The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-31
ZOE rnE M.pLsoNIAN.

FOR TIE MADSuAiAN.
Ma. ALLEN Among your readers there are no
doub many who are pleased with any effort among
their fellow citizens 10 discover truth or detect err
roT in any Of the sciences The detection 81 error
has often fed TO the development Of truth. IS said
OF Sir Isaac Newton, that al one time he was SO DIS
gusied with mathematics, that he would not hear
thai science mentioned in his presence. There must
have been some high influential reason exciting This
disgust of a science which The mathematicians sup
posed 10 be infallible in such man. In general
says CaStei, Z mathematical science IS too highly
esteemed Nj. de Button says, what are called
mathematical truths, are nothing more than idcnii-
ties of ideas ard hare reilly" IL has, indeed, IFS
rsmances like other sciences, as will appear by the
exhibition Of Of is greatest errors IN It's appl-
cation TO the science OF astronomy. have already
said in the n. Intelligencer and the w. Mirror all
thai | wish TO say at present relatively TO physical
astronomy, and now wish TO say through some dis
inguished public print something relating to maihe-
matical astronomy taught in our schools.
This shall endeavor 10 state in the most perspi-
cnous mode possibly can Then any and every
man acquainted with mathematical astronomy, knows
thai Mercury is placed 3I,0000O0 OF miles from The
sun and that velocity OF 10000 miles an hour is
given him in his path, and that he performs one
period round the sum- leaving out fractions, in q
days.
II is equally known that the earth is placed 95,-
900 900 of miles from the sum- and that 5000 miles
an hour is given her in her path, and that she per-
forms one revolution round the sun in 3G5 days,
leaving out fractions, as in the ease OF Mercury
II is also equally known, that the moon is placed
100000 miles from the earth, and that the earth and
moon have a common motion of GS,O00 miles an
hour; but the moon has greater velocity IN her
path independent of the motion they have in com
mon of 1000 miles an hour, which gives 10 the
moon 10000 miles an hour in her path round the
earth, performing revolution in % days leaving
out fractions as in the former cases. Then Mercury
moves 10000, and the moon 10000 miles an hour
round their respective primarieS-Mercur 3I,O0O,-
900 of miles from the sum- and the moon 2i0 900
m fran he is
dence from the showing OF the facts as they really
exist in nature that three periods or revolutions OF
the moon round the earth, are equal to one rcyolu-
upn Of Mercury round the sun.
Then for conveniently, suppose the moon placed
three times her imagined distance from the earth,
which would be 10000 miles, one revolution then
OF the MOON would be equal 70 one OF Mercury, both
being performed in 81 days. The moon moves
10000 miles an hour, at the distance, we viii say OF
10000 miles from her primary-the planet Mercu-
ry moving 10000 miles only in his orbit round his
primary, he then be 31,0O0O00 OF miles from
that primary say contrary 10 all mathematicans,
however learned, however celebrated, that he can
not; and that here is great error in mathematical
astronomy which ought to be corrected. IL the dis
lance and velocity OF the rightly given, or
remotely so, the distance and velocity OF Mercury
cannot be.
Now sir, wish to draw the attention Of Ameri-
cln mathematicans 10 this question particularly
The moon moving 10000 miles an hour, at the dis
lance OF 130,O00-performing one revolution IN 81
000 miles (Which will give the same RESULT and
Mercury moving 10000 miles an hour only making
revolution in The same time (S7 days can il by
any mathematical process whatever BE- made out that
Mercury is 100000 of miles from the sun
III Mercury is 3100000o of miles from the sun,
then the moon must b. greatly upwards of 10000
600 of miles from the earth This no nathemali-
clan will BE- willing 10 admit. have no doubt, upon
appropriate inquiry, that mathematics will be found
to be greatly in error as to the distances and veo
cities of all the planets and their satellites round
their luminous leader the sun.
L will be in vain TO say, as it has been recently
aaid by learned mathematician, shat it Is an In
correct Prtnetptc 10 compare body moving round
enc, with body moving round another. II the boz
dies belonged 10 different systems then il might be
said to be incorrect principle but in the here
stated the bodies, Mercury, the earth and moon are
moving round the same body the sun, are indiSso-
lubly connected, and | may say, bound together by
the same cord They all have relation TO the sun,
their primary, and are all influenced by similar
forces, and upon similar principles, whatever may
b. the nature Of these torces-these principles
Their distances, their velocties and their periods,
remain invariably the same. The comparison, there
fore, isno mathematically only, /! is phlosophicay
correct, ... u.
Physical astronomy, as ii now exists, is made
up of gravitations, attractions and repulsions,
Mathematical astronomy, is made up OF magni-
tudes, distances and velocities.
Practical astronomy is the result of long continued
observation, the phenomena of which, are certain
and invariable, and which derives no advantage
whatever from either mathematical or physical
tronomy as these branches Of the science now ex-
st. The great truths however, of the practical
branch of the science, are very adroty indeed made
10 cover the enormous errors oil the other branches
IL is, however no; in the sciences only, that we find
some dominant truths giving currency tothe greatest
OF errors.
Now, sir if am in error, most earnestly wish
il shown. What have stated above, opens into
field with game presented worthy of the pursuit
of the American mathematician and philosopher
There is nothing attending the pursuit at all hypo
thetical The facts such as really exist in The
open field of creation and relate to times periods
only. The moon performs three revolutions round
the EARTH and is said moves 10000 miles an hour
anc completes her three periods in 81 days. Mer-
curry, il is said performs one period in the same
time, 81 days, and as stated moves 10000 miles an
hour only Then the facts as TO the periods being
true the distance Of Mercury from the sun cannot
BE- 37,0Oo0Oo of miles; or, the moon cannot be so
near the earth by many millions OF miles as the
matheinaticians have placed her. The truth is that
the moon has a greater velocity in her orbit than
Mercury has in his--the earth and Mercury having
the velocity in their appropriate orbits. This
follows necessarily from the motion of the sun in
his grand orbil-he moving, attended b. his planets
as Jupiter moves, attended by his satellites. The
whole idea of one planet moving faster than another
or one. Of JupiterS moons moving faster than the
Others is not only unphlosophical, it is equally
my must be recast and other means than triangula-
ton sought for TO aid us in arriving at something
like consistency and truth in this, the most grand,
the most sublime Of all sciences. Il. -.
Your obedient servant, BY. "
II. NEWMAN
Romney, Va, October, 1887.