124 



them in spite of, the solecism. Muman language is alike in- 

 competent to express the Creation and the Creator. 



Sublime and ineffable as are the sentiments which arise 

 from these amaaing contemplations, they but inflam^e the lust 

 of knowledge. System after sysfem bursts with increasing 

 grandeur on the indefatigable mind. We reason — we com- 

 pare^- we generalise — we simplify. Science fixes her firm ' 

 foot on the orb of the sun^ and sees, around her, circumvolv- 

 ing planets, satellites, and comets. Their motion more rapid 

 beyond comparison than the whirlwind is to the eye imper- 

 ceptible at the distance even of the nighest. iiow then 

 could we hope to discern the motion of the stars hitherto 

 supposed to be fixed ? Yet Ilalley suspected and Herschel 

 has discovered that they actually move, and almost ascer- 

 tained even the direction of their course. * But thousands 

 of yea¥S must elapse before such a general change can occur 

 as to alter materially to our senses their relative positions. 

 Some nebula infinitrlj? remote, apd whose motion must be 

 less perceptible in proportion to its distance, may offer itself 

 as an abject suffielently fixed for measuring the movement of 

 i\\e nearer heavens. But what is the length of human life — 

 the duration of nations — the existence of the earth itself, to 

 accomplish such a task ? At those incalculable distances, it 

 is possible that many millions of miles, nay many millions of 

 diametets eveu of the solar system, may not occupy to our 



* See Hersclicl's Paj;ers on the Motion of the Sun, and Solar System in the Transac- 

 tions of the Royal Society, for the years 1783 and 1805. , 



