On the Formation of the Universe. 137 
by collection they acquired a very considerable degree of 
motion round their axes, their constituent wheels would im- 
mediately assume a shape elongated on a line drawn through 
them from their primaries, and would tend to remain in this 
position; so that however great the velocity of the internal 
parts might be, it would be continually diminished by fric- 
tion proceeding from the exterior, till the wheel became 
stationary on the abovementioned line, or the whole became 
solid. 
Multiplying the width of the rings of ejected matter which 
it is reasonable to suppose was about taken up by each of 
the planetary wheels, into the length of their orbit; and di- 
viding its comparative quantity of matter by this product, we 
shail obtain the proportionate average quantities of matter 
ejected in a given space from the solar wheel, through the 
various steps of its progress: The result gives for Herschel 
0,093. Saturn 1,552, Jupiter 14,812, Pallas 0,075, Ceres 
0,054, Juno 0,016, Vesta 0,010, Mars 0,086, the earth and 
moon 2,946, Venus 4,357, Mercury i ,490. From the state 
of the case the calculations are unavoidably loose ; but ifwe 
vary the premises within any rational limits whatever, the 
same general result is inevitable. If the two sources of 
emission described above, were regular in their increase 
and diminution; and if the ejected matter composing the 
two series of planets, instead of collecting together, be sup- 
posed to remain at the same distance from the common cen- 
tre at which it was emitted, and to be distributed in two 
from the solar wheel, that is, to move in a circular orbit, 
18 
Vol. VI....No. I. 
