D. Trowbridge on the Nebular Hypothesis. 27 
against the next inferior planet, Mars; and in this way have 
under such circumstances, must have been characterized by great 
eccentricity.” 
e above view of the formation of the Asteroids, needs 
Some modification. According to Peirce’s conclusions, drawn 
from his investigation of the problem of Saturn’s Rings, a fluid 
Ting: might, perhaps, exist for some considerable length of time, 
within the orbit of Jupiter. Granting this to be true, it is diffi- 
cult to escape the conclusion that the process of cooling, to which 
the ring would be subject, even if it were gaseous, would grad- 
and a fluid (or more definitely a liquid,) ring. The first case he 
found to be one of unstable equilibrium. In the last two cases 
he found that if the perturbations to which the ring would be sub- 
nes9 oe Ast. Journal, vol. ii, p.18. Also Annual of Scientific Discovery for 
as p. 379. | 
eee : , 
 ,, On the stability of the motion of Saturn’s rings. An essay which obtained the 
ee ne for the year 1856, in the University of Cambridge, Eng. By J. Clerk 
Maxwell, M. A. 
