662 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



as central heat of the earth and other planets, and still radiating 

 from the sun and fixed stars. 



Consequently, tliis simple law of gravitation acting on nebulous 

 matter, unequally distributed in the universe, is sufficient to explain 

 all the results observed in the admirable system of worlds, of 

 which the final purpose is, to be filled with organized beings. The 

 contemplation of such a simple law, producing such grand results, 

 must compel us to acknowledge a Divine Mind governing the uni- 

 verse, even when we adopt the so-called materialistic doctrine of 

 the ancients, the chaos, or the indestructi])ility and eternity of 

 matter. 



Finally, we must conclude that like heat, light, electricity, mag- 

 netism, and all motion we observe on earth are produced by the 

 influence of the light and heat of the sun, and this heat of the sun 

 beino- the result of the forces which formed the sun, which forces 

 were nothing l)ut gravitation. All life and motion on this earth is 

 consequently nothing hut gravitation in disguise, and we stand on 

 the threshold of our knowledge of the universe, not being able to 

 penetrate any farther into the secrets of cosmogony, as indeed any 

 cause accepted to explain this gravitation will only remove the 

 unexplained difiiculty a step further backward. 



When this nebular was reduced in size but developed in beauty 

 into a planetary system, the individual masses, at first liquid and fiery 

 hot, would soon cool down the smallest part, after well established 

 laws. This cooling down was modified also by their distance from 

 some laro-er one, Avhich communicated its heat by radiation ; and 

 so, no doubt, the interior small planets, Venus and Mercury, are 

 still at a temperature far above that of the earth, only by their 

 proximity to the sun. Prof. Loomis, of New Haven, has suggested 

 the hypothesis that the organic life in the planets Mars, Saturn, 

 and the asteroids, has passed aAvay long ago ; that Jupiter is 

 doubtful ; that Mars and the earth are now populated, and Venus 

 and Mercury have to cool down for a million of years longer before 

 being adapted to organic life. Certain it is that the capacity of a 

 planet to sustain life is only for a very limited period, compared 

 with the history of its formation. When the surface of a planet is 

 cooled down between 100° and 40° F., it is fit for habitation. That 

 the central heat, the individual temperature of a planet is essential 

 for organism, is evident from this remark : that during the whole 

 summer season, the sun would not have the power to melt the 

 frozen surface, if interiorly the earth was frozen also, and had not 



