AND THEORY OF THE HEAVENS. 97 



limit the hypothesis of the exact circular movement of 

 the particles of the primitive matter to this extent that, 

 as they come very close to this exact determination in 

 the regions near the sun, yet they allow a wider divergence 

 from it the more distantly these elementary particles have 

 floated away from the sun. Such a modification of the 

 principle of the free circular movement of the primitive 

 matter is more conformable to nature. For notwithstanding 

 the rarity of space which seems to leave them freedom 

 to limit each other at the point of the complete equilibrium 

 of the central forces, yet the causes are not less important 

 which hinder the full realization of this purpose of nature. 

 The further the scattered portions of the primitive matter 

 are removed from the sun, so much the weaker is the 

 force which draws them towards it ; and the resistance 

 of the nearer portions of this primitive matter, which has 

 to bend its falling motions sideways and compel it to 

 assume a direction perpendicular to the radius, diminishes 

 in the proportion in which these nearer particles move 

 away under it either to be incorporated in the sun or to 

 enter upon revolutions of their own in nearer regions. 

 The specifically preponderating lightness of this more 

 distant matter does not allow it to assume the falling 

 movement towards the sun, which is the foundation of 

 the whole system, with the energy that is required to 

 make the resisting particles give way ; and perhaps these 

 distant particles still limit each other so as, after a long 

 period, finally to overcome this uniformity. And thus small 

 masses have already been formed among them as the 

 beginnings of so many heavenly bodies which, as they 

 are collected out of feebly moved matter, just acquire an 

 eccentric movement with which they fall to the sun, and 



