190 THE HAMBURG ACCOUNT OF WRIGHT'S THEORY. 



from an undeniable truth, we must next consider in what 

 manner they move. First then, to suppose them to move 

 in right lines, you know is contrary to all the laws and 

 principles we at present know of; and since there are 

 but two ways that they can possibly move in any natural 

 order, that is, either in right lines or in curves, this 

 [not] being one it must, of course, be the other, i.e. in an 

 orbit; and, consequently, were we able to view them 

 from their middle position ... we might expect to find 

 them separately moving in all manner of directions round 

 a general centre. It only now remains to show how a 

 number of stars, so disposed in a circular manner round 

 any given centre, may solve the phenomena before us. 

 There are but two ways possible to be proposed by which 

 it can be done, and one of which I think is highly prob- 

 able ; but which of the two will meet your approbation 

 I shall not venture to determine. The first is in the 

 manner I have above described, i.e. all moving the same 

 way, and not much deviating .from the same plane, as 

 the planets in their heliocentric motion do round the 

 solar body. . . . The second method of solving this 

 phenomena is by a spherical order of the stars, all moving 

 with different direction round one common centre, as the 

 planets and comets together do round the sun, but in a kind 

 of shell or concave order. The former is easily conceived 

 from what has been already said, and the latter is as easy 

 to be understood if you have any idea of the segment 

 of a globe." 



THE EIGHTH LETTER is entitled : " Of Time and Space, 

 with regard to the known objects of immensity and duration." 



THE NINTH LETTER contains: "Reflections by way of 

 general scholia, of consequences relating to the immortality 

 of the soul, and concerning Infinity and Eternity" Here 

 we shall only reproduce what the author founds all his 

 reflections in these letters upon. " Should it be granted," 

 he says, "that the creation may be circular or orbicular, 

 I "would next suppose in the general centre of the whole 

 an intelligent principle, from whence proceeds that mystic 

 and paternal power productive of all life, light, and the 

 infinity of things. Here the to all extending eye ot 

 Providence, within the sphere of its activity, and as 

 omnipresently residing seated in the centre of Infinity, I 



