New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-02-10

themselves and If he goes beyond that circle he
will find totally different condition. Now some
bold inquirer not satisfied with this limited range,
steps out OF the circle Of clear and distinct knowl
edge, and pushes up to b, where he discovers q
portion Of truth and he unfods it. Another bold
INQUIRER strikes ont in q transverse direction, and
pushes out to c. where he discovers small portion
of truth-or at least Of what he thinks 10 truth
also; but upon comparison, our two inquirers dis
cover that their results do not and will not harmo-
nize. One cannot understand what the other has
seen and, forgetting that the vast space lying be.
tween the two points of discovery, and which serves
TO connect them still remains unexpored, one says
20 his feow-laborer, you must throw away your
fancied truth--it is an error, II 10 heresy The
complaint of course, 10 Immediately returned from
the other side OF the house and they go on hurting
their denuDciatlons at each other TIL time At
length shows them that their conduct 10 equally
irrational on both sides Applause
The sum of the matter, then seems 10 be this
and assuredy it ought never TO be severed from
the inquirers mind that now we See only part
that as ia the moral world even ia the widest
yiewsof il upon earth, there are many puzzng
and painful contradictions. SO Ia regard OF that
Mighty Unknown which environs all oar light.
We have distinct views only by snatches views OF
parts only-between which and our other con
quests, persistent darkness Notwithstanding our
most most vigorous efforts, continues % reign and
therefore while holding on IN fullest confidence and
faith never waveriDg. thu we must place the solu
ton Of all difficulties In the one case and the entire
completion Of knowledge In the other among the
hoped.for acquisitions belonging to those immense
periods and serene realms which lie beyond the
grave lApplauseJ
Having thus endeavored 10 clear our ground, 80
that no hidden scruple reluctance shall interfere
with our advance Ia the course before us-l ask
again whence those remarkable constituents ofour
Planetary Systeml From what prior conditon,so
- n.ufp.
il evolved Bold inquiry truly for man 70 approach
but remember our illustration Of the Epbemera
Remember how august the processes we shall dare
10 contemplate or awful the depths OF Time
through which we shall track this growing order
we must compare them never with Mans acts or
lfe-they are the ordinances Of One who holds
even the mountains In the hollow Of His hand, and
before whose everlasting endurance the entire life.
tine Of the Human Race is only tick OF the clock
which is heard and past forever lApplaase-
The circumasnce over which / 20 con-
duct my hearers Is tho most sublime 10 the whole
range Of Astronomy. and % owing 10 the iilustrious
LAPLacE, who, perhaps, possessed q more profound
knowledge Of the laws, structure. and mechanIsm
Of our System than any other save Newros. La
PLACE upon observing al Of the orbs lying 10 the
same plain, moving in circles sweeping round tho
san in the same direction and next that the satel
tes observed the directions, and nnally, that
the rotations Of all the orbs proceeded IN the same
~. \
be lived BY grayitation; and there 10 only one
mode by which il can be solved, and that Is by
tracing our scheme from its commencement through
al its various stages Of developments up 10 this
time" This is not an unusual thing in Science--
Biologists do not think they are doing an illegiii
mate thing when they go back TO the origin Of our
Earth and trace il from liquid form 20 it, solid
state LArLAcE wen, q step farther from this
he said at 10 nos improbable that all these orbs
came into existence from q gaseoss state. passing
from the gdseous 20 the liquid and from the liquid
70 the solid state"
4" Let i, be supposed then" be said, that this
great scheme Of ours arose from the solidiication
and gradual congregation Of an immense Nebaloos
mass existing in the serifofm or gaseous state"
We know that matter does exist In this form
The Comets are gaseous bodies and that immense
quantities Of gaseous matter exists 10 the most I'M
portant lesson that they teach u.s. A many - Q
million Of Comets have visited our System, and this