452 GRAVITATING FORCE. [SECT, xxxviu. 



SECTION XXXVIII. 



Diffusion of Matter through Space Gravitation Its Velocity Simplicity of 

 its Laws Gravitation independent of the Magnitude and Distances of the 

 Bodies Not impeded by the intervention of any Substance Its Intensity 

 invariable General Laws Recapitulation and Conclusion. 



THE known quantity of matter bears a very small proportion 

 to the immensity of space. Large as the bodies are, the dis- 

 tances which separate them are immeasurably greater ; but, 

 as design is manifest in every part of creation, it is probable 

 that, if the various systems in the universe had been nearer 

 to one another, their mutual disturbances would have been 

 inconsistent with the harmony and stability of the whole. 

 It is clear that space is not pervaded by atmospheric air, 

 since its resistance would, long ere this, have destroyed the 

 velocity of the planets; neither can we affirm it to be a 

 void, since it seems to be replete with ether, and traversed 

 in all directions by light, heat, gravitation, and possibly by 

 influences whereof we can form no idea. 



Whatever the laws may be that obtain in the more dis- 

 tant regions of creation, we are assured that one alone re- 

 gulates the motions, not only of our own system, but also 

 of the binary systems of the fixed stars; and, as general 

 laws form the ultimate object of philosophical research, we 

 cannot conclude these remarks without considering the na- 

 ture of gravitation that extraordinary power, whose effects 

 we have been endeavouring to trace through some of their 

 mazes. It was at one time imagined that the acceleration in 

 the moon's mean motion was occasioned by the successive 

 transmission of the gravitating force. It has been proved 

 that, in order to produce this effect, its velocity must be about 

 fifty millions of times greater than that of light, which flies 



