OF COMMON MATTER. 171 



by supposing, that the nebulous matter of 

 which it is composed, fills an irregular kind 

 of solid space ; and that it is either a little 

 deeper in the brightest place ; or, that the ne- 

 bulosity is, perhaps, a little more compressed. 

 A moderate condensation, accompanied with 

 some little general swelling of the nebulous 

 matter, about the places which appear like 

 nuclei, will account, he supposes, for their 

 superior brightness ; and that several bright 

 nuclei, are rendered visible thereby. 



The difficulty, however, of ascertaining the 

 probable cause of this condensation, in mat- 

 ter so extremely repellent as this luminous 

 matter appears to be, naturally presents it- 

 self; the subject is soon settled: instead, 

 says the doctor, of inquiring after the na- 

 ture of the cause of the condensation of ne- 

 bulous matter, it is sufficient for the present 

 purpose, to call it merely a condensing prin- 

 ciple ; but since we are already acquainted 

 with the centripetal force of attraction, which 

 gives a globular figure to planets, keeps them 

 from flying out of their orbits in tangents, 

 and makes them revolve round one another, why 

 should we not look up to the universal 

 gravitation of matter, as the cause of every 

 condensation, accumulation, compression, and 

 concentration of nebulous matter ? Facts are not 



