New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-02-03

..sns 9. ss.es ~ SSSSS
::ssssss;::::: ::s:
Es 8 8 So
If the line A h. in fig I, represent. the observed
Orbit Of Uranus. the broken line will exhibit the
theoretical orbii,-that calculated from the epoch
ISL to lsi0 being traced by the irregular line:
Now, the deviation OF the two Limestone tenth OF
an inch corresponding 10 one second oil sPace-h
the measure OF this discrepancy between Iheory
and Fact a discrepancy which in degree had no
parallel elsewhere in Astronomy. Turn. however
10 the diagram below. where the line A Is again re-
presents the observed orbit 40 de
m !" !. ! q !. ] ! !
termined by those separate acts OF
obsery alton between 1890 and III.
: The dotted irregular line, on scale
yskss only one.hslf OF the previous one
ssssss lasecond being represented by hall
s<sSs : atenth OF an inch 10 now the repre-
g. S2 sentaiiou ct the theoretical orbit OF
seS1re HOWARD NJ larycl. indeed that
Uranus had come 10 DO accounted
# |. !. ] ] ]:
~ the puzzle of our science,-no
III M wonder that many minds were
HIN turned To this portion OF the celes
III M tial mechanism, in confident ex.
III ~ pectation that the anomalies would
lth-lt - in time be resolved, by the occur
\ T-rVT renee OF some capital discovery.
ulHl ! How difficult Il isbo follow In
IVlIl / our inquiries. the easy rules laid
I'LL down By the immortal NsRuLAxl
III Even when the temptations to so
lNl aside are slight men will not con.
III fine themselves 10 the only road
lltlll that can ever lead to revelation
MIN of the secret processes OF Nature
IlllI on the occurrence OF any DIM
III Guilty. they set a-guessing instead
lHllLl not after that only Legitimate fash
ion-the way IN which Genius
snnrehends. combines and follows the applicable
analoeies that lie around itbut literally almost at
random. and with no apparent aim save the desire
IN avoid coniessing that there exists something, oil
which in tho meantime, they know neither the
method nor the cause. IL were positively tedious,
were 10 enumcrats the varied fantasies Drought
forward not without adequate solemnty, 4" ptoos
blv satisfactory regarding these remarkable discre
pancies nor shall refer, and that very briefly ex'
cont To two. In the first place the discrepancies
were supposed to result from dccidenf-not 10 Do
long 10 tho order Of our stem, but to originate IN
causes of disorder and according to established
custom. alike in Astronomy and Geology, the action
of a Comet was invoked the mdgaus Apollo!
One of these wandering bodies il was said, had, IN
the course of its devious path through our system
come into contact with Uranus-struck II, IN tact'
| and, by introducing new cause OF motion p,o-
| duced the discrepancy we discern between tho
course of the planet at the epoch OF these Oldest
| observations aud its subsequent movements Ill
| porfecty certain indeed, that such disturbance
| would hav q produced great deviation, or apparent
breach of continuity. The planets path would 10
|
orbits Joined at the point Of concussion out even
If It's course prior 10 and after 1880 had been parts oil
two independent orbits, Internally consistent or bar
| monious with known lsw-trhich they are NOT
i, il not clear that another comet aud arother shock
were requisite after 500 to account tor the second
| breach OF c0ntnuitythat second departure OF inc
! planet from the course laid down by BOuvAkDf III
one accident might, without tho support OF observa-
ton of the fact have been received as possible, the
occurrence Of fco such opposed by all the laws OF
| probability, and the Hypothesis might accordingly
have been rejected oven without the elaborate de-
monstration OF its inappcabIlty 10 the details oil
either case. Nay, this consideration goes farther.
il forbids our referringuness distinctly upheld by
! obseryation-the anomaly 70 any accident what
| ever for IL is quite inadmissabio 10 suppose inc
recurrence in circumstances so similar, OF what IN
its very essence IL cop7cious-an exception by ny
pothesls, to all known law or order we must as
miss thereto the hope of receiving solution
from accident ANOTHER assumption which received
| high favor must ANo be mentioned here, as OF tho
Kind term preliminary The calculations oil bou'
WARD it will be noticed, rest wholly on the suppos
ton OF the integrity Of the law OF Gfaytation now
NAV not these resulting Inconsistencies hare fher
roof an ne eyroae0nsaess Of hls fundamental as
! sumDf.0n The law OF Gravity extends AZ far az
saturn but may 10 not have Undergone modifica-
ton in those proso1nder remotenesses from inc
sun through which Uranus reyOyes IN in circuit
/ This view seemed at one time iasorite with the
ulustriOus Il EssEL; nor has H. on the occurrence OF
other difficulties, been deemed illegi,mate TO con-
slider il possible that Grayltstion may alter In
truth we have no reason ~ suppose this great
/ Law as now revealed, 70 be the ultimate OF SIN
plest and therefore the universal and aIicompre-
hens,ye form OF great Ordnance. The mode In
which its intensity diminisbcs with the element Of
distance has not the aspect of an ultimate Frinc,
| nile; which always assumes tne simplicity and
self evidence OF those axoms that constitute the
basis Of Geometry. but there 10 rule IN phhoso
ply, applicable to ibis matter, that adm'ss OF 10
disoute Allowing fully that very few Laws, a.
diseerned BY Man, can be deemed essentially UNI
versal-none it may be. except those inst prin
cioles of the science OF Form, BY which 80 many
of the relations OF different parts oil the Universe
are determined lit is yet clear that we are never
entitled to challenge the universally OF Laws mat
within our experience, have nowhere faied-nnfu
erery other mode Of overcoming me d.DlcuHy has
rroyed OF no ara.l. II the law of Gravity must be
challenged, then, the time for that 10 not at the
beginning Of our consideration Of this difficulty
but after we have tried every circumstance,
whicll--the law remaining entfe-miBht snec'
the manner Of its working, and 30 have demon
strated that what is nov an apparent contradc.
ton may not be only one Of it's more reconditc ana
least obvious res1lts.-We must postpone, mere
FORE that Inquiry. although II bad the merit OF re-
ceiying the appreciation OF BrssEL
Diminishing the idea, then that such anomalies
can arise from accident, and postpoIing the chal'
lenee of the Law Of Gravity until every other re-
source has been exhsusted-we lind ourselves be-
tween the following alternatives: Either we are
ignorant OF all the conditions within which Uranus
is moyine-i G. we know not the whole OF the DO.
dies acting on that planet; or we have not inter
preted Alright the effect 81 known conditions. In
the course OF truly logical treatment OF the cues
ton the latter alternative must first be examined
and this examination necessarily consists In re
vision Of the theory given BY LAPLAcE con-
corning the action Of Saturn and Jupiter
ia the scrutiny Of BoUvARD's calculations and
ia the discussion Of the Inquiry alluded 70 Z
short time since viz; whether, BY varying sne
normal Ellipse within the limits which CONNIE
il, and thereby altering the quantities vnlcn We
ascrlbe to the DETECTING Influences Of Inose w.
large Planets-the existing inoonsstencIss may
, no., 10 rosde % di.sooesrT II was indeed sppa
ren.Iy hopeless ide. that the skin Of the su,ho
MscAsIegr csrsIs mshs mere rave Sus
no ss,,c. Of difficulty 90 startiing--of IN anomaly
souomsnsreabe amid the harmonies OF COR System
mo- weight Of authority coad be alowedto forbid
car ex oorine every chance Of error; and, accord
: s-.l,, =, +, of the great men concerning whom IN