VOL. LXXV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 08 1 



they will be, in time, as it were condensed about a centre, or form themselves 

 into a cluster of stars of almost a globular figure, more or less regularly so, 

 according to the size and original distance of the surrounding stars. The per- 

 turbations of these mutual attractions must doubtless be very intricate ; but in 

 order to apply Newton's reasoning of bodies moving in ellipses to such as are 

 here, for a while, supposed to have no other motion than what their mutual 

 gravity has imparted to them, we must suppose the conjugate axes of these 

 ellipses indefinitely diminished, by which the ellipses will become straight lines. 



Form 2. The next case, which will also happen almost as frequently as the 

 former, is where a few stars, though not superior in size to the rest, may 

 chance to be rather nearer each other than the surrounding ones ; for here also 

 will be formed a prevailing attraction in the combined centre of gravity of them 

 all, which will occasion the neighbouring stars to draw together ; not indeed so 

 as to form a regular or globular figure, but yet in such a manner as to be con- 

 densed towards the common centre of gravity of the whole irregular cluster. 

 And this construction admits of the utmost variety of shapes, according to the 

 number and situation of the stars which first gave rise to the condensation of 

 the rest. 



Form 3. From the composition and repeated conjunction of both the fore- 

 going forms, a 3d may be derived, when many large stars, or combined small 

 ones, are situated in long extended, regular, or crooked rows, hooks, or 

 branches ; for they will also draw the surrounding ones, so as to produce figures 

 of condensed stars coarsely similar to the former which gave rise to these 

 condensations. 



Form 4. We may likewise admit of still more extensive combinations ; when, 

 at the same time that a cluster of stars is forming in one part of space, there may 

 be another collecting in a different, but perhaps not far distant quarter, which 

 may occasion a mutual approach towards their common centre of gravity. 



Form 5. In the last place, as a natural consequence of the former cases, there 

 will be formed great cavities or vacancies, by the retreat of the stars towards the 

 various centres which attract them ; so that on the whole there is evidently a 

 field of the greatest variety for the mutual and combined attractions of the hea- 

 venly bodies to exert themselves in. I shall therefore now proceed to a few 

 considerations, that will naturally occur to every one who may view this subject 

 in the light 1 have here done. 



Objections considered. — At first sight then it will seem as if a system, such 

 as above displayed, would evidently tend to a general destruction, by the shock 

 of one star's falling on another. It would here be a sufficient answer to say, 

 that if observation should prove this really to be the system of the universe, 

 there is no doubt but that the great Author of it has amply provided for the 



vol. xv. 4 S 



