ADDITIONS TO THE NEWTONIAN THEORY. 271 



extended to the all but infinite distance of the fixed 

 stars, presses upon our minds with a strong claim 

 to be accepted as a universal law of the whole 

 material creation (T). 



Thus, in this and the preceding chapter, I have 

 given a brief sketch of the history of the verifi- 

 cation and extension of Newton's great discovery. 

 By the mass of labour and of skill which this head 

 of our subject includes, we may judge of the mag- 

 nitude of the advance in our knowledge which that 

 discovery made. A wonderful amount of talent 

 and industry have been requisite for this purpose ; 

 but with these, external means have co-operated. 

 Wealth, authority, mechanical skill, the division of 

 labour, the power of associations and of govern- 

 ments, have been largely and worthily applied in 

 bringing astronomy to its present high and flourish- 

 ing condition. We must consider briefly what has 

 thus been done. 



