[ 2 93 ] 
and the atmofphere of the Sun to the furfaces of 
them all. All thefe atmofpheres will mingle, and 
form a common atmofphere of the whole fyftem. 
This common atmofphere of the fyftem will be in- 
finitely diffufed, fince the particular atmofpheres 
that compofe it are fo. It will reach therefore to 
every fixed ftar j and, for the fame reafon, that of 
every fixed ftar will reach the central body of our 
fyftem, and of every other fyftem. The atmo- 
fpheres of all the fyftems will mix. The univerfe 
will have one common atmofphere, a fubtle elaftic 
fluid, which pervades infinite fpace, and being con- 
denfed near the furface of every larger mafs of 
matter, by the gravitation towards, that mafs, forma 
its peculiar atmofphere. 
To certain diftances from every one of thefe great 
bodies, the condenfations of this infinite fluid will 
follow the laws of the preceeding theory nearly y 
but to certain diftances only. For that theory con- 
fiders only the effeds of the attradion of a Angle 
fphere, and affigns the law of the variation of den- 
lity, fuch as would obtain, if one fpherica! body exifted 
in the midft of an infinite, fluid ; and fuch as cannot 
generally obtain, unlefs that hypothefis were true:, 
for many great fpheres being immerfed in a common 
atmofphere, the attradion of any one, at great 
diftances from it, becomes but an inconfiderable part 
of the whole caufe, by which the denfity is modi- 
fied, the joint forces of them all. And in many 
other circumftances, befides the condenfition, the 
modifications of every particular atmofphere may 
depend upon thofe of others, innumerable and infi- 
nitely remote as the effluvia and exhalations of 
each 
