Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-15
From the National htelhgeneer.
COMMUNICATIONS.

PHILADELPHIA, February q, 1927.
SCRAPS extracted, and slightly correc'ea'
from lecture on the new Theory OF the r-ar,h'
delivered by the founder and erpounder Oh the
theory, CT. c. SYMMEs,) at the Merchants ooi-
Zee Hcuse, Philadelphia, on the evening OF the
18th February, 1927.
CT set up no claims as Howery iecturer.-
II i, matter and not manner hope to entertain
Won with; and it is matter you seek, ana NOT
gliding. Indeed, I take pride in presenting the
theory in plain array, distinct and clear; none
who take an interest in the subject wlli feel aus
satisfied with il on such account. Iruth ough'
10 be most acceptable in plain garb: tor then
we NAV be sure we are not dazzled by ornament
or gloss.
~ m the ear,h's centre, he must have arrived al
the same conclusion have, by such an aPpllea-
tion Of Them"
{" Were i, sven so that am mistaken IN my
,B,oru of refracfion, vet that omission shouiu
not be held as prosirating all, nor even amy, Of
the pillars of proof on which the theory Is sup
ported"
"Wi,h pipe we blow up soap bubble; we
see il spherical and hollow, although eonsl!u'
ted of a liquid. None Can define the existing
principle, nor deny the fact; and so facts tell US
that such and such refractioD must exist, ana
because we may not be able to define the primer,
Dle governing it, are we to deny the language OF
facts, and make all else yield TO our nouon OF
principle, or rather our deficiency IN eomPre-
bending principle? No. Surely not.
"Were there even no more proof in favor OF
the new than the old theory, and were the old
not disproved BY facts, as it is, still the new
would. Iearnestly contend, be the most Prooa-
ble''
"Cook, had he thought there was any thing
further South worth Sc hing for, might, doubt
less, have accomplished passage around or
,br.,oh ,hs &C.. as Observation-Disclosures.
seas in Winter, both Baron Wrangls in Asia,
and Capt Franklin in America
"None, trust, Will now q days venture to
maintain that there is any one acquired bourne
OF improvement, in any one branch Of the arts
and sciences, beyond which the march OF mind
can never advance.
"The old theory was founded in comparative
IL unenlighiened ages, and has not been amend
cd to accord with our advanced knowledge re-
la,iye to rhe planets, and relative TO the pheno-
mena Of the polar regions"
"When you consider the error the seventy
learned compiIers OF Rees' Cyclopedia made in
the theory they recorded Of the Masellanic
clouds--an error fallen into in succession by all
the scientific writers who have written on those
clouds, if not all their readers, save my solitary
self, all supposing them TO be assemblages OF
stars in The heavens, similar to the Milky Way,
whilst the common SAILOR KNOWS they neither
.;nk or rise diurnally, and of course never set
like the stars, although they range as high as
the ze NTH OF abou, $50 S. near the Straits Of
Macellan-will you, say, when you consider
these errors, lean, for theory Of the earth, on
such authority alone, and withhold your atten-
ton from reading the Book Of Nature fol, your
selves! Or, from listening to its Interpretation
from one who has studied II intensely?
aWhy should you consider any Of the ancient
astronomers or philosophers so much more wi
ser than their posterity as to lean on them, in
these matters, rather than study creation? To
this you may reply, that those ancients made
the subject their devoted study, and cannot you
anply the same to me9 Has not the study Of
philosophy, as pictured in the universe, as well
as lettered in books, been my ruling passion
from my very childhood up! Indeed 1t has
Have not now arrived at an ample age en-
and must not have gained some experience in
the active world as well as az my desk, by be-
ing more than thirteen years in the military
service, in peace and in war, in barracks and
in battle, sometimes in the civilized country
and sometimes in the savage?
"I have eonnec over my views when depress.
ed and when elated, ia prosperity and in adver-
.i,y, snd-I may almost say-in youth and in
advanced age; and the more they are thus test.
ed. The stronger are they propped--whether
measured by The tests myself searched Tor, or
by those advanced by opposing theorists. Will
you, my fsls,o la5orers, IN fulfilling the designs Of
our Creator, shut your eyes and ears to such
eviden, and important truths as those this sys-
I'll IT. L...s