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128 ~ On the Formation of the Unwerse. 
PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, &c. 
Art. VII—An Essay on the formation of the Universe: by 
Isaac Orr, one of the Professors in the Asylum, for the 
Deaf andDumb, at Hartford, Conn. 
TO THE EDITOR. 
Dear Sir, 
Ir it is admissible in the explanation of appearances, to ad- 
duce a theory, whose absolute and invariable characteristics 
are wholly coincident with fact; aand whose variable charac- 
teristics admit of sucha construction, as to be also coincident; 
pearances; the present aetna to illustrate one of the most 
difficult physical su jects will not want an apology, though 
it should eventually be numbered with other similar at- 
tempts, that have sunk with their projectors into their own 
sblivi 
. It is far from being the least difficulty, to be met 
by a theory, professing to account for the motion and rela- 
tive position of the heavenly bodies, that such theories have 
been so numerous and so utterly visionary, as to stamp seem- 
ing futility on all. In view of so formidable an array of ad- 
verse public opinion, it seems sufficient to collect, arrange, 
and exhibit the proofs of such a theory, and leave it for oth- 
ers, who are not personally interested in the decision, to 
judge of their validity. Whatever is asserted in this me- 
moir, although perhaps, sometimes passed over rather too 
iefly, can, I believe, in all cases, be amply substantiated. 
In several instances where it is said that assertions are de- 
monstrable, the demonstrations are omitted, on account of 
their length, or comparative want of importance. They wi 
be given hereafter, if they should be demanded. For sev- 
eral remarks and demonstrations, with regard to the separa- 
tion into strata of a finite ocean of concreting aerial matter, 
when particular gravitation is supposed infinite ; the con- 
struction of strata by accumulation at their edges; the diut- 
