Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-29

that there is beyond the limits of this sys-
tenn an infinity of space, and can we sup
pose that omnpotenec and conscience is
here inerta We ought not 10 do so even
were there no proof, other than the ln-
stinctive consciousness within ourselves.
But the astronomer and philosopher has
not been satisfied with mere instructive
impression; he has found in this impression
only the motive which has impelled him
assdously TO prosecute his search for ad-
ded proof. Let us with him, now look
beyond these limits, and we shall find that
the solar system is surrounded with ve-
ry large unoccupied space; we suppose it
to be unoccupied since we can detect the
presence of nothing therein, and we find it
to be an extent alnos; infinite compared
with the space occupied by our SYSTEM
And how can we know thisl Here we are
indebted to the immortal mind of Newton.
When he unlolded to us the laws of gra-
vltatlon and attraction, he exhibited to US
the unerring principles by which we are
enabled 10 carry our inquiries upon them
down 10 the remotest particulars. 1t is
these laws which afford US the means Of
knowing that this space is unoccupied.-
Now, therefore, if there were in this space
any large mass Of matter il would inevi-
table exercise degree Of attraction up
on the planet Hersche, and more or less
attract the earth and indeed all the other
planets in our system This attraction
would modify at some time or other the
motion of the planets, and we should GER
tainly be able to detect the effect if we
could not discover the cause.
But we find no indication at any time
or under any circumstances, Of any at
tractiye effect except exactly such as is
due to the several bodies constituting the
system. The motion of these bodies is
familiar 10 the astronomer, and planets
and satellites are TO him pulse upon
which he lays his finger, and is thereby
able 10 detect the slightest irregularity of
the system, with no less accuracy than the
physician in his vocation. And he is
able TO declare that the nearest of those
glittering orbs which spunge the frma-
ment lies at distance from the remotest
of our planets, which makes the solar sys-
tenn shrink into comparative insigniicance.
We never look into the skies upon a
clear night, but we SEQ thousands and
thousands of bodies sparkling in the far
abyss, and where then can they be placed2
They must be indeed at prodigious dis
tances from US. But can we devise any
means 10 obtain some idea of these dis
tances--some of the most proximate?-
The method by which we ascertain the
distance of inaccessible objects upon
earth, though familiar to the mathemati,
clan, will in fulflment of former pro-
mise now explain. For example, if de-
sire TO find the distance of one of those
chandeliers, Indicating one in the room)
lay down base line at the spot where
stand; to facilitate the end, however, it
must be understood that the base line must
bear some reasonable proportion to the dis
lance Of the object, Thus, an inch or
two at this spot would be rather dispro-
portionate means Of measuring even the
distance of the chandelier. But having
taken a base line of few yards, | take
the bearing of the object from each exre-
nifty of the line with an instrument for the
purpose, which presents me with the diff
ference of the bearing at each extremity,
the two lines convergng on the burner of
the lamp, then ascertain the distance
of the object by a simple sum in the sin
gle rule of three, which shows me how
many times longer would be line drawn
from the centre of the base line 10 the
converging point, than the base line itself.
Now when it was first proposed 10 mea-
sure the distance of the fixed stars, the
question presented itself-where shall we
| find base line? II occurred 10 some one
that the diameter of the earth's surface
would furnish the means. This accord
ingly afforded base line of 5000 miles,
but it was found utterly insufficient; no
parallex could be observed. Something
must be done, however; that Unsuitable
thirst for knowledge which animales the
astronomer, and every scientific inquirer,
could not be thus appeased. At length
another theory presented itself. Now,
said the astronomer, the globe of the earth
moves round the sun In an orbit Of 200,.
100000 of miles diameter; therefore it
we take the bearing of the object of the
LIST of January, when the earth is at one
extreme Of the circle of its orbit, and
then take the bearing of the same object
again, on the LIST Of July, when the earth
is at the opposite extreme Of its orbit, and
necessarily 200,0O0,000 from the posi-
ton it occupied at the time of taking the
first observation, we obtain variation
equivalent to the end. But the result Of
this suggestion in practice was The most
unexpected and astounding that was ever
heard Of in the annals of sclcncel The
variation was lmpercerllble The whole
diameter Of the earth's orbit, for the at
ianment Of the proposed object, proved