D. Trowbridge on the Nebular Hypothesis. 85 
. 
But with such speculations, we have here nothing todo. The 
nebular hypothesis supposes matter and all physical forces to 
exist; and we have ouly to oath back our speculations to the 
most ancient and chaotic state in eet it is possible for us to 
suppose matter to exist. I have supposed matter in its earlier 
chaotic condition to have been necessarily pteey Wetc- in 
structure. Others have different views.“ Even if it“ were at 
first, or at any time, perfectly homogeneous cats not of symmet- 
rical form, it wonld soon become heteroge eneous, because various 
centers of attraction would be established, around which matter 
it a motion of rotation. a we must not be confined to these 
speculative views. “ Every well-trained philosophical judgment 
is accustomed to observe iiesthation s of the most su ime phe- 
which consists in the absolute and wonderful integrity maintained 
in their action whatsoever be the range as to magnitude or 
tance of the objects on which they operate. For instance, the 
minute particles of dew which whiten the grass blade in early 
morn, are, in all. probability, moulded into spheres by the iden- 
tical law which gives to the mighty sun its globular form.” 
“It is remarkable of physical laws that we see them operating 
na “hha kind of eri as to magnitude, with the same regular- 
perseverance Two eddies in a stream 
fall vel a mutual revolitiog at the distance of a conple of inches, 
through the same cause that makes a pair of suns link in mutual 
alae | ig d the i os as mee the wtimate form of matter, but that in its ep 
com estate it was tel mderable and pig a _esreat aes and veers 
Face ie seal, inte «pace wgenoous impraerale A fluid in th manner 
aS definite and Soateyhe that igs _— the production of a plant 
g 
4 
c 
<j 
38 
a 
¢- 
fj 
er 
2, 
Ges 
é re 
ome writers seem iS oubt the (ae oe bd: erin matter, because the tel- 
€scope continues to cleat i th nebule. But are evidently in a nebulous 
State, and the existence of t shows us that aes may assume nebulous 
condition, It is a fact that a evidence derived from aber that nebulous 
matter, in large quantities, exists, is by no means conclus In the truth of 
_ hebular hypothesis cannot de — on our knowledge of the existence ence of nebu- 
0] . -* 
: But 
Indicate the origin whence they were derived The appearance ap er ang of 
etary system more conclusive in reference to the origin whence that 
eri 
asmyth. See Annual of Scientific Discovery for 1857, p. 187. 
