Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-06-13
VOLUME III.

OF any two planets to one announcer as the cuues vi
their distances from the SUM- IS the foundation OF all
mathematical astronomy and can be disturbed.
He deduced from this the three great laws OF the mo-
ton of the planets in eptical orbits; OF the proper
tonaity between the areas described and their times
of description; and OF the relations between the
SQUARES of the periodic times and the cubes of the dis
tances But he knew nothing of the cause or causes
of these laws and perceived universal principle in
nature which could produce them
Sir Isaac Newton devoteS the first two books OF
his Principal TO the illustration and application of
the laws and conditions of motions and forces; and
in the third book, frames from these principles po
pular theory of the physical constitution of the globe
But he ignorant Kepler of the of the
forces which produced the motions of which he treats
and has merely given Us names, descriptive, as he
supposed of the phenomena of motions as he found
them exist TO describe the causes OF the planet
airy motions, he uses the terms centrifugal and
"centrpeap' forces, the first being descriptive of the
motion of body flying Oft from the centre of gravity
and the second being descriptive of the motion of the
same body towards that centre. The force which
causes the formation of these motions is called the
fsproectle' force, from the ideal analogy of body
thrswn oil or projected from another as tangent
runs off from a circle; and the force which the
latter of these motions is called the force of "grava
tion" which was supposed 50 to destroy the former
OF these motions, as TO keep the body In curved
course round centre which It could never touch on
account OF its projcctle force, and yet which it
ever tending by its gravilating force.
The great difficulty of this theory ever has been the
mysterious continuance of the centrifugal the orr
gina projcctle force notwithstanding the permanent
influence of the gravtating fsrce which admitted to
be universal and immutabe. 1t was probably this
mystery which ought not TO exist in perfect system
of mathematical philosophy, that so long prevented
the otherwise beautifully demonstrated Newtonian
theory om taking the place of the Cartesan theory
of yortces, which appealed TO the imagination rather
than the reason of mankind, and explained all the
planetary motions as perspcuOusly as we see bodies
revolving in the currents of whirlpool or the gyra-
tons of pail of water. And 1t IS this mystery, too,
which has caused Sir Richard Philips and other CT H.
pant philosophers to revive the Careslan system IN
modified form, upon the gratuitous assumption of an
"elastic medium" which being sci in motion BY the
SUM- regulates the motions Of the planets according to
their surfaces, denslties and distances.
But all the opponents of the Newtonlan theory
seem 10 have forgotten, that, whilst he demonstrated
the motions of these bodies by mathematical reason
inc they only argued about them. The mystery,
and indeed error in which he leaves the causes OF mo-
ton did not prevent his arriving at correct concu-
sons respecting the effect of the causes be they what
they may Thus, Independently OF any question con-
corning centrifugal and centnpetal forces, he demon
stratcd that comic section was the only curve on
which body could move when acted upon by force
Keper had proved 10 be the law of planetary motions.
Newton moreover established the conditions, DEEPEN
dent upon the velocity and primitive position of the
BODY which were requisite to make II describe cir
cuar an eliptcal parabolic, or hyperbohc orbit
and although ne did not know whether the msvlng
force resided in the centres of the planets, or belong
ed to each individual particle of which they COM
posed, he yet demonstrated that If spherical body
acts upon another body with force varying as the
distance of the body from the centre of the sph re-
fhc same result would follow as though each of It's
particles acted upon the distant body according TO the
same law All the grand results of the Newtonlan
theory are right and no other theory can be right
which does not harmonlze IN all Its leading pnnci-
ples with one which is confirmed by the conccntra-
ting rad of many distinct sources OF demonstration.
But the Newtonlan theory embraces but a very
small portion of the philosophyo of motion; Allowing
for the obscurity which invests his egerdeman doc
trne of the projected force, his system explains the
great motions Of the universe and of falling bodies
upon the Garth with perfect cearness; yet these mo-
tons are few compared 10 those which produce the
existence growth and form Of vegetable animal and
mineral bodies, and which are displayed the Winds
clouds and other meteorological phenomena OF the
earth In short Newton did not know that there was
bat one cause of universal motion, and therefore did
not know where that cause was to be found.
In this respect then, greater than Newionishere.
DIR. Sherwood has discovered and demonstrated that
there is but one cause Of all notion wherever exists
and he this cause il tie S,ectric Ae'd, IN us posvs
and ns.ve actions. The phenomena o. Ill notion
whether in the planets OF IN the mlnutest atoms OF
matter are LUMINOSITY explained and demonstrated,
seriatim in the new theory that all natter OF what
ever bulk or minuteness and IN whatever modlhcalon
possesses n positive and negative electricity. The
grand law of this new system Is tnat When the posi-
1--WE and negative forces ofuds ofelectricy are equal
the BODY is inert and incapable OF motions and mat
when they are unequal, motion commences upon the
folio wing simple and easily remembered principles -
L The positive fluid repels the positive and attracts
the negative q The negative fluid repels the mega
tive and attracts the positive And these are OF once
the causes OF universal motor and the only laws by
winch is governed. It's contendcd and demonstrated
that these simple rules, which are well known 10 be
true with regard TO the magnet are true with regard
to every other body and particle OF bodies Iheprac-
teal application Of this discovery 10 the arts and
sciences must lead TO results magnificent IN Their
extent and too important to mankind lobe conceived
by any but the strongest and most comprehensive
minds.
Such minds, If acquainted with the electrical Sea,
ences, will Immediately perceive boundless held Oh
knowledge before them; but II is only by applying
this discovery systematically TO some one branch OF
knowledge by way of experiment, that any adequate
idea can be formed Of the depth and enrapturng beau
~ of the certainty which will stamp every step of It's
application. When we say that II will enable Us to
decide as positively upon the motions which produce
all the forms hues, and qualities of NATTER Newton
has upon those which regulate the distant worlds oil
tho skv and that we shall be enabled by calculation
10 predIct the results of all chemical atmospherca,
medical, and mental changes Of motion, with as
much certainty as astronomers predict the returns OF
planets and comets. do but rely upon one unlver-
sal and immuable law of nature hitherto but partially
known TO mankind The useful and philanthropical
appcaton of this discovery has as yet been confined
IN the cure of chronic diseases by dvertng the morbid
action of the electric fluids from the parts affected and
restoring healhul and natural balance OF the posi-
d. tnx mr. ..w~-..