ES 
On the Formation of the Universe. 145 
if they were crooked as * : : is ‘the parts about a and c 
would continually retard those at b, till the strata approach- 
ed very near toa regular figure. If the ocean were infinite, 
and of such a nature as to concrete without a disturbing 
force, its formation into worlds would of course be simulta- 
neous throughout, and the collective forms would be wholly 
and inevitably accidental, without any immediate or subse- 
quent law whatever to effect regularity. If the ocean were 
infinite, and if particular gravitation were not infinite, there 
appear to be two possible modes, in which the formation 
might be effected. The strata, as accident made them so, 
might be flat, prismatic, and cylindrical, formed by accumu- 
lations at their ends, and continued in a direction parallel to 
each other, and to the course of progress. These nebulae, 
having the greatest power of attraction at their ends, would 
continue generally in a rectilinear direction; for if it were 
otherwise, they would indicate a tendency to accumulate at 
the sides rather than the edges. It is obvious from 
appearances, that such has not been the actual mode of for- 
Vol. VI.—No. I. 19 
