculations of ,struve1 proceeds at the rate of #afg1jjj miles in a second4 ,thought itself cannot pass through this interval more speedily--if1 indeed1 thought can traverse it at all4 ,yet1 in coming from #fa ,cygni to us1 even at this inconceivable rate1 light occupies more than ten years2 and1 consequently1 were the star this moment blotted out from the ,universe1 still1 for ten years1 would it continue to sparkle on1 undimmed in its paradoxical glory4 ,keeping now in mind whatever feeble conception we may have attained of the interval between our ,sun and #fa ,cygni1 let us remember that this interval1 however unutterably vast1 we are permitted to consider as but the average interval among the countless host of stars composing that cluster1 or 8nebula10 to which our system1 as well as that of #fa ,cygni1 belongs4 ,i have1 in fact1 stated the case with great moderation3--we have excellent reason for believing #fa ,cygni to be one of the nearest stars1 and thus for concluding1 at least for the present1 that its distance from us is less than the average distance between star and star in the magnificent cluster of the ,milky ,way4 ,and here1 once again and finally1 it seems proper to suggest that even as yet we have been speaking of trifles4 ,ceasing to wonder at the space between star and star in our own or in any particular cluster1 let us rather turn our thoughts to the intervals between cluster and cluster1 in the all comprehensive cluster of the ,universe4 ,i have already said that light proceeds at the rate of #afg1jjj miles in a second--that is1 about #aj millions of miles in a minute1 or about #fjj millions of miles in an hour3--yet so far removed from us are some of the 8nebul0 that even light1 speeding with this velocity1 could not and does not reach us1 from those mysterious regions1 in less than #c millions of years4 ,this calculation1 moreover1 is made by the elder ,herschell1 and in reference merely to those comparatively proximate clusters within the scope of his own telescope4 ,there are 8nebul10 however1 which1 through the magical tube of ,lord ,rosse1 are this instant whispering in our ears the secrets of a million of ages by-gone4 ,in a word1 the events which we behold now--at this moment--in those worlds--are the identical events which interested their inhabitants ten hundred thousand centuries ago4 ,in intervals--in distances such as this suggestion forces upon the soul--rather than upon the mind--we find1 at length1 a fitting climax to all hitherto frivolous considerations of quantity4 ,our fancies thus occupied with the cosmical distances1 let us take the opportunity of referring to the difficulty which we have so often experienced1 while pursuing the beaten path of astronomical reflection1 in accounting for the immeasurable voids alluded to--in comprehending why chasms so totally unoccupied and therefore apparently so needless1 have been made to intervene between star and star--between cluster and cluster--in understanding1 to be brief1 a sufficient reason for the ,titanic scale1 in respect of mere ,space1 on which the ,universe is seen to be constructed4 ,a rational cause for the phnomenon1 ,i maintain that ,astronomy has palpably failed to assign3--but the considerations through which1 in this ,essay1 we have proceeded step by step1 enable us clearly and immediately to perceive that ,space and ,duration are one4 ,that the ,universe might endure throughout an ra at all commensurate with the grandeur of its component material portions and with the high majesty of its spiritual purposes1 it was necessary that the original atomic diffusion be made to so inconceivable an extent as to be only not infinite4 ,it was required1 in a word1 that the stars should be gathered into visibility from invisible nebulosity--proceed from nebulosity to consolidation--and so grow grey in giving birth and death to unspeakably numerous and complex variations of vitalic development3--it was required that the stars should do all this--should have time thoroughly to accomplish all these ,divine purposes--during the period in which all things were effecting their return into ,unity with a velocity accumulating in the inverse proportion of the squares of the distances at which lay the inevitable ,end4 ,throughout all this we have no difficulty in understanding the absolute accuracy of the ,divine adaptation4 ,the density of the stars1 respectively1 proceeds1 of course1 as their condensation diminishes2 condensation and heterogeneity keep pace with each other2 through the latter1 which is the index of the former1 we estimate the vitalic and spiritual development4 ,thus1 in the density of the globes1 we have the measure in which their purposes are fulfilled4 ,as density proceeds--as the divine intentions are accomplished--as less and still less remains to be accomplished--so--in the same ratio--should we expect to find an acceleration of the ,end3--and thus the philosophical mind will easily comprehend that the ,divine designs in constituting the stars1 advance mathematically to their fulfilment3--and more2 it will readily give the advance a mathematical expression2 it will decide that this advance is inversely proportional with the squares of the distances of all created things from the starting-point and goal of their creation4 ,not only is this ,divine adaptation1 however1 mathematically accurate1 but there is that about it which stamps it as divine1 in distinction from that which is merely the work of human constructiveness4 ,i allude to the complete mutuality of adaptation4 ,for example2 in human constructions a particular cause has a particular effect2 a particular intention brings to pass a particular object2 but this is all2 we see no reciprocity4 ,the effect does not re-act upon the cause2 the intention does not change relations with the object4 ,in ,divine constructions the object is either design or object as we choose to regard it--and we may take at any time a cause for an effect1 or the converse--so that we can never absolutely decide which is which4 ,to give an instance3--,in polar climates the human frame1 to maintain its animal heat1 requires1 for combustion in the capillary system1 an abundant supply of highly azotized food1 such as train-oil4 ,but again3--in polar climates nearly the sole food afforded man is the oil of abundant seals and whales4 ,now1 whether is oil at hand because imperatively demanded1 or the only thing demanded because the only thing to be obtained8 ,it is impossible to decide4 ,there is an absolute reciprocity of adaptation4 ,the pleasure which we derive from any display of human ingenuity is in the ratio of the approach to this species of reciprocity4 ,in the construction of plot1 for example1 in fictitious literature1 we should aim at so arranging the incidents that we shall not be able to determine1 of any one of them1 whether it depends from any one other or upholds it4 ,in this sense1 of course1 perfection of plot is really1 or practically1 unattainable--but only because it is a finite intelligence that constructs4 ,the plots of ,god are perfect4 ,the ,universe is a plot of ,god4 ,and now we have reached a point at which the intellect is forced1 again1 to struggle against its propensity for analogical inference--against its monomaniac grasping at the infinite4 ,moons have been seen revolving about planets2 planets about stars2 and the poetical instinct of humanity--its instinct of the symmetrical1 if the symmetry be but a symmetry of surface3--this instinct1 which the ,soul1 not only of ,man but of all created beings1 took up1 in the beginning1 from the geometrical basis of the ,universal irradiation--impels us to the fancy of an endless extension of this system of cycles4 ,closing our eyes equally to deduction and induction1 we insist upon imagining a revolution of all the orbs of the ,galaxy about some gigantic globe which we take to be the central pivot of the whole4 ,each cluster in the great cluster of clusters is imagined1 of course1 to be similarly supplied and constructed2 while1 that the 8analogy0 may be wanting at no point1 we go on to conceive these clusters themselves1 again1 as revolving about some still more august sphere2--this latter1 still again1 with its encircling clusters1 as but one of a yet more magnificent series of agglomerations1 gyrating about yet another orb central to them--some orb still more unspeakably sublime--some orb1 let us rather say1 of infinite sublimity endlessly multiplied by the infinitely sublime4 ,such are the conditions1 continued in perpetuity1 which the voice of what some people term 8analogy0 calls upon the ,fancy to depict and the ,reason to contemplate1 if possible1 without becoming dissatisfied with the picture4 ,such1 in general1 are the interminable gyrations beyond gyration which we have been instructed by ,philosophy to comprehend and to account for1 at least in the best manner we can4 ,now and then1 however1 a philosopher proper--one whose phrenzy takes a very determinate turn--whose genius1 to speak more reverentially1 has a strongly-pronounced washerwomanish bias1 doing every thing up by the dozen--enables us to see precisely that point out of sight1 at which the revolutionary processes in question do1 and of right ought to1 come to an end4 ,it is hardly worth while1 perhaps1 even to sneer at the reveries of ,fourrier3--but much has been said1 latterly1 of the hypothesis of ,mdler--that there exists1 in the centre of the ,galaxy1 a stupendous globe about which all the systems of the cluster revolve4 ,the period of our own1 indeed1 has been stated--#aag millions of years4 ,that our ,sun has a motion in space1 independently of its rotation1 and revolution about the system's centre of gravity1 has long been suspected4 ,this motion1 granting it to exist1 would be manifested perspectively4 ,the stars in that firmamental region which we were leaving behind us1 would1 in a very long series of years1 become crowded2 those in the opposite quarter1 scattered4 ,now1 by means of astronomical ,history1 we ascertain1 cloudily1 that some such phnomena have occurred4 ,on this ground it has been declared that our system is moving to a point in the heavens diametrically opposite the star ,zeta ,herculis3--but this inference is1 perhaps1 the maximum to which we have any logical right4 ,mdler1 however1 has gone so far as to designate a particular star1 ,alcyone in the ,pleiades1 as being at or about the very spot around which a general revolution is performed4 ,now1 since by 8analogy0 we are led1 in the first instance1 to these dreams1 it is no more than proper that we should abide by analogy1 at least in some measure1 during their development2 and that analogy which suggests the revolution1 suggests at the same time a central orb about which it should be performed3--so far the astronomer was consistent4 ,this central orb1 however1 should1 dynamically1 be greater than all the orbs1 taken together1 which surround it4 ,of these there are about #ajj millions4 8,why1 then10 it was of course demanded1 8do we not see this vast central sun--at least equal in mass to #ajj millions of such suns as ours--why do we not see it--we1 especially1 who occupy the mid region of the cluster--the very locality near which1 at all events1 must be situated this incomparable star80 ,the reply was ready--8,it must be non-luminous1 as are our planets40 ,here1 then1 to suit a purpose1 analogy is suddenly let fall4 8,not so10 it may be said--8we know that non-luminous suns actually exist40 ,it is true that we have reason at least for supposing so2 but we have certainly no reason whatever for supposing that the non-luminous suns in question are encircled by luminous suns1 while these again are surrounded by non-luminous planets3--and it is precisely all this with which ,mdler is called upon to find any thing analogous in the heavens--for it is precisely all this which he imagines in the case of the ,galaxy4 ,admitting the thing to be so1 we cannot help here picturing to ourselves how sad a puzzle the why it is so must prove to all priori philosophers4 ,but granting1 in the very teeth of analogy and of every thing else1 the non-luminosity of the vast central orb1 we may still inquire how this orb1 so enormous1 could fail of being rendered visible by the flood of light thrown upon it from the #ajj millions of glorious suns glaring in all directions about it4 ,upon the urging of this question1 the idea of an actually solid central sun appears1 in some measure1 to have been abandoned2 and speculation proceeded to assert that the systems of the cluster perform their revolutions merely about an immaterial centre of gravity common to all4 ,here again then1 to suit a purpose1 analogy is let fall4 ,the planets of our system revolve1 it is true1 about a common centre of gravity2 but they do this in connexion with1 and in consequence of1 a material sun whose mass more than counterbalances the rest of the system4 ,the mathematical circle is a curve composed of an infinity of straight lines4 ,but this idea of the circle--an idea which1 in view of all ordinary geometry1 is merely the mathematical1 as contradistinguished from the practical1 idea--is1 in sober fact1 the practical conception which alone we have any right to entertain in regard to the majestic circle with which we have to deal1 at least in fancy1 when we suppose our system revolving about a point in the centre of the ,galaxy4 ,let the most vigorous of human imaginations attempt but to take a single step towards the comprehension of a sweep so ineffable6 ,it would scarcely be paradoxical to say that a flash of lightning itself1 travelling forever upon the circumference of this unutterable circle1 would still1 forever1 be travelling in a straight line4 ,that the path of our ,sun in such an orbit would1 to any human perception1 deviate in the slightest degree from a straight line1 even in a million of years1 is a proposition not to be entertained3--yet we are required to believe that a curvature has become apparent during the brief period of our astronomical history--during a mere point--during the utter nothingness of two or three thousand years4 ,it may be said that ,mdler has really ascertained a curvature in the direction of our system's now well-established progress through ,space4 ,admitting1 if necessary1 this fact to be in reality such1 ,i maintain that nothing is thereby shown except the reality of this fact--the fact of a curvature4 ,for its thorough determination1 ages will be required2 and1 when determined1 it will be found indicative of some binary or other multiple relation between our ,sun and some one or more of the proximate stars4 ,i hazard nothing however1 in predicting1 that1 after the lapse of many centuries1 all efforts at determining the path of our ,sun through ,space1 will be abandoned as fruitless4 ,this is easily conceivable when we look at the infinity of perturbation it must experience1 from its perpetually-shifting relations with other orbs1 in the common approach of all to the nucleus of the ,galaxy4 ,but in examining other 8nebul0 than that of the ,milky ,way--in surveying1 generally1 the clusters which overspread the heavens--do we or do we not find confirmation of ,mdler's hypothesis8 ,we do not4 ,the forms of the clusters are exceedingly diverse when casually viewed2 but on close inspection1 through powerful telescopes1 we recognize the sphere1 very distinctly1 as at least the proximate form of all3--their constitution1 in general1 being at variance with the idea of revolution about a common centre4 8,it is difficult10 says ,sir ,john ,herschell1 8to form any conception of the dynamical state of such systems4 ,on one hand1 without a rotary motion and a centrifugal force1 it is hardly possible not to regard them as in a state of progressive collapse4 ,on the other1 granting such a motion and such a force1 we find it no less difficult to reconcile their forms with the rotation of the whole system meaning cluster around any single axis1 without which internal collision would appear to be inevitable40 ,some remarks lately made about the 8nebul0 by ,dr4 ,nichol1 in taking quite a different view of the cosmical conditions from any taken in this ,discourse--have a very peculiar applicability to the point now at issue4 ,he says3 8,when our greatest telescopes are brought to bear upon them1 we find that those which were thought to be irregular1 are not so2 they approach nearer to a globe4 ,here is one that looked oval2 but ,lord ,rosse's telescope brought it into a circle4444 ,now there occurs a very remarkable circumstance in reference to these comparatively sweeping circular masses of nebul4 ,we find they are not entirely circular1 but the reverse2 and that all around them1 on every side1 there are volumes of stars1 stretching out apparently as if they were rushing towards a great central mass in consequence of the action of some great power40#ab #ab ,i must be understood as denying1 especially1 only the revolutionary portion of ,mdler's hypothesis4 ,of course1 if no great central orb exists now in our cluster1 such will exist hereafter4 ,whenever existing1 it will be merely the nucleus of the consolidation4 ,were ,i to describe1 in my own words1 what must necessarily be the existing condition of each nebula on the hypothesis that all matter is1 as ,i suggest1 now returning to its original ,unity1 ,i should simply be going over1 nearly verbatim1 the language here employed by ,dr4 ,nichol1 without the faintest suspicion of that stupendous truth which is the key to these nebular phnomena4 ,and here let me fortify my position still farther1 by the voice of a greater than ,mdler--of one1 moreover1 to whom all the data of ,mdler have long been familiar things1 carefully and thoroughly considered4 ,referring to the elaborate calculations of ,argelander--the very researches which form ,mdler's basis--,humboldt1 whose generalizing powers have never1 perhaps been equalled1 has the following observation3 8,when we regard the real1 proper1 or non-perspective motions of the stars1 we find many groups of them moving in opposite directions2 and the data as yet in hand render it not necessary1 at least1 to conceive that the systems composing the ,milky ,way1 or the clusters1 generally1 composing the ,universe1 are revolving about any particular centre unknown1 whether luminous or non-luminous4 ,it is but ,man's longing for a fundamental ,first ,cause1 that impels both his intellect and his fancy to the adoption of such an hypothesis40#ac #ac ,betrachtet man die nicht perspectivischen eigenen ,bewegungen der ,sterne1 so scheinen viele gruppenweise in ihrer ,richtung entgegengesetzt2 und die bisher gesammelten ,thatsachen machen es auf's wenigste nicht nothwendig1 anzunehmen1 dass alle ,theile unserer ,sternenschicht oder gar der gesammten ,sterneninseln1 welche den ,weltraum fllen1 sich um einen grossen1 unbekannten1 leuchtenden oder dunkeln ,centralkrper bewegen4 ,das ,streben nach den letzten und hchsten ,grundursachen macht freilich die reflectirende ,thtigkeit des ,menschen1 wie seine ,phantasie1 zu einer solchen ,annahme geneigt4 ,the phnomenon here alluded to--that of 8many groups moving in opposite directions0--is quite inexplicable by ,mdler's idea2 but arises1 as a necessary consequence1 from that which forms the basis of this ,discourse4 ,while the merely general direction of each atom--of each moon1 planet1 star1 or cluster--would1 on my hypothesis1 be1 of course1 absolutely rectilinear2 while the general path of all bodies would be a right line leading to the centre of all2 it is clear1 nevertheless1 that this general rectilinearity would be compounded of what1 with scarcely any exaggeration1 we may term an infinity of particular curves--an infinity of local deviations from rectilinearity--the result of continuous differences of relative position among the multitudinous masses1 as each proceeded on its own proper journey to the ,end4 ,i quoted1 just now1 from ,sir ,john ,herschell1 the following words1 used in reference to the clusters3--8,on one hand1 without a rotary motion and a centrifugal force1 it is hardly possible not to regard them as in a state of progressive collapse40 ,the fact is1 that1 in surveying the 8nebul0 with a telescope of high power1 we shall find it quite impossible1 having once conceived this idea of 8collapse10 not to gather1 at all points1 corroboration of the idea4 ,a nucleus is always apparent1 in the direction of which the stars seem to be precipitating themselves2 nor can these nuclei be mistaken for merely perspective phnomena3--the clusters are really denser near the centre--sparser in the regions more remote from it4 ,in a word1 we see every thing as we should see it were a collapse taking place2 but1 in general1 it may be said of these clusters1 that we can fairly entertain1 while looking at them1 the idea of orbitual movement about a centre1 only by admitting the possible existence1 in the distant domains of space1 of dynamical laws with which we are unacquainted4 ,on the part of ,herschell1 however1 there is evidently a reluctance to regard the nebul as in 8a state of progressive collapse40 ,but if facts--if even appearances justify the supposition of their being in this state1 why1 it may well be demanded1 is he disinclined to admit it8 ,simply on account of a prejudice2--merely because the supposition is at war with a preconceived and utterly baseless notion--that of the endlessness--that of the eternal stability of the ,universe4 ,if the propositions of this ,discourse are tenable1 the 8state of progressive collapse0 is precisely that state in which alone we are warranted in considering ,all ,things2 and1 with due humility1 let me here confess that1 for my part1 ,i am at a loss to conceive how any other understanding of the existing condition of affairs1 could ever have made its way into the human brain4 8,the tendency to collapse0 and 8the attraction of gravitation0 are convertible phrases4 ,in using either1 we speak of the raction of the ,first ,act4 ,never was necessity less obvious than that of supposing ,matter imbued with an ineradicable quality forming part of its material nature--a quality1 or instinct1 forever inseparable from it1 and by dint of which inalienable principle every atom is perpetually impelled to seek its fellow-atom4 ,never was necessity less obvious than that of entertaining this unphilosophical idea4 ,going boldly behind the vulgar thought1 we have to conceive1 metaphysically1 that the gravitating principle appertains to ,matter temporarily--only while diffused--only while existing as ,many instead of as ,one--appertains to it by virtue of its state of irradiation alone--appertains1 in a word1 altogether to its condition1 and not in the slightest degree to itself4 ,in this view1 when the irradiation shall have returned into its source--when the raction shall be completed--the gravitating principle will no longer exist4 ,and1 in fact1 astronomers1 without at any time reaching the idea here suggested1 seem to have been approximating it1 in the assertion that 8if there were but one body in the ,universe1 it would be impossible to understand how the principle1 ,gravity1 could obtain30--that is to say1 from a consideration of ,matter as they find it1 they reach a conclusion at which ,i deductively arrive4 ,that so pregnant a suggestion as the one just quoted should have been permitted to remain so long unfruitful1 is1 nevertheless1 a mystery which ,i find it difficult to fathom4 ,it is1 perhaps1 in no little degree1 however1 our propensity for the continuous--for the analogical--in the present case more particularly for the symmetrical--which has been leading us astray4 ,and1 in fact1 the sense of the symmetrical is an instinct which may be depended upon with an almost blindfold reliance4 ,it is the poetical essence of the ,universe--of the ,universe which1 in the supremeness of its symmetry1 is but the most sublime of poems4 ,now symmetry and consistency are convertible terms3--thus ,poetry and ,truth are one4 ,a thing is consistent in the ratio of its truth--true in the ratio of its consistency4 ,a perfect consistency1 ,i repeat1 can be nothing but an absolute truth4 ,we may take it for granted1 then1 that ,man cannot long or widely err1 if he suffer himself to be guided by his poetical1 which ,i have maintained to be his truthful1 in being his symmetrical1 instinct4 ,he must have a care1 however1 lest1 in pursuing too heedlessly the superficial symmetry of forms and motions1 he leave out of sight the really essential symmetry of the principles which determine and control them4 ,that the stellar bodies would finally be merged in one--that1 at last1 all would be drawn into the substance of one stupendous central orb already existing--is an idea which1 for some time past1 seems1 vaguely and indeterminately1 to have held possession of the fancy of mankind4 ,it is an idea1 in fact1 which belongs to the class of the excessively obvious4 ,it springs1 instantly1 from a superficial observation of the cyclic and seemingly gyrating1 or vorticial movements of those individual portions of the ,universe which come most immediately and most closely under our observation4 ,there is not1 perhaps1 a human being1 of ordinary education and of average reflective capacity1 to whom1 at some period1 the fancy in question has not occurred1 as if spontaneously1 or intuitively1 and wearing all the character of a very profound and very original conception4 ,this conception1 however1 so commonly entertained1 has never1 within my knowledge1 arisen out of any abstract considerations4 ,being1 on the contrary1 always suggested1 as ,i say1 by the vorticial movements about centres1 a reason for it1 also1--a cause for the ingathering of all the orbs into one1 imagined to be already existing1 was naturally sought in the same direction--among these cyclic movements themselves4 ,thus it happened that1 on announcement of the gradual and perfectly regular decrease observed in the orbit of ,enck's comet1 at every successive revolution about our ,sun1 astronomers were nearly unanimous in the opinion that the cause in question was found--that a principle was discovered sufficient to account1 physically1 for that final1 universal agglomeration which1 ,i repeat1 the analogical1 symmetrical or poetical instinct of ,man had predetermined to understand as something more than a simple hypothesis4 ,this cause--this sufficient reason for the final ingathering--was declared to exist in an exceedingly rare but still material medium pervading space2 which medium1 by retarding1 in some degree1 the progress of the comet1 perpetually weakened its tangential force2 thus giving a predominance to the centripetal2 which1 of course1 drew the comet nearer and nearer at each revolution1 and would eventually precipitate it upon the ,sun4 ,all this was strictly logical--admitting the medium or ether2 but this ether was assumed1 most illogically1 on the ground that no other mode than the one spoken of could be discovered1 of accounting for the observed decrease in the orbit of the comet3--as if from the fact that we could discover no other mode of accounting for it1 it followed1 in any respect1 that no other mode of accounting for it existed4 ,it is clear that innumerable causes might operate1 in combination1 to diminish the orbit1 without even a possibility of our ever becoming acquainted with one of them4 ,in the meantime1 it has never been fairly shown1 perhaps1 why the retardation occasioned by the skirts of the ,sun's atmosphere1 through which the comet passes at perihelion1 is not enough to account for the phnomenon4 ,that ,enck's comet will be absorbed into the ,sun1 is probable2 that all the comets of the system will be absorbed1 is more than merely possible2 but1 in such case1 the principle of absorption must be referred to eccentricity of orbit--to the close approximation to the ,sun1 of the comets at their perihelia2 and is a principle not affecting1 in any degree1 the ponderous spheres1 which are to be regarded as the true material constituents of the ,universe4--,touching comets1 in general1 let me here suggest1 in passing1 that we cannot be far wrong in looking upon them as the lightning-flashes of the cosmical ,heaven4 ,the idea of a retarding ether and1 through it1 of a final agglomeration of all things1 seemed at one time1 however1 to be confirmed by the observation of a positive decrease in the orbit of the solid moon4 ,by reference to eclipses recorded #bejj years ago1 it was found that the velocity of the satellite's revolution then was considerably less than it is now2 that on the hypothesis that its motions in its orbit is uniformly in accordance with ,kepler's law1 and was accurately determined then--#bejj years ago--it is now in advance of the position it should occupy1 by nearly #ijjj miles4 ,the increase of velocity proved1 of course1 a diminution of orbit2 and astronomers were fast yielding to a belief in an ether1 as the sole mode of accounting for the phnomenon1 when ,lagrange came to the rescue4 ,he showed that1 owing to the configurations of the spheroids1 the shorter axes of their ellipses are subject to variation in length2 the longer axes being permanent2 and that this variation is continuous and vibratory--so that every orbit is in a state of transition1 either from circle to ellipse1 or from ellipse to circle4 ,in the case of the moon1 where the shorter axis is decreasing1 the orbit is passing from circle to ellipse and1 consequently1 is decreasing too2 but1 after a long series of ages1 the ultimate eccentricity will be attained2 then the shorter axis will proceed to increase1 until the orbit becomes a circle2 when the process of shortening will again take place2--and so on forever4 ,in the case of the ,earth1 the orbit is passing from ellipse to circle4 ,the facts thus demonstrated do away1 of course1 with all necessity for supposing an ether1 and with all apprehension of the system's instability--on the ether's account4 ,it will be remembered that ,i have myself assumed what we may term an ether4 ,i have spoken of a subtle influence which we know to be ever in attendance upon matter1 although becoming manifest only through matter's heterogeneity4 ,to this influence--without daring to touch it at all in any effort at explaining its awful nature--,i have referred the various phnomena of electricity1 heat1 light1 magnetism2 and more--of vitality1 consciousness1 and thought--in a word1 of spirituality4 ,it will be seen1 at once1 then1 that the ether thus conceived is radically distinct from the ether of the astronomers2 inasmuch as theirs is matter and mine not4 ,with the idea of a material ether1 seems1 thus1 to have departed altogether the thought of that universal agglomeration so long predetermined by the poetical fancy of mankind3--an agglomeration in which a sound ,philosophy might have been warranted in putting faith1 at least to a certain extent1 if for no other reason than that by this poetical fancy it had been so predetermined4 ,but so far as ,astronomy--so far as mere ,physics have yet spoken1 the cycles of the ,universe are perpetual--the ,universe has no conceivable end4 ,had an end been demonstrated1 however1 from so purely collateral a cause as an ether1 ,man's instinct of the ,divine capacity to adapt1 would have rebelled against the demonstration4 ,we should have been forced to regard the ,universe with some such sense of dissatisfaction as we experience in contemplating an unnecessarily complex work of human art4 ,creation would have affected us as an imperfect plot in a romance1 where the dnoment is awkwardly brought about by interposed incidents external and foreign to the main subject2 instead of springing out of the bosom of the thesis--out of the heart of the ruling idea--instead of arising as a result of the primary proposition--as inseparable and inevitable part and parcel of the fundamental conception of the book4 ,what ,i mean by the symmetry of mere surface will now be more clearly understood4 ,it is simply by the blandishment of this symmetry that we have been beguiled into the general idea of which ,mdler's hypothesis is but a part--the idea of the vorticial indrawing of the orbs4 ,dismissing this nakedly physical conception1 the symmetry of principle sees the end of all things metaphysically involved in the thought of a beginning2 seeks and finds in this origin of all things the rudiment of this end2 and perceives the impiety of supposing this end likely to be brought about less simply--less directly--less obviously--less artistically--than through the raction of the originating ,act4 ,recurring1 then1 to a previous suggestion1 let us understand the systems--let us understand each star1 with its attendant planets--as but a ,titanic atom existing in space with precisely the same inclination for ,unity which characterized1 in the beginning1 the actual atoms after their irradiation throughout the ,universal sphere4 ,as these original atoms rushed towards each other in generally straight lines1 so let us conceive as at least generally rectilinear1 the paths of the system-atoms towards their respective centres of aggregation3--and in this direct drawing together of the systems into clusters1 with a similar and simultaneous drawing together of the clusters themselves while undergoing consolidation1 we have at length attained the great ,now--the awful ,present--the ,existing ,condition of the ,universe4 ,of the still more awful ,future a not irrational analogy may guide us in framing an hypothesis4 ,the equilibrium between the centripetal and centrifugal forces of each system1 being necessarily destroyed upon attainment of a certain proximity to the nucleus of the cluster to which it belongs1 there must occur1 at once1 a chaotic or seemingly chaotic precipitation1 of the moons upon the planets1 of the planets upon the suns1 and of the suns upon the nuclei2 and the general result of this precipitation must be the gathering of the myriad now-existing stars of the firmament into an almost infinitely less number of almost infinitely superior spheres4 ,in being immeasurably fewer1 the worlds of that day will be immeasurably greater than our own4 ,then1 indeed1 amid unfathomable abysses1 will be glaring unimaginable suns4 ,but all this will be merely a climacic magnificence foreboding the great ,end4 ,of this ,end the new genesis described1 can be but a very partial postponement4 ,while undergoing consolidation1 the clusters themselves1 with a speed prodigiously accumulative1 have been rushing towards their own general centre--and now1 with a thousand-fold electric velocity1 commensurate only with their material grandeur and with the spiritual passion of their appetite for oneness1 the majestic remnants of the tribe of ,stars flash1 at length1 into a common embrace4 ,the inevitable catastrophe is at hand4 ,but this catastrophe--what is it8 ,we have seen accomplished the ingathering of the orbs4 ,henceforward1 are we not to understand one material globe of globes as constituting and comprehending the ,universe8 ,such a fancy would be altogether at war with every assumption and consideration of this ,discourse4 ,i have already alluded to that absolute reciprocity of adaptation which is the idiosyncrasy of the divine ,art--stamping it divine4 ,up to this point of our reflections1 we have been regarding the electrical influence as a something by dint of whose repulsion alone ,matter is enabled to exist in that state of diffusion demanded for the fulfilment of its purposes3--so far1 in a word1 we have been considering the influence in question as ordained for ,matter's sake--to subserve the objects of matter4 ,with a perfectly legitimate reciprocity1 we are now permitted to look at ,matter1 as created solely for the sake of this influence--solely to serve the objects of this spiritual ,ether4 ,through the aid--by the means--through the agency of ,matter1 and by dint of its heterogeneity--is this ,ether manifested--is ,spirit individualized4 ,it is merely in the development of this ,ether1 through heterogeneity1 that particular masses of ,matter become animate--sensitive--and in the ratio of their heterogeneity2--some reaching a degree of sensitiveness involving what we call ,thought and thus attaining ,conscious ,intelligence4 ,in this view1 we are enabled to perceive ,matter as a ,means--not as an ,end4 ,its purposes are thus seen to have been comprehended in its diffusion2 and with the return into ,unity these purposes cease4 ,the absolutely consolidated globe of globes would be objectless3--therefore not for a moment could it continue to exist4 ,matter1 created for an end1 would unquestionably1 on fulfilment of that end1 be ,matter no longer4 ,let us endeavor to understand that it would disappear1 and that ,god would remain all in all4 ,that every work of ,divine conception must cexist and cexpire with its particular design1 seems to me especially obvious2 and ,i make no doubt that1 on perceiving the final globe of globes to be objectless1 the majority of my readers will be satisfied with my 8therefore it cannot continue to exist40 ,nevertheless1 as the startling thought of its instantaneous disappearance is one which the most powerful intellect cannot be expected readily to entertain on grounds so decidedly abstract1 let us endeavor to look at the idea from some other and more ordinary point of view3--let us see how thoroughly and beautifully it is corroborated in an posteriori consideration of ,matter as we actually find it4 ,i have before said that 8,attraction and ,repulsion being undeniably the sole properties by which ,matter is manifested to ,mind1 we are justified in assuming that ,matter exists only as ,attraction and ,repulsion--in other words that ,attraction and ,repulsion are ,matter2 there being no conceivable case in which we may not employ the term ,matter and the terms #8,attraction' and #8,repulsion' taken together1 as equivalent1 and therefore convertible1 expressions in ,logic40#ad #ad ,page #cg4 ,now the very definition of ,attraction implies particularity--the existence of parts1 particles1 or atoms2 for we define it as the tendency of 8each atom c4 to every other atom0 c4 according to a certain law4 ,of course where there are no parts--where there is absolute ,unity--where the tendency to oneness is satisfied--there can be no ,attraction3--this has been fully shown1 and all ,philosophy admits it4 ,when1 on fulfilment of its purposes1 then1 ,matter shall have returned into its original condition of ,one--a condition which presupposes the expulsion of the separative ether1 whose province and whose capacity are limited to keeping the atoms apart until that great day when1 this ether being no longer needed1 the overwhelming pressure of the finally collective ,attraction shall at length just sufficiently predominate#ae and expel it3--when1 ,i say1 ,matter1 finally1 expelling the ,ether1 shall have returned into absolute ,unity1--it will then 7to speak paradoxically for the moment7 be ,matter without ,attraction and without ,repulsion--in other words1 ,matter without ,matter--in other words1 again1 ,matter no more4 ,in sinking into ,unity1 it will sink at once into that ,nothingness which1 to all ,finite ,perception1 ,unity must be--into that ,material ,nihility from which alone we can conceive it to have been evoked--to have been created by the ,volition of ,god4 #ae 8,gravity1 therefore1 must be the strongest of forces40--,see page #ci4 ,i repeat then--,let us endeavor to comprehend that the final globe of globes will instantaneously disappear1 and that ,god will remain all in all4 ,but are we here to pause8 ,not so4 ,on the ,universal agglomeration and dissolution1 we can readily conceive that a new and perhaps totally different series of conditions may ensue--another creation and irradiation1 returning into itself--another action and raction of the ,divine ,will4 ,guiding our imaginations by that omniprevalent law of laws1 the law of periodicity1 are we not1 indeed1 more than justified in entertaining a belief--let us say1 rather1 in indulging a hope--that the processes we have here ventured to contemplate will be renewed forever1 and forever1 and forever2 a novel ,universe swelling into existence1 and then subsiding into nothingness1 at every throb of the ,heart ,divine8 ,and now--this ,heart ,divine--what is it8 ,it is our own4 ,let not the merely seeming irreverence of this idea frighten our souls from that cool exercise of consciousness--from that deep tranquillity of self-inspection--through which alone we can hope to attain the presence of this1 the most sublime of truths1 and look it leisurely in the face4 ,the phnomena on which our conclusions must at this point depend1 are merely spiritual shadows1 but not the less thoroughly substantial4 ,we walk about1 amid the destinies of our world-existence1 encompassed by dim but ever present ,memories of a ,destiny more vast--very distant in the by-gone time1 and infinitely awful4 ,we live out a ,youth peculiarly haunted by such dreams2 yet never mistaking them for dreams4 ,as ,memories we know them4 ,during our ,youth the distinction is too clear to deceive us even for a moment4 ,so long as this ,youth endures1 the feeling that we exist1 is the most natural of all feelings4 ,we understand it thoroughly4 ,that there was a period at which we did not exist--or1 that it might so have happened that we never had existed at all--are the considerations1 indeed1 which during this youth1 we find difficulty in understanding4 ,why we should not exist1 is1 up to the epoch of our ,manhood1 of all queries the most unanswerable4 ,existence--self-existence--existence from all ,time and to all ,eternity--seems1 up to the epoch of ,manhood1 a normal and unquestionable condition3--seems1 because it is4 ,but now comes the period at which a conventional ,world-,reason awakens us from the truth of our dream4 ,doubt1 ,surprise and ,incomprehensibility arrive at the same moment4 ,they say3--8,you live and the time was when you lived not4 ,you have been created4 ,an ,intelligence exists greater than your own2 and it is only through this ,intelligence you live at all40 ,these things we struggle to comprehend and cannot3--cannot1 because these things1 being untrue1 are thus1 of necessity1 incomprehensible4 ,no thinking being lives who1 at some luminous point of his life of thought1 has not felt himself lost amid the surges of futile efforts at understanding1 or believing1 that anything exists greater than his own soul4 ,the utter impossibility of any one's soul feeling itself inferior to another2 the intense1 overwhelming dissatisfaction and rebellion at the thought2--these1 with the omniprevalent aspirations at perfection1 are but the spiritual1 coincident with the material1 struggles towards the original ,unity--are1 to my mind at least1 a species of proof far surpassing what ,man terms demonstration1 that no one soul is inferior to another--that nothing is1 or can be1 superior to any one soul--that each soul is1 in part1 its own ,god--its own ,creator3--in a word1 that ,god--the material and spiritual ,god--now exists solely in the diffused ,matter and ,spirit of the ,universe2 and that the regathering of this diffused ,matter and ,spirit will be but the re-constitution of the purely ,spiritual and ,individual ,god4 ,in this view1 and in this view alone1 we comprehend the riddles of ,divine ,injustice--of ,inexorable ,fate4 ,in this view alone the existence of ,evil becomes intelligible2 but in this view it becomes more--it becomes endurable4 ,our souls no longer rebel at a ,sorrow which we ourselves have imposed upon ourselves1 in furtherance of our own purposes--with a view--if even with a futile view--to the extension of our own ,joy4 ,i have spoken of ,memories that haunt us during our youth4 ,they sometimes pursue us even in our ,manhood3--assume gradually less and less indefinite shapes3--now and then speak to us with low voices1 saying3 8,there was an epoch in the ,night of ,time1 when a still-existent ,being existed--one of an absolutely infinite number of similar ,beings that people the absolutely infinite domains of the absolutely infinite space4#af ,it was not and is not in the power of this ,being--any more than it is in your own--to extend1 by actual increase1 the joy of his ,existence2 but just as it is in your power to expand or to concentrate your pleasures 7the absolute amount of happiness remaining always the same7 so did and does a similar capability appertain to this ,divine ,being1 who thus passes his ,eternity in perpetual variation of ,concentrated ,self and almost ,infinite ,self-,diffusion4 ,what you call ,the ,universe is but his present expansive existence4 ,he now feels his life through an infinity of imperfect pleasures--the partial and pain-intertangled pleasures of those inconceivably numerous things which you designate as his creatures1 but which are really but infinite individualizations of ,himself4 ,all these creatures--all--those which you term animate1 as well as those to whom you deny life for no better reason than that you do not behold it in operation--all these creatures have1 in a greater or less degree1 a capacity for pleasure and for pain3--but the general sum of their sensations is precisely that amount of ,happiness which appertains by right to the ,divine ,being when concentrated within ,himself4 ,these creatures are all1 too1 more or less conscious ,intelligences2 conscious1 first1 of a proper identity2 conscious1 secondly and by faint indeterminate glimpses1 of an identity with the ,divine ,being of whom we speak--of an identity with ,god4 ,of the two classes of consciousness1 fancy that the former will grow weaker1 the latter stronger1 during the long succession of ages which must elapse before these myriads of individual ,intelligences become blended--when the bright stars become blended--into ,one4 ,think that the sense of individual identity will be gradually merged in the general consciousness--that ,man1 for example1 ceasing imperceptibly to feel himself ,man1 will at length attain that awfully triumphant epoch when he shall recognize his existence as that of ,jehovah4 ,in the meantime bear in mind that all is ,life--,life--,life within ,life--the less within the greater1 and all within the ,spirit ,divine40 #af ,see pages #ajb-ajc--,paragraph commencing 8,i reply that the right10 and ending 8proper and particular ,god40 ,,the ,,end4 #aee ,broadway1 ,,new ,,york4 #adb ,strand1 ,,london4 ,of late firm of ,,wiley ,,putnam4 ,new ,works in ,press1 ,or recently published1 by ,,george ,p4 ,,putnam1 #aee ,broadway1 ,new ,york4 ,g4 ,p4 ,,putnam has the pleasure of announcing that1 agreeably to his contract with the distinguished author1 he has now in the course of publication ,a new1 uniform1 and complete edition ,,of ,,the ,works of ,washington ,irving1 ,revised and enlarged by the ,author1 ,in ,twelve ,elegant ,duodecimo ,volumes1 ,beautifully printed with new type1 and on superior paper1 made expressly for the purpose4 ,the first volume of the ,series will be ,the ,sketch-,book1 complete in one volume1 which will be ready on the first day of ,september4 ,knickerbocker's ,history of ,new ,york1 with revisions and copious additions1 will be published on the #ast of ,october4 ,the ,life and ,voyages of ,columbus1 ,vol4 ,i4 on the #ast of ,november1 and the succeeding volumes will be issued on the first day of each month until completed2--as follows3 ,the ,sketch-,book1 in one volume4 ,knickerbocker's ,new ,york1 in one volume4 ,tales of a ,traveller1 in one volume4 ,bracebridge ,hall1 in one volume4 ,the ,conquest of ,grenada1 in one volume4 ,the ,alhambra1 in one volume4 ,the ,spanish ,legends1 in one vol4 ,the ,crayon ,miscellany1 in one vol4--,abbotsford1 ,newstead1 ,the ,prairies1 c4 ,life and ,voyages of ,columbus1 and ,the ,companions of ,columbus1 #b vols4 ,adventures of ,captain ,bonneville1 one vol4 ,astoria1 one volume4 ,the ,illustrated ,sketch-,book4 ,in ,october will be published1 ,the ,sketch-,book4 ,,by ,,washington ,,irving4 ,one volume1 square octavo4 ,illustrated with a series of highly-finished ,engravings on wood1 from ,designs by ,darley and others1 engraved in the best style by ,childs1 ,herrick1 c4 ,this edition will be printed on paper of the finest quality1 similar in size and style to the new edition of 8,halleck's ,poems40 ,it is intended that the illustrations shall be superior to any engravings on wood yet produced in this country1 and that the mechanical execution of the volume1 altogether1 shall be worthy of the author's reputation4 ,it will form an elegant and appropriate gift-book for all seasons4 ,the ,illustrated ,knickerbocker1 ,with a series of ,original ,designs1 in one vol41 octavo1 is also in preparation4 ,mr4 ,putnam has also the honor to announce that he will publish at intervals 7in connexion1 and uniform with the other collected writings71 ,mr4 ,irving's ,new ,works1 now nearly ready for the press3 including ,the ,life of ,mohammed2 ,the ,life of ,washington2 new volumes of ,miscellanies1 ,biographies1 c4 ,this being the first uniform and complete edition of ,mr4 ,irving's works1 either in this country or in ,europe1 the publisher confidently believes that the undertaking will meet with a prompt and cordial response4 ,to say this1 is perhaps superfluous and impertinent2 for it is a truism that no ,american book-case 7not to say library7 can be well filled without the works of ,washington ,irving2 while the ,english language itself comprises no purer models of composition4 ,g4 ,p4 ,putnam has also made arrangements for the early commencement of new works or new editions of the works of ,miss ,c4 ,m4 ,sedgwick1 ,prof4 ,a4 ,gray1 ,leigh ,hunt1 ,chas4 ,fenno ,hoffman1 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,oakes ,smith1 ,thomas ,carlyle1 ,george ,h4 ,calvert1 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,m4 ,kirkland1 ,r4 ,monckton ,milnes1 ,j4 ,bayard ,taylor1 ,mary ,howitt1 ,mrs4 ,jameson1 ,s4 ,wells ,williams1 ,w4 ,m4 ,thackeray1 ,charles ,lamb1 ,a4 ,j4 ,downing1 ,thos4 ,hood1 ,elliot ,warburton4 ,the following new works are now ready1 or will be published this season3 ,i4 ,sophisms of the ,protective ,policy4 ,translated from the ,french of ,f4 ,bastiat4 ,with an introduction by ,francis ,lieber1 ,,ll4,d4 ,professor in ,south ,carolina ,college1 ,editor of the ,encyclopedia ,americana1 c4 #abmo4 #ge cents4 8,it is a book not for the million but for millions1 and we believe if a copy could be put into the hands of every school-boy in the ,union1 the next generation would be inconceivably wiser1 richer1 and happier than the present40--,mirror4 ,,ii4 ,grecian and ,roman ,mythology3 ,with original illustrations4 ,adapted for the use of ,universities and ,high ,schools1 and for popular reading4 ,by ,m4 ,a4 ,dwight4 ,with an introduction by ,tayler ,lewis1 ,professor of ,greek1 ,university of ,new ,york4 #abmo4 7,on #ast ,september47 ,also a fine edition in octavo1 with illustrations4 ,this work has been prepared with great care1 illustrated with #bj effective outline drawings1 and is designed to treat the subject in an original1 comprehensive1 and unexceptionable manner1 so as to fill the place as a text book which is yet unsupplied2 while it will also be an attractive and readable table book for general use4 ,it will be at once introduced as a text book in the ,university of ,new ,york and other colleges and schools4 ,,iii4 ,eureka3 a ,prose ,poem4 ,or the ,physical and ,metaphysical ,universe4 ,by ,edgar ,a4 ,poe1 ,esq4 ,handsomely printed1 #abmo4 ,cloth1 #ge cents4 8,a most extraordinary ,essay4 ,we shall be greatly surprised if this work does not create a most profound sensation among the literary and scientific classes40--,new ,york ,express4 ,,iv4 ,oriental ,life ,illustrated4 ,being a new edition of ,ethen1 or ,traces of ,travel in the ,east4 ,with fine illustrations on ,steel4 #abmo4 elegantly bound1 #a #ej4 ,this new and unique volume1 superbly illuminated by ,mapleson1 and comprising original articles by distinguished writers1 will be the most elegant and recherch book of the kind ever produced in this country4 ,it will be ready in ,october4 ,a new and superior edition of the ,,pearls ,,of ,,american ,,poetry will also be published this season4 ,v4 ,the ,book of ,dainty ,devices4 ,in an elegant small folio volume4 ,lays of the ,western ,world4 ,,vi4 ,dr4 ,klipstein's ,anglo-,saxon ,course of ,study4 ,in uniform #abmo4 volumes4 ,i4 ,a ,grammar of the ,anglo-,saxon ,language4 ,by ,louis ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,,ph4,d41 of the ,university of ,giessen4 ,this work recommends itself particularly to the attention of every ,american student who 8glories in his ,anglo-,saxon descent0 or ,teutonic lineage1 as well as of all who desire an acquaintance with a language which lies as the foundation of the ,english1 and throws a light upon its elements and structure1 derivable from no other source4 ,of the importance and interesting nature of the study there can be no doubt1 and we agree with those who think that the time is coming when it will be considered 8utterly disgraceful for any well-bred ,englishman or ,american0 to have neglected it4 ,with regard to the merits of ,dr4 ,klipstein's ,grammar1 we will only say1 that it has been already adopted as a text-book in some of the leading ,institutions of our country4 ,the following are also in press4 ,,ii4 ,analecta ,anglo-,saxonica1 with an ,introductory ,ethnographical ,essay1 ,copious ,notes1 ,critical and ,explanatory1 and a ,glossary in which are shown the ,indo-,germanic and other ,affinities of the ,language4 ,by the same4 ,in this work appear the fruits of considerable research1 and1 we may add1 learning4 ,the ,ethnology of ,europe is succinctly1 but clearly illustrated1 the ,anglo-,saxon language completely analysed1 revealing the utmost harmony of combination from its elements1 its forms and roots compared with those in kindred dialects and cognate tongues1 its position in the ,teutonic family and ,indo-,germanic range established1 and the genuine relation of the ,english to its great parent properly set forth4 ,to those who are fond of the comparative study of language1 the ,glossary will prove an invaluable aid1 apart from its particular object4 ,,iii4 ,natale ,sancti ,gregorii ,pap4--lfric's ,homily on the ,birth-day of ,st4 ,gregory1 and ,collateral ,extracts from ,king ,alfred's version of ,bede's ,ecclesiastical ,history and the ,saxon ,chronicle1 with a full rendering into ,english1 ,notes ,critical and ,explanatory1 and an ,index of ,words4 ,by the same4 ,,iv4 ,extracts from the ,anglo-,saxon-,gospels1 a ,portion of the ,anglo-,saxon ,paraphrase of the ,book of ,psalms1 and other ,selections of a ,sacred ,order in the same ,language1 with a ,translation into ,english1 and ,notes ,critical and ,explanatory4 ,by the same4 ,these two works are prepared in such a way as in themselves1 with the aid of the ,grammar1 to afford every facility to the ,anglo-,saxon ,student4 lfric's ,homily is remarkable for beauty of composition1 and interesting as setting forth ,augustine's ,mission to the 8,land of the ,angles40 ,v4 ,tha ,halgan ,godspel on ,englisc--the ,anglo-,saxon ,version of the ,holy ,gospels4 ,edited by ,benjamin ,thorpe1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,reprinted by the same4 ,now ready4 ,this1 the earliest 8,english0 version of the ,four ,gospels1 will be found interesting to the antiquarian and theologian1 as well as serviceable to the student in his investigations of the language4 ,the ,text1 besides the usual but unbroken division1 appears1 with the ,rubrics1 as read in the early ,anglican ,church4 ,nearly ,ready4 ,dr4 ,bosworth's ,compendious ,anglo-,saxon ,dictionary4 ,small #hvo4 ,,vii4 ,study of ,modern ,languages4 ,part ,first2 ,french1 ,italian1 ,spanish1 ,portuguese1 ,german1 and ,english4 ,by ,l4 ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,ph4,d4 ,one ,vol4 ,imperial #hvo4 #ge cents paper2 #a #jj cloth4 ,this work1 which is intended equally for the simultaneous and the separate study of the languages that it sets forth1 and which is adapted as well for the native of ,germany1 ,france1 ,italy1 ,spain1 or ,portugal1 as for him to whom ,english is vernacular1 in the acquirement of any one of the other tongues besides his own1 will be found an acceptable manual not only to the tyro1 but to the more advanced scholar4 ,the reading portion of the matter is interesting1 and the text in every case remarkably correct1 while the ,elementary ,phrases1 forms of ,cards1 ,letters1 ,bills of ,exchange1 ,promissory ,notes1 ,receipts1 c41 in the six languages1 constitute what has long been a desideratum from the ,american press4 ,for the comparative study of the ,romanic tongues the work affords unusual facilities4 ,,viii4 ,pedestrian ,tour in ,europe4 ,views a-,foot2 or ,europe seen with ,knapsack and ,staff4 ,by ,j4 ,bayard ,taylor4 ,a new edition with an additional chapter1 and a sketch of the author in pedestrian costume1 from a drawing by ,t4 ,buchanan ,read4 #abmo4 ,cloth4 ,,ix4 ,a ,new ,edition of ,clarke's ,shakspeare ,concordance4 ,a ,complete ,concordance to ,shakspeare3 being a ,verbal ,index to ,,all the ,,passages in the ,dramatic ,works of the ,poet4 ,by ,mrs4 ,cowden ,clarke4 8,order gave each thing view40 ,one large ,vol4 comprising #befj closely printed columns1--7indicating every word and passage in ,shakspeare's ,works74 ,price #f4 ,cloth4 8,the result of sixteen years of untiring labor4 ,the different editions of ,shakspeare have been carefully collated by the compiler1 and every possible means taken to insure the correctness of the work4 ,as it now stands1 a person can find a particular passage in ,shakspeare by simply remembering one word of it1 and is also referred to the act and scene of the play in which it occurs4 ,as a mere dictionary of ,shakspearian language and phrases1 it is of great value2 but it is also a dictionary of his thoughts and imaginations4 ,it altogether supersedes the volumes of ,twiss and ,ayscough1 and should be on every student's shelves0--,boston ,courier4 ,this extraordinary work is printed in ,london and the price there at present is #b4 #es4 #j;d4 or about #ab4 ,a large part of the edition having been purchased for this market1 it is furnished here for the very low price of #f1 bound in cloth4 ,also--,by same ,author4 ,the ,book of ,shakspeare ,proverbs4 #ahmo4 #ge cts4 ,dr4 ,lieber's ,poetical ,address to the ,american ,republic4 #afmo4 #be cents4 ,the ,west3 ,a ,metrical ,epistle4 ,,by ,,francis ,,lieber4 ,dr4 ,lieber1 the distinguished ,professor of ,political ,economy in ,south ,carolina ,college1 ,author of 8,political ,ethics10 c41 has just sailed for his native country--,germany--with the view of aiding in the great cause of ,constitutional and ,rational ,freedom4 ,this little volume proves that he has well studied that subject during his long residence in this his adopted country--and his able and valuable opinions on ,american ,society and ,progress1 carry with them a peculiar interest at this time4 ,,recent ,,publications4 ,alexander4--,commentary on the ,earlier ,prophecies of ,isaiah4 ,by ,prof4 ,j4 ,a4 ,alexander4 ,royal #hvo4 cloth1 #c4 ,alexander4--,commentary on the ,later ,prophecies of ,isaiah4 ,by ,prof4 ,j4 ,a4 ,alexander4 ,royal #hvo4 cloth1 #b #ej4 ,ancient ,moral ,tales1 from the ,gesta ,romanorum1 c4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth4 8,a quiet humor1 a quaintness and terseness of style1 will strongly recommend them40--,english ,churchman4 ,architecture4--,hints on ,public ,architecture2 issued under the ,direction of the 8,smithsonian ,institution40 ,imperial #dto4 with ,illustrations4 7,in preparation47 ,this work will contain numerous and valuable illustrations1 including two perspective views of the buildings of the ,smithsonian ,institution4 ,the ,appendix will contain the results of a research under the auspices of the ,institution to test the properties of the most important building materials throughout the ,united ,states4 ,bastiat4--,sophisms of the ,protective ,policy4 ,translated from the ,french of ,f4 ,bastiat4 ,with an ,introduction1 by ,francis ,lieber1 ,,ll4,d41 ,professor in ,south ,carolina ,college1 ,editor of the ,encyclopdia ,americana1 c41 c4 #abmo4 #ge cts4 ,bibliotheca ,sacra and ,theological ,review4 ,conducted by ,b4 ,b4 ,edwards and ,e4 ,a4 ,park1 ,professors at ,andover1 with the ,special ,aid of ,dr4 ,robinson and ,professor ,stuart4 ,published quarterly in ,february1 ,may1 ,august1 and ,november #d per annum4 ,vols4 #a1 #b1 #c1 and #d1 #hvo4 cloth1 each #d4 8,this is1 perhaps1 the most ambitious journal in the ,united ,states4 ,we use the word in a good sense1 as meaning that there is no journal among us which seems more laudably desirous to take the lead in literary and theological science4 ,its handsome type and paper give it a pleasing exterior2 its typographical errors1 though sufficiently numerous1 are so comparatively few1 as to show that it has the advantage of the best ,american proof-reading2 while for thoroughness of execution in the departments of history and criticism1 it aims to be pre-eminent40--,n4 ,y4 ,churchman4 ,burton4--,the ,anatomy of ,melancholy4 ,by ,burton4 ,new and beautiful edition1 with ,engravings4 #a vol4 royal #hvo4 cloth1 #b #ej4 ,this is one of those sterling old works which were written for 8all time10 full of learning1 humor1 and quaint conceits4 ,no library can be complete without it4 ,calvert4--,scenes and ,thoughts in ,europe4 ,by an ,american4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #ej cents4 8,his descriptions of scenery1 his remarks on art1 his accounts of the different people among whom he sojourned1 are all good40--,cincinnati ,gazette4 ,carlyle4--,the ,french ,revolution3 a ,history4 ,by ,thomas ,carlyle4 #b vols4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #b4 8,his ,french ,revolution is considered one of the most remarkable works of the age--as at once the poetry and philosophy of history40--,hunt's ,merchants' ,mag4 ,carlyle4--,letters and ,speeches of ,oliver ,cromwell4 ,by ,thos4 ,carlyle4 #b vols4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #b #ej4 8,a work more valuable as a guide to the study of the singular and complex character of our pious revolutionist1 our religious demagogue1 our preaching and praying warrior1 has not been produced40--,blackwood's ,magazine4 ,carlyle4--,past and ,present3 ,chartism4 ,by ,thomas ,carlyle4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #a 8,to say that the book is replete with instruction1 thought1 and quaint fancy1 is unnecessary3 but we may mention it as one1 par excellence1 which should be read at the present juncture40-,tribune4 ,chaucer and ,spenser4--,selections from the ,poetical ,works of ,geoffrey ,chaucer4 ,by ,charles ,d4 ,deshler4 ,spenser1 and the ,faery ,queen4 ,by ,mrs4 ,c4 ,m4 ,kirkland4 #a vol4 #abmo4 #a #ac4 ---- ,the same1 extra gilt1 #a #ej4 8,a portion of their writings are presented in a beautiful and convenient form1 and with the requisite notes and modifications40--,home ,journal4 ,coe4--,studies in ,drawing1 in a ,progressive ,series of ,lessons on ,cards2 beginning with the most ,elementary ,studies1 and ,adapted for ,use at ,home and ,schools4 ,by ,benjamin ,h4 ,coe1 ,teacher of ,drawing4 ,in ,ten ,series--marked #a and #aj--;each containing about eighteen ,studies4 #be cents each4 ,the design is3 ,i4--,to make the exercises in drawing highly interesting to the pupil4 ,,ii4--,to make drawings so simple1 and so gradually progressive1 as to enable any teacher1 whether acquainted with drawing or not1 to instruct his pupils to advantage4 ,,iii4--,to take the place of one-half of the writing lessons1 with confidence that the learner will acquire a knowledge of writing in less than time is usually required4 ,,iv4--,to give the pupils a bold1 rapid1 and artist-like style of drawing4 ,coleridge4--,biographia ,literaria2 or1 ,biographical ,sketches of my ,literary ,life and ,opinions4 ,by ,samuel ,taylor ,coleridge4 ,from the #b;d ,london edition1 ,edited by ,h4 ,n4 ,coleridge4 #b vols4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #b4 ,cortez4--,letters and ,despatches of ,hernando ,cortez4 ,translated by ,hon4 ,george ,folsom4 #a vol4 #hvo4 #a #be4 ,dana4--,a ,system of ,mineralogy1 comprising the most ,recent ,discoveries4 ,by ,james ,d4 ,dana4 ,woodcuts and copperplates1 #hvo4 cloth1 #c #ej4 ,downing4--,cottage ,residences2 or1 a ,series of ,designs for ,rural ,cottages and ,cottage ,villas1 and their ,gardens and ,grounds2 adapted to ,north ,america4 ,by ,a4 ,j4 ,downing4 ,numerous plates1 #c;d edition1 #hvo4 cloth1 #b4 ,downing4--,a ,treatise on the ,theory and ,practice of ,landscape ,gardening adapted to ,north ,america2 with ,remarks on ,rural ,architecture4 ,by ,a4 ,j4 ,downing4 ,plates1 #b;d edition1 thick #hvo4 cloth1 #c #ej4 ,downing4--,the ,fruits and ,fruit ,trees of ,america2 or1 the ,culture1 ,propagation1 and ,management1 in the ,garden and ,orchard1 of ,fruit ,trees generally4 ,by ,a4 ,j4 ,downing4 ,plates1 #ith edition1 revised1 #abmo4 cloth1 #a #ej4 ---- ,the same1 #hvo4 cloth1 #b #ej4 ---- ,the same1 with #hj superb ,illustrations1 drawn and beautifully colored by ,paris ,artists1 royal #hvo4 half morocco1 top edge gilt4 ,new edition shortly4 ,dwight4--,grecian and ,roman ,mythology2 with original ,illustrations4 ,adapted for the ,use of ,universities and ,high ,schools1 and for ,popular ,reading4 ,by ,m4 ,a4 ,dwight4 ,with an ,introduction by ,tayler ,lewis1 ,professor of ,greek1 ,university of ,new ,york4 #abmo4 ,in ,september4 ---- ,also a fine edition in octavo1 with ,illustrations4 ,this work has been prepared with great care1 illustrated with twenty effective outline drawings1 and is designed to treat the subject in an original1 comprehensive1 and unexceptionable manner1 so as to fill the place as a text-book which is yet unsupplied2 while it will also be an attractive and readable table-book for general use4 ,it will be at once introduced as a text-book in the ,university of ,new ,york1 and other colleges and schools4 ,ford4--,the ,spaniards and their ,country4 ,by ,richard ,ford4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #hg cents4 8,the best description of national character and manners of ,spain that has ever appeared40--,quarterly ,review4 8,the volumes appear to treat of almost everything save the graver questions of religion and politics1 which may possibly be taken up hereafter4 ,in one respect it has the advantage over more directly historical works--it portrays the ,spanish character1 as well as country1 with fidelity40--,commercial ,advertiser4 ,fouqu4--,undine1 a ,tale2 and ,sintram and his ,companions1 a ,tale4 ,from the ,german of ,la ,motte ,fouqu4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth4 #ej cts4 8,the style and execution of this delightful romance are very graceful40--,hawkins's ,germany4 8,fouqu's romances ,i always recommend--especially the wild1 graceful1 and touching ,undine40--,sarah ,austin4 ,french4--,historical ,collections of ,louisiana4 ,by ,b4 ,f4 ,french4 #hvo4 cloth1 #a #ej4 ,goldsmith4--,the ,vicar of ,wakefield4 ,by ,oliver ,goldsmith4 #a vol4 #abmo4 neatly printed1 cloth1 #ej cents4 ---- ,the same1 with ,illustrated ,designs by ,mulready1 elegantly bound1 gilt edges1 #a4 ,gray4--,botanical ,text-,book4 ,by ,prof4 ,asa ,gray4 ,many hundred cuts1 #b;d edition1 large #abmo4 cloth1 #a #ge4 ,green4--,a ,treatise on ,diseases of the ,air ,passages2 comprising an ,inquiry into the ,history1 ,pathology1 ,causes1 and ,treatment of those ,affections of the ,throat called ,bronchitis1 c4 ,by ,horace ,green1 ,m4,d4 ,colored plates1 #hvo4 cloth4 #b #ej4 8,a new and eminently successful treatment of lung complaints40 ,hackley4--,elements of ,trigonometry1 ,plane and ,spherical4 ,by ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,hackley1 ,professor of ,mathematics1 ,columbia ,college1 ,new ,york4 #hvo4 cloth1 #a #be4 ,hamilton ,papers4--,the ,official ,papers of the late ,major-,general ,alexander ,hamilton4 ,compiled from the ,originals in the ,possession of ,mrs4 ,hamilton4 #a vol4 #hvo4 cloth1 #b #ej4 ,hahn's ,hebrew ,bible4--,new and complete stereotype edition1 being a fac-simile of the ,leipsic edition4 ,in #a vol4 #hvo4 ,in press4 ,hazlitt's 7,william7 ,miscellaneous ,works4 #d vols4 #abmo4 cloth1 #e4 ,hazlitt's ,life of ,napoleon4 #c vols4 #abmo4 cloth4 ---- ,spirit of the ,age4 #abmo41 #ej cents4 ---- ,table ,talk1 both series1 in #b vols4 cloth1 #b #be4 ---- ,characters of ,shakspeare1 #abmo4 #ej cts4 ---- ,literature of the ,age of ,queen ,elizabeth1 #abmo4 #ej cts4 ---- ,english ,comic ,writers1 #ej cts4 ---- ,lectures on ,english ,poets1 #ej cts4 ,head4--,bubbles from the ,brunnen4 ,by ,sir ,francis ,head4 #abmo4 green cloth4 8,at once an instructive and amusing book4 ,it contains a great deal of information40--,london ,times4 ,hervey4--,the ,book of ,christmas2 descriptive of the ,customs1 ,ceremonies1 ,traditions1 ,superstitions1 ,fun1 ,feeling1 and ,festivities of the ,christmas ,season4 ,by ,thomas ,k4 ,hervey4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #fc cents4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra4 #a4 8,every leaf of this book affords a feast worthy of the season40--,dr4 ,hawks's ,church ,record4 ,hood4--,prose and ,verse4 ,by ,thomas ,hood4 #abmo4 green cloth4 #hg cents4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra1 #a #be4 8,a very judicious selection1 designed to embrace ,hood's more earnest writings1 those which were written most directly from the heart1 which reflect most faithfully his life and opinions40--,broadway ,journal4 ,howitt4--,ballads and other ,poems4 ,by ,mary ,howitt4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #fc cents4 ---- ,the same1 with fine ,portrait1 gilt extra1 #a #be4 8,her poems are always graceful and beautiful40--,mrs4 ,s4 ,c4 ,hall4 8,we cannot commend too highly the present publication1 and only hope that the reading public will relish #8,mary ,howitt's ,ballads and other ,poems1' now for the first time put forth in a collected form40--,albion4 ,hunt4--,imagination and ,fancy4 ,by ,leigh ,hunt4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #fb cents4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra1 #a4 ,hunt4--,stories from the ,italian ,poets3 being a ,summary in ,prose of the ,poems of ,dante1 ,pulci1 ,boiardo1 ,aristo1 and ,tasso2 with ,comments throughout1 occasional passages ,versified1 and ,critical ,notices of the ,lives and ,genius of the ,authors4 ,by ,leigh ,hunt4 #abmo4 cloth1 #a #be4 ---- ,the same1 fancy gilt4 #a #ge4 8,mr4 ,hunt's book has been aptly styled1 a series of exquisite engravings of the magnificent pictures painted by these great ,italian masters40--,journal of ,commerce4 ,irving4--,works of ,washington ,irving2 ,revised and ,enlarged by the ,author4 ,in twelve elegant duodecimo volumes1 beautifully printed with new type1 and on superior paper1 made expressly for the purpose1 and bound in cloth4 ,as follows3-- ,the ,sketch-,book1 in one volume4 ,knickerbocker's ,new ,york1 in one volume4 ,tales of a ,traveller1 in one vol4 ,bracebridge ,hall1 in one volume4 ,the ,conquest of ,grenada1 in one volume4 ,the ,alhambra1 in one volume4 ,astoria1 in one volume4 ,the ,crayon ,miscellany1 in one volume4 ,abbotsford1 ,newstead1 ,the ,prairies1 c4 ,the ,spanish ,legends1 in one vol4 ,the ,life and ,voyages of ,columbus1 and ,the ,companions of ,columbus1 in two volumes4 ,adventures of ,capt4 ,bonneville1 in one volume4 7,now publishing47 ,irving4--,the ,sketch-,book4 ,by ,washington ,irving4 ,complete in one volume1 #abmo4 cloth4 ,in ,september4 ,irving4--,the ,illustrated ,sketch-,book4 ,by ,washington ,irving4 ,in ,october will be published1 ,,the ,,sketch-,,book1 by ,washington ,irving1 one vol4 square octavo1 ,illustrated with a series of highly-finished ,engravings on ,wood1 from ,designs by ,,darley and others1 engraved in the best style by ,,childs1 ,,herrick1 c4 ,this edition will be printed on paper of the finest quality1 similar in size and style to the new edition of 8,halleck's ,poems40 ,it is intended that the illustrations shall be superior to any engravings on wood yet produced in this country1 and that the mechanical execution of the volume1 altogether1 shall be worthy of the author's reputation4 ,it will form an elegant and appropriate gift-book for all seasons4 ,irving4--,knickerbocker's ,history of ,new ,york4 ,by ,washington ,irving4 ,with ,revisions and copious ,additions4 ,will be published on the #ast of ,october4 ,irving4--,the ,illustrated ,knickerbocker2 with a series of original ,designs1 in one volume1 octavo1 uniform with the 8,sketch-,book10 is also in preparation4 ,irving4--,the ,life and ,voyages of ,columbus4 ,by ,washington ,irving4 ,vol4 ,i4 on the #ast of ,november4 ,the succeeding volumes will be issued on the first day of each month until completed4 ,keats4--,the ,poetical ,works of ,john ,keats4 #a vol4 #abmo4 cloth4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra4 8,they are flushed all over with the rich lights of fancy2 and so colored and bestrewn with the flowers of poetry that1 even while perplexed and bewildered in their labyrinths1 it is impossible to resist the intoxication of their sweetness1 or to shut our hearts to the enchantment they so lavishingly present40--,francis ,jeffrey4 ,kinglake4--,ethen2 or1 ,traces of ,travel brought from the ,east4 #abmo4 green cloth4 #ej cts4 8,ethen is a book with which everybody1 fond of eloquent prose and racy description1 should be well acquainted40--,u4 ,s4 ,gazette4 ,klipstein's ,anglo-,saxon ,course of ,study4 ,in uniform #abmo4 volumes1 as follows3 ,i4 ,klipstein4--,a ,grammar of the ,anglo-,saxon ,language4 ,by ,louis ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,,ph4,d41 of the ,university of ,giessen4 #abmo4 cloth1 #a #be4 ,,ii4 ,klipstein4--,analecta ,anglo-,saxonica1 with an ,introductory ,ethnographical ,essay1 ,copious ,notes1 ,critical and ,explanatory1 and a ,glossary in which are shown the ,indo-,germanic and other ,affinities of the ,language4 ,by ,louis ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,,ph4,d41 of the ,university of ,giessen4 ,,iii4 ,klipstein4--,natale ,sancti ,gregorii ,pap4--lfric's ,homily on the ,birth-day of ,st4 ,gregory1 and ,collateral ,extracts from ,king ,alfred's ,version of ,bede's ,ecclesiastical ,history and the ,saxon ,chronicle1 with a full ,rendering into ,english1 ,notes ,critical and ,explanatory1 and an ,index of ,words4 ,by ,louis ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,,ph4,d41 of the ,university of ,giessen4 ,,iv4 ,klipstein4--,extracts from the ,anglo-,saxon ,gospels1 a ,portion of the ,anglo-,saxon ,paraphrase of the ,book of ,psalms1 and other ,selections of a ,sacred ,order in the same ,language1 with a ,translation into ,english1 and ,notes ,critical and ,explanatory4 ,by ,louis ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,,ph4,d41 of the ,university of ,giessen4 ,v4 ,klipstein4--,tha ,halgan ,godspel on ,englisc--the ,anglo-,saxon ,version of the ,holy ,gospels4 ,edited by ,benjamin ,thorpe1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,reprinted by the same4 ,now ready4 #abmo4 cloth1 #a #be4 ,klipstein4--,study of ,modern ,languages4--,part ,first2 ,french1 ,italian1 ,spanish1 ,portuguese1 ,german1 and ,english4 ,by ,l4 ,f4 ,klipstein1 ,,aa4,,ll4,m4 and ,,ph4,d4 ,one vol4 ,imperial #hvo4 ,cloth1 #a2 paper #ge cents4 ,lamb4--,essays of ,elia4 ,by ,charles ,lamb4 #a vol4 #abmo41 cloth4 #a4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra1 #a #be4 8,shakspeare himself might have read them1 and ,hamlet have quoted them3 for truly was our excellent friend of the genuine line of ,yorick40--,leigh ,hunt's ,london ,journal4 ,lamb4--,specimens of the ,english ,dramatic ,poets4 ,by ,charles ,lamb4 #a vol4 #abmo41 green cloth1 #a #ac4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra1 #a #ej4 8,nowhere are the resources of the ,english tongue in power1 in sweetness1 terror1 pathos2 in description and dialogue1 so well displayed40--,broadway ,journal4 ,mahan4--,on ,advanced ,guards1 ,outposts1 and ,military ,duty4 ,by ,d4 ,h4 ,mahan1 ,m4,a4 #ahmo4 cloth1 #ge cents ,mahan's ,course of ,civil ,engineering4 ,third edition1 #hvo4 ,illustrated4 #c #ej4 ,milton4--,the ,prose ,works of ,john ,milton4 ,edited by ,rev4 ,rufus ,wilmott ,griswold4 #b vols4 #hvo41 cloth1 #d4 ,modern ,painters4 ,by a ,graduate of ,oxford4 #abmo4 cloth1 #a #be4 ---- ,the same4 ,second vol4 #abmo4 ,montagu4--,selections from the ,works of ,taylor1 ,latimer1 ,hall1 ,milton1 ,barrow1 ,lowth1 ,brown1 ,fuller1 and ,bacon4 ,by ,basil ,montagu4 #a vol4 #abmo41 green cloth1 #ej cents2 cloth gilt1 #a4 8,this volume contains choice extracts from some of the noblest of the old ,english writers40--,cincinnati ,atlas4 ,nordheimer4--,a ,critical ,grammar of the ,hebrew ,language4 ,by ,isaac ,nordheimer1 ,phil4 ,doctor4 #hvo4 cloth1 #c #ej4 ,oriental ,life ,illustrated4 ,being a new edition of ,ethen1 or ,traces of ,travel in the ,east4 ,with fine ,illustrations on ,steel4 ,parsons4--,the ,rose2 its ,history1 ,poetry1 and ,culture4 ,by ,s4 ,b4 ,parsons4 ,with colored ,plates4 ,royal #hvo4 cloth1 #a #ej4 ,patrick1 ,lowth1 ,arnold1 and ,whitby4--,commentary on the ,bible1 by ,bishops ,patrick1 ,lowth1 ,arnold1 ,whitby1 and ,lowman4 #d vols4 imperial #hvo4 cloth1 #af4 ,peacock4--,headlong ,hall and ,nightmare ,abbey4 #a vol4 #abmo41 green cloth1 #ej cents4 8,this is a witty and amusing book40--,tribune4 ,poe4--,eureka1 ,a ,prose ,poem3 ,or the ,physical and ,metaphysical ,universe4 ,by ,edgar ,a4 ,poe1 ,esq4 ,handsomely printed4 #abmo4 cloth1 #ge cents4 ,pearls of ,american ,poetry4 ,second edition1 superbly illuminated in the manner of the ancient missals by ,t4 ,w4 ,gwilt ,mapleson1 ,esq4 ,printed in gold and colors on ,bristol board4 ,elegantly and strongly bound in full ,morocco1 ,antique style4 ,one volume quarto1 #ab4 ,of this splendid and costly work1 a small number were issued for this season1 but it was not ready for actual publication4 ,it is now completed in a superior style1 and is the most splendid book of the time4 8,on beautiful vellum paper1 are printed in colored characters and with every variety of type1 some of the choicest brief poems of ,american writers--,bryant1 ,longfellow1 ,c4 ,f4 ,hoffman1 and others4 ,each initial letter is a picture1 and each page is illuminated as exquisitely as any of the choicest of antique illuminated volumes--and all from original designs4 ,the conception of these works of art1 as they richly deserve to be called1 the drawing1 painting1 gilding1 are of the highest order4 ,the binding is in keeping with the rest--that of the olden day--solid1 rich1 and tasteful4 ,altogether this is a volume of great attraction for the rare beauty of its adorning and the discrimination of its selections40--,courier4 ,princeton ,theological ,essays4 ,first ,series4 ,royal #hvo4 cloth1 #b #ej4 ,princeton ,theological ,essays4 ,second ,series4 ,royal #hvo4 cloth1 #b #ej4 ,st4 ,john4--,the ,three ,days of ,february1 #ahdh3 with ,portrait of ,lamartine4 #ahmo4 cloth1 #fc cts4 ,tappan4--,elementary ,logic4 ,by ,prof4 ,h4 ,p4 ,tappan4 #a vol4 #abmo4 cloth4 #a4 ,tasso4--,godfrey of ,bulloigne2 or1 the ,recovery of ,jerusalem3 done into ,english ,heroical ,verse4 ,from the ,italian of ,tasso1 by ,edward ,fairfax4 ,introductory ,essay1 by ,leigh ,hunt1 and the ,lives of ,tasso and ,fairfax1 by ,charles ,knight4 #a vol4 #abmo4 #a #be4 8,the completest translation1 and nearest like its original of any we have seen40--,leigh ,hunt4 ,taylor4--,views a-,foot2 or1 ,europe seen with ,knapsack and ,staff4 ,by ,j4 ,bayard ,taylor4 ,new edition1 with an additional ,chapter1 c41 and a ,sketch of the ,author in ,pedestrian ,costume1 from a ,drawing by ,t4 ,buchanan ,read4 #abmo4 cloth4 ,nearly ready4 #a #be4 8,besides being one of the most entertaining books of travel we ever read1 it is written under circumstances of the most interesting2 although at a first glance1 seemingly the most unfavorable40--,boston ,atlas4 ,thackeray4--,journey from ,cornhill to ,cairo4 ,by ,michael ,angelo ,titmarsh4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth4 #ej cts4 8,it is wonderful what a description of people and things1 what numerous pictures1 what innumerable remarks and allusions it contains40--,douglas ,jerrold's ,mag4 ,torrey and ,gray4--,flora of ,north ,america4 ,by ,professors ,torrey and ,gray4 #a vol4 #hvo4 cloth1 #f4 ,parts #a and #f1 each #a #ej2 ,part #g1 #a4 ,tschudi4--,travels in ,peru4 ,by ,dr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,von ,tschudi4 #a vol4 #abmo4 cloth1 #hg cents4 8,the book contains a great deal of curious information1 and will be found useful as a book of reference by all who are interested in the commerce1 natural history1 and general statistics of ,peru40--,blackwood's ,magazine4 ,tupper4--,proverbial ,philosophy4 ,by ,martin ,farquhar ,tupper4 #abmo4 green cloth4 ---- ,the same1 gilt extra4 ---- ,the same1 morocco extra4 ,walton4--,the ,lives of ,donne1 ,walton1 ,hooker1 ,herbert1 and ,sanderson4 ,by ,izaak ,walton4 ,new edition1 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #ge cents4 8,the ,lives are the most delightful kind of reading4 ,walton possesses an inimitable simplicity and vivacity of style40--,mrs4 ,c4 ,m4 ,kirkland4 ,warburton4--,the ,crescent and the ,cross2 or1 the ,romance and ,reality of ,eastern ,travel4 ,by ,elliot ,warburton4 #a vol4 #abmo4 green cloth1 #a4 8,this delightful work is1 from first to last1 a splendid panorama of ,eastern scenery1 in the full blaze of its magnificence40--,london ,morning ,post4 ,a valuable ,work for ,libraries4 ,now ,ready4 #hvo4 #a in paper1 or #a #be half bound4 ,an ,alphabetical ,index to ,subjects treated in the ,reviews1 and other ,periodicals1 to which no ,indexes have been ,published4 ,this volume comprises an ,index to all articles in #efj volumes of the most important periodical works4 ,,popular ,,volumes ,,for ,,presentation1 ,elegantly bound in extra cloth1 gilt edges4 ,chaucer and ,spenser #a #ej ,fairfax's ,tasso's ,jerusalem ,delivered #a #ej ,fouqu's ,undine1 and ,sintram #a #jj ,goldsmith's ,vicar of ,wakefield1 with plates #a #jj ,hervey's ,book of ,christmas #a #jj ,howitt's 7,mary7 ,ballads and ,poems #a #jj ,hood's ,prose and ,verse #a #be ,hunt's ,imagination and ,fancy #a #jj ---- ,italian ,poets #a #ge ,keats's ,poems #a #be ,lamb's ,dramatic ,specimens #a #ej ,lamb's ,essays of ,elia #a #be ,,the ,,sybil2 or1 ,new ,oracles from the ,poets4 ,by ,mrs4 ,gilman4 ,an elegant and attractive book #a #ej ,,illustrated ,,juveniles4 ,,facts ,,and ,,fancies4 ,by ,miss ,sedgwick4 #afmo4 with cuts1 cloth 4#ej ,,glimpses ,,of ,,the ,,wonderful4--,an entertaining ,account of ,curiosities of ,nature and ,art4 ,first1 ,second1 and ,third ,series1 with numerous fine ,illustrations engraved in ,london4 ,square #afmo4 cloth1 each 4#ge ,,home ,,treasury1 ,,the2 ,comprising new versions of ,cinderella1 ,beauty and the ,beast1 ,grumble and ,cheery1 ,the ,eagle's ,verdict1 ,the ,sleeping ,beauty4 ,revised and illustrated4 ,small #dto 4#ej ,,morals ,,and ,,manners2 or1 ,hints for our ,young ,people4 ,by ,miss ,sedgwick4 #afmo 4#be ,,young ,,naturalist',s ,,rambles--through many ,lands1 with an account of the principal ,animals and ,birds of the ,old and ,new ,continents4 ,cloth 4#ej ,george ,p4 ,putnam 7,,of ,,the ,,late ,,firm ,,of ,,wiley ,,and ,,putnam71 ,has taken the new and commodious premises1 #aee ,,broadway1 ,,new ,,york 7,next building to that of the late ,firm71 ,and continues the business of ,,publishing1 ,,and ,,the ,,importation ,,of ,,foreign ,,books1 ,,as ,,above1 ,,and ,,at ,,putnam',s ,,american ,,literary ,,agency1 #adb ,strand1 ,,london ,,established ,,in #ahch4 99 99 99 99 99 ,arrangements have been made to secure at the ,london ,agency the services of an experienced and competent ,bibliographer1 so that the business of executing ,,special ,,orders ,,for ,,the ,,trade ,,and ,,public ,,institutions may be thoroughly regulated1 and all parties giving such orders1 may be fully satisfied both with regard to expedition and economy4 ,the interests of ,public ,institutions1 and those ordering ,books in quantities will receive special attention1 while it is also intended that any one ordering a single volume from ,europe1 may receive it promptly 7if procurable71 without disappointment or unnecessary expense4 ,mr4 ,,putnam believes that his twelve years' experience abroad in purchasing ,books for the ,american market1 will be of service to those who may favor him with orders4 ,correspondence established with ,,paris1 ,,rome1 ,,leipsic1 ,,brussels1 and all the principal cities on the ,continent4 ,all ,american ,publications on the best terms1 by the quantity or singly4 ,n4 ,b4--,,catalogues of extensive collections of ,foreign and ,american ,books1 on all subjects may be had on application4