148 On the Formation of the Universe. 
mere grains of sand, in the corners of an immense and ma- 
' jestic edifice. It appears from the observations of Dr. Her- 
schel, that most, or all of the stars are collecting into subor- 
dinate spherical clusters, and forming what he calls, “ the 
chemical laboratories of the Universe.” The principles of 
gravitation will bring the stars in each individual of these 
clusters to their common centre of gravity, in about the same 
period of time; and their appearance argue, that such will 
be the result in reality. The universe, then, was not intend- 
ed to be perfect in its present state: but its various con- 
stituent parts are adapted and destined to happier and more 
sublime realities. It is the shoot just springing from the 
acorn, and pushing its way through the hardy soil, to a no- 
bler existence :—a soil not particularly adapted to the ten- 
derness of the youthful twig, but to the magnitude and vigor 
of the princely oak. Itis an infant struggling in its cra- 
dle, whose mighty and majestic manhood no troubles or 
convulsions shall weaken ; over whose immortal perfections 
death and destruction shall never prevail. The astrono- 
mer, as well as the prophet, has declared, that its various 
parts are advancing to the final conflagration, when the ele- 
ments shall melt with fervent heat; when the heavens shall 
shall arise to a perfect and ani endless existence. 
Through the kindness of the Hon. Mr. Bowditch of Sa- 
lem, I received, a day or two ago, an extract from the fourth 
edition of La Place’s Systéme du Monde, which he marked 
‘and permitted to be copied. From that, I learn that in the 
