The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-02
Formation oCtie Ipirelse.

punished III Professor Silllnau'a Journa
nf Science. Those who have n fondnes,
I for metaphysical aud Astronomical speeu-
iations, will doubtless give this paper III
attentive perusal. The author, Mr.. ISAAC
ORR, one Of the instructors in the asylum
for the deal and dumb in Hartford, has,
whatever may be the cate of his theory,
given proof of astonishing powers of mind.
Professor Fisher, who was lost in the Al
lion, took this essay with him, intending
10 lay it before the learned of Europe,
Nat. Int.
ave are accustomed TO find cores
pondence between the power and the o.
perntlons al a wise moral agent aud il Is
certainly no weak argumeui ia favor of sn
infinite universe, that a liniie one would
fall infinitely short of the power OF The
Deity. Ii would leave Lin angelic subjects
without any practical proof of his nunipo.
fence. II seems, also, the most consistent
aud exalted conception respecting wise
moral agent, thai his work is never ter
minated. From reasoning, a priori, then.
ii seems n very natural conclusion, that
each act Of creative power Is expanded
through al infinite plane, and that the sue
cessivc acts form an eternal series. II this
idea appears too grand, let it be- rcmem-
hered that il Is formed respecting the
works of the Deity. MetaphyAicarcason
ing, however, is not the only glouud on
which our opinions on this subee may be
founded We see the celestial systems ar
ranged mic forms which are utterly TN
accountable, unless their formation has
been progressive. The account which Dir.
lIerschel has given, is only placing one
difficulty ON the shoulders of another: for
IL is not less impracticable 10 account for
the position of those ruling luminafies,
which he snpposes may have marshalled
| the starry hosts of smaller magnitude into
their present regular arrangement, than 10
account for that arrangement without such
| assistance. II the formation into systems
| has been progressive, we are perfectly III a
loss to say where il begun, or where il will
| terminate. w far the most natural sup.
| position IL, that il will have no tcrnlina.
| tlon, and had no commencement II Oh,
| universe is finite, IL is obvious thal, without
a constant miracle, of which We ind MOI
| the least indications, so far Hs observation
can carry us, il cannot be- permanent i,l
the whole is collected together in one
great mass. at the common centre of era.
Aliy. In like manner, ii the creation ol
matter from nothing constantly preceded
lis formation into worlds, a constant mira
Gle would be necessary ~ prevent them
!
from forever approaching each other, by
grayltatIpn, from empty space, towards
ll,e boundless ocean of worlds already ere.
| ated. II we suppose thai matter has beef
eternal, and still perfectly dependent on
! the Deity for its existence and its proper,
! lies, and that, on one side of the infinite
progressive plane of formation, il is IN q
qnlesceni gral state, and on the other side
collected into worlds, nature obtains bn
ancc, and, unless particular eravitation /,
absolutely infhiir, The ultimate sysioin.
must he prrmancnt: aud our minds. IN
stead of being LOST in chaos Of conjecture
form the same conceptions of ordei
through the bolndlcss fields of space, tina
we derive from observation on the por
/ li0ns which are within our view. Thes,
opinions will, undoubtedly, be adverse I,
! the belief of many with regard To th,
meaning of scripture, bd whether the,
are opposed 10 lis real meaning, is "A qnes
! lion Of quite different character. I'll,
contests and results respecting the Copper
mean system cannot be forgotten. lfsnef
opinions are clearly aud decidedly contra
ry to the meaning of scripture, il woult
| be MADNESS aud disgrace, as we'll as i'm
! 4 -.
Hoods of sophisticated argument by whicl
scripture has been assaulted, have success
siyely subsidized, without doing any thin
more than 10 clear away the little obsiruc
tons TO the perception of its immobiity
and to demonstrate In the world that il
destiny is 10 break, aud not to be broken
Though the theory is the solution OF Tia
problem for which atheists, from time i'm
memorial, have been seeking, and thougI
il may induce peryefse aud superilca
minds 10 inquire, "Nhere is the promis
of his coming for, since the fathers f.
asleep, all things remain AZ they were from
the beginning of the cruati0n," yet, on ia
other hand il carries d' sign ibro' th
whole OF the universe, and stamps inelli
gence on all lis departments. Should
be asked why comets fly thro' the system
10 threaten ruin on lis regular subofdin
aies, and mountains In their barren an
Indictment heads only 10 fiown on surronn
ding fertility, the answer is ready: The
are the impalpabe dust on an cxqnist
piece Of patchwork mere grains of san
IN the corners Of an imncrsc aud ma1estl
.difce. II appears, from the observation
:. Of DR. HprsChel that most, or all, Of th
stars Are collecting into subordinate spher
ied clusters, and forming what be call
81 the chemical Laboratories OF the universe.
The principles Of gravtation will bring III
stars in each individual Of these cluster
TO Their common centre Of gravity in ab0u
the same period of time and their appear