of the System of the Universe. 223 
and as the moving power in the sun would be constantly im- 
pelling that moving axis—the centre of density of the single or 
conjoined masses would describe the orbit round the sun, and its 
variations would tend to vary the curve of the orbit, 
The diameter of the orbit, or the radius vector, would there- 
fore be slightly and regularly varied by any arrangement within 
the planet which enlarged the distance between the centre of 
motion and the centre of matter, as a preponderance of water 
in one hemisphere, either from construction or the melting of 
congealed masses*, Whatever varies the rotation of the axis of 
motion (that is, of the mass,) round the axis ef the real matter 
in a planet, would necessarily vary its rotary impulse, increase 
or diminish its centrifugal force, and give a variation to the 
length of the radius vector; and hence the elliptical form of 
the erbits of the planets. 
The masses of each planet would be kept together, and acci- 
dental disturbances in the arrangement of the parts would be 
restored by the subjection of each part to the paramount motions 
of the whole, as proved in my previous essay. 
. The medium of space, whatever it may be, would thus be an 
acting cause of motion, like a current of the sea, and not a means 
of resistance, as has been mistakenly supposed. 
_ There would be no occult principle of attraction or gravitation 
concerned in any part of the phenomena; but the whole would 
be a necessary result of the known laws of motion, at once sub- 
ordinate, analogical, harmonious, and fit. ‘The phenomena of 
the universe are the results of a system of motion producing mo- 
tion; and of motion generated by motion. By this agency a 
stone is propelled to a planet by the motions of the planet—-a 
planet is carried round the sun by the motions of the sun—a se- 
condary is carried round a primary by the joint motions of the 
sun and primary—and the motions of the sun are, perhaps, 
caused by the motions of systems of suns—while the motions of 
those systems may again be caused by other superior motions! 
In short, all nature consists of a series of included motions pro- 
duced by the motions of superior bodies and systems, till we 
ascend to the first term in the series—an inscrutable cAUSE of 
CAUSEs ! ; 
_'The general mathematical laws would be the same as those here- 
tofore determined, though the results would be produced by dif- 
ferent trains of reasoning. The data would however be more 
'* Tt seems to be a necessary fact, that the cause which varies the direc- 
tion of motion, or the equal orbit of a planet, should exist withia 
the planet itself, and grow out of accidents arising from its general mo- 
oun, 
precise 
