128 On the Formation of the Universe . 



PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, &£c. 



Art. VII — An Essay on the formation of the Universe : by 

 Isaac Orr, one of the Professors in the Asyluniffor the 

 Deaf andDumb, at Hartford, Conn. 



TO THE EDITOR. 



Dear Sir, 



If it is admissible in the explanation of appearances, to ad- 

 duce a theory, whose absolute and invariable characteristics 

 are wholly coincident with fact; aand whose variable charac- 

 teristics admit of such a construction, as to be also coincident; 

 and whose allowable irregularities usually exist in those ap- 

 pearances; the present attempt to illustrate one of the most 

 difficult physical subjects will not want an apology, though 

 it should eventually be numbered with other similar at- 

 tempts, that have sunk with their projectors into their own 

 oblivion. It is far from being the least difficulty, to be met 

 by a theory, professing to account for the motion and rela- 

 tive position of the heavenly bodies, that such theories have 

 been so numerous and so utterly visionary, as to stamp seem- 

 ing futility on all. In view of so formidable an array of ad- 

 verse public opinion, it seems sufficient to collect, arrange, 

 and exhibit the proofs of such a theory, and leave it for oth- 

 ers, who are not personally interested in the decision, to 

 judge of their validity. Whatever is asserted in this me- 

 moir, although perhaps, sometimes passed over rather too 

 briefly, can, I believe, in all cases, be amply substantiated. 

 In several instances where it is said that assertions are de- 

 monstrable, the demonstrations are omitted, on account of 

 their length, or comparative want of importance. They will 

 be given hereafter, if they should be demanded. For sev- 

 eral remarks and demonstrations, with regard to the separa- 

 tion into strata of a finite ocean of concreting aerial matter, 

 when particular gravitation is supposed infinite ; the con- 

 struction of strata by accumulation at their edges; the diur- 



