120 GENERAL ECONOMY OF 



to distinct systems, and systems of systems of suns and 

 plan%ts, as these are successively brought ' into the field of a 

 telescope. Suppose, that after this optical arrangement is 

 completed, some learned Newtonian astronomer, who is en- 

 tirely ignorant of its nature, is invited, on some clear even- 

 ing, to look through the instrument, which is represented to 

 him as a newly invented telescope, instead of a microscope. 

 The astronomer gazes with wonder and astonishment, and 

 thinks he has obtained a new and favorable view of some 

 stellar and planetary creation which has not before appeared 

 to him exactly in the same aspect. 



" Well, Mr. Astronomer," demands an inquirer, " what is 

 your opinion respecting the origin of the motions, the laws of 

 operation, and the soured of stability, of the system which you 

 are now surveying "?" 



" Why, undoubtedly," replies the astronomer, " the same 

 principles are applicable here that apply to all planetary and 

 stellar creations;" and if he added no more, he would thus 

 far be correct. But he continues, " Undoubtedly each one of 

 those bodies received a certain mechanical impulse as it was 

 launched into space from -ihe hand of the Creator. Each one 

 moves in a vacuum, and would have continued its primitive 

 motion in a direct line forever, had it not been deflected from 

 its course by an equal and perpetually operative force of grav- 

 itation, whence its present motion is in a circular or elliptical 

 orbit. If either one of those revolving bodies," continues 

 the sage astronomer, " were arrested in its orbit, and the cen- 

 trifugal force were thus destroyed, gravitation would immedi- 

 ately draw it to the central sun, and this would probably so 

 derange the equilibrium of the system as to ultimately pro- 

 duce a universal catastrophe !" 



If the astronomer is now shown a direct view of the real 



