22 New Theories of the Great Forces. 



were developed, and which made their way, 

 pari passu, with the advancements of elec- 

 trical and electro-magnetic science. These 

 theories, specious, inconsistent, illogical, yet 

 withal plausible, and even fascinating, served 

 to blind the mental vision so that mankind 

 might not appreciate the truth. 1 



The hypothesis promulgated by BRUNO, 

 KANT and LAPLACE, of the nebular origin of 

 the spheres, and the deductions consequent 

 thereupon, in regard to the progressive 

 stages through which the earth in its devel- 

 opments has passed, was pernicious in its in- 

 fluence in diverting the minds of investigators 

 from other and truer channels. To the blind 

 confidence with which that hypothesis has 

 been universally accepted and perpetuated, 

 and to the fallacious theories thus directly and 

 indirectly engendered, we owe our false posi- 

 tion at the present day. 



The present theories of the transmission 

 of light and sound ; of the production of 

 winds, and sun-spots, and of the method of 

 development and dissemination of heat, are 

 in point of fact, unphilosophical and incom- 

 prehensible. 



1 Appendix, p. 97. 



