Litchfield enquirer., 1847-03-04
From the KnickerbOcher for Janury.
THE CREATOR THE UNIVERSE

! BY improvements IN the construction
of telescopes, the penetrating power is
increased 10 twenty eight and half,
which means that by the Instrument one
may descry a star twenty eight and a
half times farther off than il can he seen
| by the naked eye. This has enabled as
troHomers 10 discover matter or rather
modification of matter wholly distinct
from stars-a thin filmy substance diffu
sed ;hro' the stellar intervals, and spread
ing over regions so immense that its mag
nitude or the space it fills is absolutely
inconceivahle. This filmy substance is
called nebulae: These masses in amor
phous state. give strong indications Of
teondcnsatien and of taking upon them
selves form, and that form nearly round.
A tendency is perceived in these masses
to detach themselves and reunite in CEN
trail bodies with increased light towards
the centre, and these bodies give early
indications of moving in elliptical paths
--at last they do move in eliptical orbits.
This change cannot be marked in the
progress Of any one particular object,
but by the disposition of isolated masses
to proceed onward 10 certain known
structure. This structure is round, and
the discovery of the ultimate condition is
made by viewing detached parts which
20 TO form circle. The lines Of curve
.aay be presented to US in separate parts
-by union OF these parts circle is
complete. In like manner a portion Of
nebule may form itself into curve OF
the sa. ne dimensions, SO as to be adapted
to the co,.tiuuation of "a circle, and SO of
of other portions, all isolated till the
whole is finished. In this way astrono-
mers are founded in asserting that the
whole of a circle is in .he progress OF for
nation when they see the separate parts
which are 10 be adapted 10 each other to
make the whole.
These detached parts, seemingly OF no
use, are not made in vain. Eve' yta'ng
is made for an end. No part'oi crettlon
exists merely as mcans-everythIng Is
made for an end 10 i,seif-and even in
shape!ess masses there is a systematic res
lationship which will draw together each
psrticle Of matter and adjust it to ITS
neighbor. This amorphous substance
NAV bear within it, laid up in lis dark
bosom, the germs, the producing power
of life, which will bud forth in coming
ages. And we must not be incredulous
by reason of our inability to witness the
progress of nebule through all its chang
es, till stars are for the life OF man, ny,
even countless ages, are not sufficient to
make us see,he regular progress and vi
innate result. There is a creature called
The ephen,eron which lives and dies in one
short hour-yet this creature is in the
presence of all the phenomena olive get
able growth, may see trees and flowers
but how could itor its generation actual
ly observe 'heir progress of developments
In relation 10 the nebulae, man is on'y an
ephemeron. How many Of the beings
which are born, live and die, ear learn
the progress Of the majestic pine! Can
man expcc. tolearn of The changes OF the
ncbulae!
You and I may well be startled, and be
SLOW il, believing these wonderful truths /;
ys, surprising the phenomena mentioned
did unfold the long growth of worlds
where is the difference between that
growth and the progress of the humblest
leaf, from lis seed TO its organizaiion.-
The thought that one single law Of a'trac-
ton operating upon diffused matter may
have produced all those stars which giId
the heavens great asst is, not different
from the growth ofan evanescent plant
The growth of a world does not show a
more astonishing process or mightier
power than in the formation Of plant.
We arc not rendered crcdulous b the
naturc-bu. overwhelmed by the magni-
iude ofihc work.
1 From the preceding remarks. it will
appear that our sun has had its origin ~
a vague nebulous mass, and from the dis
coveries of modern times, it is shown
tina, it has not yet quite escaped its orig
inal nebulous character, but is still rather
in The condition Of a nebulous body, not
withstanding its grea. effulgence. The
very act of the condensation of the gas
eous matter before noticed, as it flows to-
wards central district, necessita.es the
commencensent Of . process which is 70.
,ary. ike the dimple or whirlpool caused
by the meeting Of Two streams. An ex-
cess of the centrifugal force over that of
the power of central attraction has an eff
feet To create an outer ring. and tofhrow
4 OF particles. grindstone may be made
10 revslys with rapidly sufficient to