COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



gression as before, there was nevertheless some 

 newly introduced circumstance present which 

 affected the whole series of detachments in com- 

 mon. But while the non-explanation of this 

 newly introduced circumstance leaves a serious 

 gap in the argument, it is to be noted that all 

 the facts, so far as collated, are in harmony with 

 the nebular hypothesis, — the existence of the 

 zone of asteroids, in particular, furnishing pow- 

 erful evidence in its favour. 



If we pass from this complicated problem 

 to the much simpler one of the distribution of 

 the satellites, we shall find evidence in behalf 

 of nebular genesis so remarkable as almost to 

 amount to demonstration. Whoever has read 

 the favourite speculations of theologians con- 

 cerning the " plurality of worlds " will doubtless 

 remember how strikingly the divine goodness is 

 illustrated in the law that in general the remoter 

 planets have the greater number of satellites. 

 Here, however, as in so many cases, observes 

 Mr. Proctor, " the scheme of the Creator is not 

 so obvious to human reasoning as some have 

 complacently supposed." The " contrivances " 

 for lighting Saturn are by no means what they 

 ought" to be, according to this teleological hy- 

 pothesis. The illuminating power of our moon 

 is (from its greater proximity to the sun) six- 

 teen times greater than that of all the eight 

 moons of Saturn combined ; while if that planet 

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