New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-11-19
DR.. LARDNEg'S LECTURE.

DIX. LA kDN r * = LEU L RE.
Despite the attractions at the Tabernacle las;
eyeainy, the Lecture Room OF Clinton Hall was
filed to overfiowing, aise., galleries and every
other place where footing could be obtained TO
listen to the Lecture, Introductory 10 his proposed
course, delivered BY DIR. LARDSER. His subject
was Astronomy-snd it treated in manner
worthy the high reputation Of the lecturer. OF
course we can only present to our readers sum
mary Of lis most important points. While the
audience was collecting he exhibited a beautiful
model Of Steam Engine which he said al some
/ future time, If MS lectures were deemed worthy
attention, he should explain at lesgth.
His subject, he said, was Astronomy: but his
auditors must not expect systematic treatment OF
the subject, and he wished at the commencement
to lay before them the purposes which would gov
ern him in his series Of lectures.
At school he took it for granted the elements Of
the science had been learned he should not, there
fore, Consume the time of the audience and waste
hi. own by pursuing it. details. He trusted, how
ever, that he should be able demonstrate clearly
all The nsortunt truths advanced. Again said he,
[ shall aim TO furnish kno,ciedge instead OF IN.
formation. Public lecturers in general, state an
abundance of facts, which in many cases, they
themselves are not able 10 prove and satisfy
themselves with this That the people food
ed with information, while they are left starving
for knowledge. In my epnioN. any who
! lie 4 fba Of l;rb Ia
treats, with the mathematical principles upoR which
it is based, may always nfu.e into hi, audience, if
not the letter, at least the spirit of his subject.
In the third place, there is one distinction in the
arrangements of Nature of which / shall never
lose sight OF these arrangements there two
classes: those OF the first always be traced rs
distinct and legitimate consequences Of the essen
tial properties OF matter: bodies undergo certain
changes OF which say-these are the necessary
results of the properties Of matter. These | shall
always denomlnate general arrangement. Besides
this there Is another class ard included in il are
some OF the most beautiful and magnificent OBJ ecl,
IN the universe, which appears 10 arise from
agency different from the known properties Of
matter, and with which we prove these have
no connection: these shall call special arrange
nests of Nature. In these last which TIE Ma
cent and admirable suiiableuess of the Universe
to the beings who nhAbit IT, Thus in the course
OF my lectures shall be able 10 razc to the ground
the whole structure of materalism: for If | can
show that certain arrangements of Nature could
not exist by virtue Of the properties of matter ii
will follow OF course that there must exist some
power above matter to which they their beng.
In coming, after these general introductory re-
marks directly 10 the subject of nay lecture, shall
first notice the Solar System This consists, Us
all know, of group Of gobular bodies, one OF
which, the Sun. is much larger and heavier than
all the rest. The lecturer promised TO explain
hereafter how the heavenly bodies weighed.
The consequence Of this by virtue OF attraction,
which is an essential property of matter is that all
The smaller bodies revolye about the Sun. Sup
pose the Sun and one planet were by chance flung
into space: what would be the consequence The !
planet would begin to around the larger body,
but the common propertc. OF matter would per-
init great variety in tho character of Its orbit.
Generally it would move in an epse but the le
giSlatioR of Mechanics permits epsc OF any
elongatsn, from u straight line perfect circle.
and IN any OF these the planet rHg ht move; still
again might, in spite OF any ef the properties OF
matter, move in hyperbsla or parabola-might
pass side of the Sun, go off iato space and
never return. But nothing of this is No
such disastrous results observed but the planets
all move aboat the nearly in circle. The
lecturer here exhibited hne transparent diagram
to illustrate the Ornis and positions OF the planets
II the Sun and the Solar family had been flung at
random into space, they might have moved in all
sorts of orbits, or might lily off into space and never
return; but the chances are millions OF millions to
one that they would not follow their present path
Here then, we proofs of the interference OF
power above the common properties OF matter.
" True says al ohjector, = but unless you can
show some kind and good purpose in this arrange
meht you do not prove the intereresce of any high
er power Now it may be seen al that ii
the orbit were elipse greatly elongated, the Sun
Icing IN Of the toci, point OF the planets
revolution every liquid upon il would be converted
al once into steam and n, another into solid body,
50 that no creature couid inhabi, it.
Again: the common properties Of matter allow
these bodies 10 revove about the Sun in either d.
rection; some one way and some another. But
we find that they all move in the same direction.
Moreover flung into space with 10 superiniend-
ing power 10 give them direction. they would
vove in variety Of Panes- Now i; is true thai
the planets do not move precisely in the same
plane but the deviation is so small TO DC, in
TINS view of the subjeci, inappreciabie
" But, objects another, may not these har-
monies be the results of properties OF matter Yet
undiscovered !" Unfortunately for this objection
there is another class of bodies whose movements
prove conclusively that these regulations not
essential properties of matter The Comets move
IN all manner of orbits and in variety of planes,
% OF the lbs known to exist, moving in one d.
rection, and 63 in the opposite.
Al an early period in astronomical science the
distances OF the planets from the sun was made =
theme OF general speculation. Certain virtues
were ascrbed to particular numerical relations, and
| astronomers assiduously examined the numerical
relations of the distances between the planets -