Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-05-26

real fluid, or simply electricity ms
substance, we presume. per'ades all mat
ter. In aW system, emenating from the
sun, tcgetak with the particles OF light
and attracting caloric from the different
planets, in proportion to their dia"eters
| and distances-and being reconveyed to
its source by the comets, (which act rs
positions to this luminary, BY returning
| with tails surcharged with this matter
| and flyibg away as another planet. liz
| according to late discoveries, the sun De
surrounded with two atmsspheres' the
first similar to our own, but the Sc
cond which surrounds il, formed OF phos'
pborescent and electrical matter, which
| gives it its luminous appearance; by con-
stautly emitting these, it would, in tlme'
become exhausted, and the planets be too
much charged with the ethereal huld' did
not the comets return similar portion
to what is emitted. How many wild con-
lectures have been formed, as to the co
NETS falling into the body of the sun, TO
increase or keep up its heat, as though 1t
needed such fuel, CT as though these,
themselves, would not in time, be ex.
hausted, and leave US in utter darkness,
when the lamp Of heaven became extin
guished, Mind, or the matter Of electri-
city may then be arranged into universal
and particular. Universal as it relates
to the universe, and particular as it en-
tiers animal matter, and forms conscious
ness. That the universal mass has a
consciousness peculiar to itself, and a
perception capacious in proportion as the
whole is, to the small part which we en-
Joy, seems more than probable: and were
it not for the lights Of the gospel, which
teach US truths through different chan
mel than that of natural reasoning, I
should adopt this, as my philosophical
creed.
Every climate seems to have a race Of
animals peculiar to itself, or some that
are not common to other parts-even
man partakes Of very different features
aud color, 10 the same latitude in di(Ie-
rent parts Of the world.--This would ar
que that they are the creatures Of the soil
on which they live-that every part, TO-
ge,her with its power Of producing vege.
table, had likewise tina, Of producing ami.
nal lfe-and that both existed in a la
tent state from all eternity, or long pre-
vious to order being established in the
universe-that the most delicate parts of
organized matter is as much a component
part of earth, as q grain of sand, only
that it possesses over this, for short
time, the principle Of animation, and is
susceptible Of mind, from its peculiar Or
ganization.
The worm that burrows in the ground !;
the bird that flies in the air, and the ami
nal which stalks on the surface of the
ground are only organized parts OF
earth, which organization gives them rea-
soning, vo!ition and consciousness, &C.
cordigg TO their capacities for receiving
the ETHEREAL fluid of the universal mind,
through the medium of their senses /; &C.
cordiugly the animal is sagacious in pro-
portion to the senses given, the length Of
time they enjoy them, and the examples
shewn them BY seniors. AS some ami.
mails have short lives, few senses, and
little instruction, they, of course, are re-
stricted in knowledge; yet habit and
small degree Of reasoning power, enables
them to fill an inferior station in exist
ence, with satisfaction to themselves and
interest to the general welfare.
The univer sal mind wills all this-our
minds are parts Of this universal intelli'
gence; though restricted in proportion to
the smallness Of the quantity We receive,
and only capable Of reasoning from com
parisOn-wantiug the omnipresence Of the
whole, and the time requisite for drawing
perfectly correct conclusions. Besides
the chemical ad,nixture of earthly parti
cleo with the ethereal fire, must cloy