138 On the Formation of the Universe. 
would be about v, nearer the vertex. In the part H, those 
points would obviously be reversed, so that somewhere be- 
tween the partsJ and H,they mustcoincide. What would hold 
true of such a poriion of the ring, would, in respect of gravi- 
ty and velocity, be true of the whole. Planets formed at 
the place where these points coincide, would move in circu- 
lar orbits ; and the excentricities in the various orbits would 
ve a general proportion to their distance from the place 
of coincidence. ‘This is the case with the eccentricities 
in the solar system. The cause of emission being much 
more rapid and powerful in its operation, and the orbits 
being larger in the upper than the lower series, the planeta- 
ry wheel in the upper series, as was shown above, would 
of course be the largest. 
- Between the upper and the lower series of planets there 
is alarge space, where the quantity of matter thrown o 
from the solar wheel must have been comparatively small. 
Suppose tbat two distinct bodies were formed in the same 
circle of this diminutive portion of the great belt, at opposite 
sides of the circumference. Many such bodies of a smaller 
size must of necessity be formed, and must proceed to meet 
and combine with the one that commenced the formation, 
and had acquired a superior influence above the rest. 
Those which came in last would of course be the largest: 
and it is perfectly reasonable to suppose, that the last of all 
might be nearly equal to the principal one. The smaller 
body im proportion to its inferiority to the larger one, would 
havea tendency to strike it on its higher hemisphere, or the 
one most distant from the solar wheel. If it should strike 
the laryer one so far up.as to bound off from it, the smaller 
one would obviously be thrown in a direction diverging from 
its natural course, and from the solar wheel. If the smaller 
body should strike the larger one on its posterior hemis- 
phere, the original motion, or the motion which it had when 
rown off from the solar wheel, would be accelerated and 
that of the la-ger one retarded. But if the smaller should 
strike the larger one on its anterior hemisphere, the original 
motion of the larger one would be accelerated, and that of 
the smaller ove retarded. This is evident from the fact, 
their mutual attraction prior to percussion, or else they would 
remain together. Here then we find three causes of eccen- 
