250 Description and Analysis of a Meteoric Mass. 
A little reflection however will evince that if we view the starry 
universe as composed of systems of systems, acknowledging a 
common centre, and suppose a resisting medium to be partially 
diffused throughout, the preceding reasoning would with a little 
modification be applicable to its mode of distribution. Even here 
we find no cause to apprehend the dissolution of creation, or to 
infer that physical worlds will cease to exist, as theatres for the 
operation of the infinite love and infinite wisdom of the Divine 
Creator. : . 
Iam aware that there are those whose religious feelings are 
enlisted to prove, upon philosophical grounds, the certainty of the 
final destruction of at least this terrestrial globe ; and who may 
therefore distrust the tenor of the foregoing remarks. With the 
hazards to which our earth may be exposed from other sources, 
have at this time nothing todo. But with all due deference to 
those who may differ from me in opinion, if such there are, al- 
though I revere the sacred scriptures as the manifestation of di- 
vinity to man, I do not regard them as designed to instruct us in 
physical philosophy. Prophecy has not always been understood 
until the time of its fulfilment; and while some contend, as the 
admirers of Swedenborg, that the word of God contains through- 
out a figurative or spiritual sense, the prophecies are confessedly 
full of metaphor. In those relating to the final consummation of 
all things, circumstances are stated which must be considered fig- 
urative. It is not improbable that others are misunderstood, and 
it is believed to be alike dangerous to science and to religion, t0 
be unduly biased in our investigations of philosophical questions, 
by uncertain interpretations of the sacred volume. 
oo 
Arr. IV.—Description and Analysis of a Meteoric mass, Se ound 
in Tennessee, composed of Metallic Iron, Graphite, H: ydroride 
of Iron and Pyrites ; by G. Troost, M. D., Prof. of Chemistry, 
Mineralogy and Geology in the University of Nashville, Tenn. 
Durine my excursions through East Tennessee, I had see? 
small fragments of native iron, and had heard of large masses of 
it, which were believed to be silver. It being considered a pre 
cious metal, all that was known about it, and the place where it 
‘was found, were kept a profound secret. Some less prejudi 
inhabitant at last became acquainted with the nature of the metal, 
