ASTEROIDS. SOLAKIZATION. 87 



hypothesis is necessary to preserve the uniformity of the sys- 

 tem, and to supply the vacuity that would otherwise have 

 existed between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. 



If, therefore, instead of being without progeny, and revolv- 

 ing in solitude (which can only be owing to their diminutive- 

 ness), each asteroid were attended by a numerous family of 

 children and grand-children (or satellites and sub-satellites), 

 and revolved around one of their number, while performing 

 their general circuit around a superior center, they would ex- 

 actly illustrate, on a small scale, our idea of the segregated 

 stellar clusters of the universe each of which latter may be 

 supposed to revolve, as one general body, like the asteroids, in 

 an orbit generally coinciding as to plane, and distance from the 

 great and common Center, with the plane and distance of the 

 great ring of nebulous materials in which it had its parentage. 



But it should be understood, that the fifth stage in the pro- 

 cess of creation, considered merely as a process of segregation, 

 is complete with the formation simply of separate angular 

 masses and sub-masses, from the general materials of the neb- 

 ulous rings. 



The sixth process in the creative procedure, is a process of 

 solarization, or one by which these previously segregated and 

 indefinitely formed masses and their sub-divisions, become 

 established suns. This process is accomplished by gravita- 

 tions to, and emanations from, central points in the segregated 

 masses, on principles essentially the same with those previ- 

 ously explained as applying to the formation of the first great 

 central Body ; but in this higher process, the operations may 

 be supposed to be more refined and regular in proportion to 

 the superior refinement of the elements and dynamic agents 

 which are involved. These suns assume specific distances and 

 orbits determined by the laws of equilibrium, and com- 



