AND THEORY OF THE HEAVENS. 25 



with the alteration from the falling in a straight line, which 

 we deduce from the repulsion of the particles. Finally, 

 the vortices which arose from the disturbed motion, is 

 also a theory of Leucippus and Democritus, and it will be 

 also found in our scheme. So many points of affinity with 

 a system which constituted the real theory of all denial 

 of God in antiquity do not, however, draw my system 

 into community with its errors. Something true will always 

 be found even in the most nonsensical opinions that have 

 ever obtained the consent of men. A false principle, or 

 a couple of unconsidered conjunctive propositions, lead 

 men away from the high footpath of truth by unnoticed 

 by-paths into the abyss. Notwithstanding the similarity 

 indicated, there yet remains an essential difference between 

 the ancient cosmogony and that which I present, so that 

 the very opposite consequences are to be drawn from mine. 

 The teachers of the mechanical production of the 

 structure of the world referred to, derive all the order 

 which may be perceived in it from mere chance which 

 made the atoms to meet in such a happy concourse that 

 they constituted a well-ordered whole. Epicurus had the 

 hardihood to maintain that the atoms diverged from then- 

 straight motion without a cause, in order that they might 

 encounter one another. All these theorizers pushed this 

 absurdity so far that they even assigned the origin of all 

 animated creatures to this blind concourse, and actually 

 derived reason from the irrational. In my system, on the 

 contrary, I find matter bound to certain necessary laws. 

 Out of its universal dissolution and dissipation I see a 

 beautiful and orderly whole quite naturally developing 

 itself. This does not take place by accident, or of 

 chance ; but it is perceived that natural qualities necessarily 



