New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-25
THE TRIBUNE.
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

ALTON. RUcy q Putnam, NeW- lOIk VOL lzIlc
This is a reprint of recent English work. The
authors name is not given, but the best authorities
ascribe it to Sir RICHARD VIVIAN, NJ. P, F. r. S.
&c &c.
We have seldom, if ever, read book Of a char
aoter go purely scientific, which possesses such
powerful interest and charm throughout its pages.
II is written with srea; perspjcuy Of style, ard is
arranged in an orderly, well connected method
The sublec,-the natural history and processes OF
creation-s Il sublime one, and more than ordinary
ability and learning required to do II any ade-
quate justice. But the author is fully competent,
SO FAR az the known results of scientific investga-
ton will afford the means BY intimate acquaint-
ance with them, TO perform the undertaking. Be
sides he has brought TO the task liberal aud COM
prehcnsve mind and a lofty spirit of benevolence
He makes no pretensons to originality in scientific
discovery but avalis himself merely of the labors Of
others, and, as he says attempts for the first time
TO connect the natural sciences into history OF
creation Even If we do not assent TO all the de-
ductons and hypotheses he offers, we cannot fall
20 be instructed and TO have minds enlarged by
his profound philosophical suggestions.
Science as yet proceeds up to certain point only
the explanation Of natural laws and phenomena
in the world of cGccts-there is a world of causes
which il does not penetrate. Ifignoran scepticism
presunes to form conclusions as to the non.exist-
of powers beyond and above the properties and
principles inherent in matter, enlightened justice
should not suffer itself TO confound in sweeping
condemnation the scientific investigator who cx-
plains natural phenomena TO the extent OF his
knowledge only, with the vain fool who makes hi,
own reason the measure of TRUTH and fixes the limit
atthe point OF his comprehension. This remark is
Intended guard as far as possible against the mis-
apprehension which may assail this book with the
charge of M,teriaiism. 1t is Of character which
may expose it to this charge by the prejudiced or
superficial reader. But nothing could be more un-
warrantabe. The author seeks for the causes
of the phenomena of nature, as far as he can in
tura laws, but he is by no means mere material
st who stops at explanations even apparently defin-
tive. He still refers back to higher and first
cause of all things, as the following extract will
show:
"A these considerations, when the mind is tho
roughly prepared for them, tend to raise our ideas
with respect to the character of physical laws,
even though we do not go single step further IN
the investigation. But II is impossible for an in-
telljgent mind to stop there We advance from
law TO the cause of law, and ask, what IN that!
Whence have come all these beautiful regulations
Here science leaves us, but only TO conclude,
from other grounds, that there is First Cause 10
which all Others are secondary and mnstratlve,
Punitive almighty will, Of which these laws are
merely the mandates. That great Being, who
shall say where is his dwelling place, what his
history, Man pau.es hreathless at The contempla-
ton al subject much above hls finite faculties,
and only can wonder and adore !"
We differ with the author on several points OF
theory. but space will not permit us to make the
quotations we would like to, and TO express our
yiews as fully as could wish.
The opening chapter presents the theory of mo-
dern Astronomers on the creation of worlds and
systems Of worlds, which the author adopts and en-
deavors TO establish This s the nsbplous hypothc-
SIS OF which we will give brief statement
The starting point OF the hypothesis is, that "the
whole of our armament was at one time dtused
mass of nebuous matter, extending through the
space il still occupies The sun s the nucleus
around which the nebuous matter collects and re-
wolves in rotatory motion as centre, by we'll
known law in physics, Of which the whirlwind and
the whirlpool are examples on humble scale The
instan; the mass begins rotate there is generated
tendency to fling off Its outer portions, or, in other
words, the law of centrifugal force begins TO oper-
ute There are then, two forces acting in opposi-
ton 10 each other, the one attracting TO, the other
throwing from, the centre In the process OF time,
when by refrigeration or cooling this vast Fire
Mist is condensed, and an incrusation or ring is
formed around the central parent mass, circular
mass is detached by an excess Of the centrifugal
over the attractive force This ring continues 10
revove around the centre with the same velocity
as the parent mass a, the moment OF separstion.-
By natural causes the ring will be broken up into
several fragments and as the largest be likely
81
would necessarily settle into spherical form by
virtue OF the law of gravitaon; in short, would
then become planet revolving around the sun
Thus planet is formed, and by the same process
the satellites are thrown off and formed around the
planet. The process oil condensation and throwing
of from the parent mass Is repeated periodically,
unit, all the planets of the solar system are formed
in regular succession.
We canno, present the arguments TO sustain this
hypothesis, but 20 ocr mind they appear extremely
insufficient and the whole theory seems untenable.
OfComets nothing is said, which we deem an I'M
portant omission, as they occupy no mean place in
the solar system; perfect theory should certainly
embrace and account for them. So sublime an
operation of creative power as the formation Of
universe cannot b. explained on slender grounds or
partial knowledge But allowing the theory 10 be
corec; as far as i, goes still is extremely deec.
tive and unsatisfactory. The origin of the nebu-
lous mass remains nexplained.-Jrherc does i;
come from 2 We are JUS, in the position we would
be placed in regard to the Matching OF chicken, Ii
we knew all the processes OF ncubatoa. but had no
knowledge OF It's being laid by afowl-the most I'M
portanr fac, remains hid
This hypothesis OF planetary creation also pre-
sents strange contradiction to The ordinary me.
ihods of nature-ihc process of growth and deyel
opmen, from small germ is reversed, and insteac
of expansion there contraction in the progress from
infancy 10 maturity Nature, TOO, proceeds by
peaceful assimilation, but on this hypothesis she
operates by riOtent disruption. If there is Unity o
System in Nature, how such an exception tx
her laws take place Who shall say that so might,
an object of divine care as plane, IS not beng
nm craa mic Liriue being subject 70 universal law