G. Hinrichs on Planetology. 49 
morals, that self-adoration hinders progress? Can any astron- 
omer who not merely studied the details of the celestial 
mechanics, but also kept in mind the great,principle laid down 
by its author in his “ Plan”—can he still pretend that Newton’s 
theory of the solar system merely needs further development, 
seeing that the few bodies of this system require him to borrow 
about seven hundred constants from observation? 
e shall honor the memory of Newton much more by tryin 
to go beyond the results of his labors than by stupidly worship- 
ping‘ the same, and thus arresting the progress of that science to 
promote which he spent his life. 
§2. These fundamental consiants sustain remarkable relations to each 
other. 
also direct expressions of this feeling, like the following: 
ing remark of the work. ve 
This “ élément unique” is rather singularly unique, ci, saad no less than seven 
hundred elements to be bo ed from observation alone : 
: ewton was aware of this—indeed, noted can help seeing some of these re- 
i rinci 
le d r 
suite recomposé.—Biot, Ziraité élém. d’astronomie physigue. Paris, 1805. Conclud- 
ns. In the scholium to the third book of pia he says: 
* Pla sex principalis revolvuntur circum solem in eirculis soli 
eddem motus directione, in eo plan proximé. Lune m. revolyunt 
, jovem et saturnam in circulis concentricis, we motus directione, 
us 
circum 
in planis orbi vroxime. Ef hi omnes m 
10 aon apt ae dit. le Seur et Jacquier Geneva 1749-42, 
Hi to censure Kepler’s fancy in contrast to the solidity of all New- 
ton’s words: still a sentence like the above is much more objectionable in science 
boldest fancy, for the latter is not accepted without severe scrutiny, while 
» te truth, If Newton had Sages peng 
Causes known to me” instead of by “mechanical causes,” simply to imply that h 
knew them all, he would have prevented many a drawback that has encumbered 
Am. Jour. Scr.—Srconp Serres, Vou. XXXIX, No. 115.—Jax., 1866, 
7 
