318 HUMBOLDTS COSMOS: 



act under circumstances or in connection with other forces, 

 which control or otherwise modify its effects. But in pausing 

 of necessity at this point, how sublime is the resting-place 

 attained, and how far above the objects and contemplations 

 which beset us in the ordinary course of human life ! 



The third great result derived from Lord Rosse's telescope, 

 viz. the resolution into stars of many nebulae before unre- 

 solved, bears closely on the question, so much agitated of 

 late, as to the existence of a self-luminous nebular matter 

 diffused in different parts of space, and forming the material 

 out of which worlds are aggregated and systems of stars 

 brought into being. This theory, sanctioned by eminent 

 names, and plausible at least in its application to our own 

 planetary system, found support in the aspect of such unre- 

 solved nebulous lights in the remote heavens. The simple 

 fact that progressive increase of telescopic power has in the 

 same ratio disclosed to us these luminous masses as clusters 

 of innumerable stars, must be considered a cogent, though 

 not decisive, argument against it; the nebulae still not 

 analysed presenting the same aspect as those which have 

 been recently thus resolved; and, perhaps awaiting only a 

 higher power given to the eye, to afford the same results. 

 Furthermore, it may reasonably be doubted whether mere 

 nebulous matter, yet uncondensed into stars, could from 

 distances such as these radiate light apparently equal in 

 intensity to that of nebulae known to be entirely composed of 

 stars. The whole question, by the very terms of it, will be 

 felt as one incapable at present of any complete solution. 

 But the negative upon the modern nebular theory has been 

 strengthened ; and those bold speculations placed in abeyance 

 which dealt with the consolidation of worlds as if it were 

 matter of familiar observation, and within the compass and 

 calculation of ordinary science. We acknowledge ourselves 

 of the number of those who think this to be a salutary check, 



