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produce something beyond the subject, and this something 
must reach to and affect other subjects. As conatus by 
means of air affects the ear and produces sound as lumi- 
nosity by means of luminiferous ether produces light on 
subjects, so the preserving conatus of the earth must reach 
to and affect other subjects and produce some effect. 
What is this effect excepting what is called gravitation or 
the power of drawing exterior things to herself? And if 
this be the exterior product or conatus in contradistinction 
to her own interior conatus there must be a vehicle through 
which it operates. It is well known that the gravitating 
power of the earth not only reaches to the moon, but to the 
sun and all the planets. What is the vehicle through which 
such an effect is accomplished ? It is equally well known 
that all the planets have their respective gravitating 
influences and so affect the earth, each other, and the sun. 
But the supreme gravitating power in our system originates 
in the sun. 
Now, I wish it to be distinctly understood, that the 
conatus or force to produce density within each member of 
the solar system in the way I have described, is considered 
as applying itself absolutely and solely to the maintenance 
and the individuality of each planet or of the sun. From such 
consideration it will follow that the maximum of this cona- 
tus is found within the limit of the orb. Or, if this be not 
so, then this conatus has more than one subject or vehicle, 
and more than one effect, namely, more than the production 
of density, which is inconsistent with the maintenance of 
individuality. The region in which the gravitating power 
of the sun and planets is exercised is supposed to be devoid 
of density, that is, devoid of all substance or subjective 
matter. Hence we arrive at the conclusion that an exterior 
conatus is created by the interior conatus of the sun and 
planets which has no subject or vehicle, and this happens 
where there ought to be the most simple and poweiful sub- 
