56 GRAVITY, WEIGHT, &C. [LfSSOH XIII. 



world, we might reason in a manner similar to the 

 following: In the beginning the G<<AND MOVF.R 

 imp;essed such a degree of motion upon these 

 bodies, as, if not controuled, would have whirled 

 them onward in straight lines, and to endless 

 lengihs, till they would have been lost to imagina- 

 tion in the abyss of space. But the gravitating 

 property (which acts in reciprocal proportion to 

 the square of its distance from the attractive cen- 

 tre), heinvr combined with the projectile force, de- 

 termined their courses to an elliptical form, and 

 obliged these bodies to perform their destined 

 rounds. Were euher of these causes to have its 

 action suspended, the harmony of these motions 

 would be disconcerted : were the projectile force 

 suspended, the planets would be drawn by the 

 attractive power till they fell upon the central 

 body : and if the gravitating force were sus- 

 pended, they would be rapidly hurled to an incon- 

 ceivable distance, and perhaps would be dissipated 

 into atoms. 



How admirable, how extensive, and diversified 

 is the efficacy of the single principle Gravity/ 

 It is this which penetrates the minutest pores of 

 all bodies, and diffuses itself to the remotest limits 

 of the Mundane System : it is this which keeps the 

 planetary orbs, already impressed with motion, 

 equipoised upon their centres : it is this to which 

 we may attribute the pressure of the atmosphere : 

 it is this which causes the ocean to ebb and flow with 

 such wonderful regularity, and yet confines it within 

 proper bounds. These and other complicated ef- 

 fects 



