COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



have dealt destruction to all the planetary rings 

 subsequently detached between himself and the 

 present solar surface. The earth, Venus, and 

 Mercury would in such a case have been repre- 

 sented by a triple zone of asteroids, revolving 

 in more or less eccentric orbits, and the por- 

 tions of planetary matter which constitute the 

 German armies beleaguering Paris might to- 

 day 1 have been peacefully whirling in space, 

 ten million miles removed from the portions 

 which constitute the starving population of that 

 unhappy city. 



Joining together all the foregoing considera- 

 tions, we have a most interesting array of facts, 

 which I believe have not hitherto been contem- 

 plated in connection with one another. Though 

 in the sizes of the planets, superficially regarded, 

 we find no conspicuous symmetry of arrange- 

 ment, yet in the thickness of the genetic rings, 

 as obtained by a legitimate process of inference, 

 we find a symmetry of disposition that is strik- 

 ing and suggestive. From Neptune to Jupiter 

 we find a progressive increase in thickness that 

 is entirely in conformity with the nebular hypo- 

 thesis. From the asteroids to Mercury there 

 is a similar progressive increase which is simi- 

 larly in entire harmony with the hypothesis. 

 And in the only group of satellites concerning 

 which we have adequate data, there is observed 

 1 That is, in December, 1870. 

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