1884] • 
A New Theory of Gravitation. 
659 
V. A NEW THEORY OF GRAVITATION. 
By Robert Bell. 
AljT is with a great deal of reluctance that I lay before you 
UL an article which I hope (perhaps vainly) will enable 
Science to look into the secret chamber where gravi- 
tation has for so long a time concealed its mysterious 
power. 
I say with reludance, because if my theory of gravitation 
and planetary locomotion is corred it necessarily does away 
with former theories, admitted but not understood, 
The force of gravitation is believed to be great, beyond 
the limit of human comprehension ; but any effort to find 
it, to be successful, must be at the other extreme, because 
that power called Gravitation is in reality so small that it 
has hitherto escaped observation. 
Be not startled, therefore, when I venture to assert that 
the Sun has no power in an attractive sense ; that every 
cosmical body contains the means of its own locomotion ; 
and that, although the Sun causes the Earth to describe a 
circle, instead of flying off in a straight line, it is done by 
quite a different process than by attraction. Let it be 
granted that Nature does all its work with the most simple 
means, and let us admit that weight gives motion, — that 
power is required only when there is resistance to be over- 
come ; and let it be fair to assume that there is nothing 
where it cannot be proved that something exists : then if it 
is fair to assume that nothing exists where it cannot be 
proved that there is something, there is no universal atmo- 
sphere. If there is no universal atmosphere the Earth is 
suspended in absolutely pure space ; and if the Earth is 
suspended in pure space there is no resistance to be over- 
come in putting it in motion : then it is plain that, if there 
is no resistance, an almost infinitely small power, if applied 
to it, would put it in motion. Now where are we to look 
for this small power ? Revealed Science points the way. 
There is no force without a corresponding reading force. 
Experiments with the radiometer show that radiation is a 
force ; consequently we find that power in the reading force 
of its own radiations. If these radiations were perfedly 
equal, from every part of the Earth’s surface, the reading 
force would be perfedly equal also, and this would produce 
centripetal force, or what is called gravitation, by inclining 
