OF COMMON MATTER. 173 



bular expansions of nebulous matter ; it is ne- 

 cessary to inquire into the cause that has 

 formed this matter into such masses. To ascribe 

 it to chance is unphilosophical ; especially as 

 a forming cause offers itself to our view, when 

 we direct our eye to the globular figure of the 

 planets, and satellites, of the solar system!!! 

 and we may confidently assign the attraction of 

 gravitation, as the principle which has drawn 

 the nebulous matter towards a centre, and col- 

 lected it in a spirical ctimpass. In the course of 

 the gradual condensation of the nebulous mat- 

 ter, it may be expected, that a time must come, 

 when it cati ho longer be compressed, and the 

 only cause which we may suppose to put 

 an end to the compression, is when the 

 consolidated matter assumes hardness. When 

 we reflect on these circumstances, we may 

 conceive, that, perhaps, in progress of time, 

 these nebulae, which are already in such 

 a state of compression, may be still far- 

 ther condensed, so as actually to become 

 solid. 



I have deemed it proper to give this short 

 abstract from Doctor Herschel's paper, on 

 this interesting subject; but it must, how- 

 ever, be observed, that we ought carefully 

 to separate the matter of fact, and of obser- 

 vation, from the matter of opinion, as to the 



