Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-07-08
For the Journal.

MEssRs EDITORS Introductory to this articles permit me
to position assumed in my last contribution your paper
on the sth ult having reference to Atsophr
one m WcS @ a bedy 05 bep
from the earh beyond the influences Of its attraction and
gravity, cannot return to its starting point.
1t was not my intention the series of short articles
which proposed address you cognzance Of laws
operating upon bodies beyond the limits atmosphere
removed have stated. l admit the question to be a
proper though out of place at this tme but as it
right acquisition paf &c halt al n
my path and consider the inerrogatoy Such questions
$ecered In attempting explanation may not be able
to satisfy querist, but should Science, examination
BY doabed hope to sSow To- ha t
I1Gp principles advocated by philosophy have a more
To give satisfactory answer, however, would, fear,
puzzle heads containing brains than mine but,
our own mental faculties but be permitted to cali IN the
conclusions of otherssuch eminent men have devoted
large portion of their lives to examination of the matter
Popular opton, in many cases, is but another for
popular error; and it behooves to exercise ntei
adhesion to the doctrines of majority 1t should be
in mind that the principles of Nature always in harmo
sure to at R y1 me Of laws
which admit of no concessions no compromises no enias
and consequently cannot be shaken by desires and con-
lectures OF human agency To understand her, therefore,
served it will be our own fault if we do not become fam
lar with the principles of their action 1t true that in
many cases, where the results evident the prod
cling them hidden require the incest of
the mind discover them and readers do not require
given to discover anaze and explain principles in
DETAIL differences OF opinion have In many cases. existed
hypotheses of which, while not agreeing in detail start
the same point while the conclusions drawn from them
do not materially differ in their Such differences
are common in ethics, physics, and other sciences and
hence disagreement respecting and effects. The
my position Each practitioner is supposed to be well versed
in the anatomy and structure of the human bodyfamiar
agree mean one Of each school, with the object Of inves
LEGATION within their reach and actually under their nose,
exist bodies removed beyond the influences of
the earths attraction and its atmospheric infuences2
The field of science has not yet parted with but small
partake of and if those invited dissatisfied with the
granars of Others stored from that source containing
Obtain they can store of pure and unaulterated grain
In considering the question propounded SHALL of course,
to enter the stellar universe with which have no business
at present but will take position between its field and n
Huences, and those appertaining to our GLOBE
Now, having imagined dense body projected from the
earth, beyond its influence of gravity attraction as
sumo that it cannot come to rest and remain stationary,
nor can 1t return to the point from which started No
who has paid the least attention to the principles of motion
can doubt but that body acting under proeete force,
resistance its course In passing through ordinary
atmosphere body will find two contendng parties able and
The latter brings to state of rest while the former
aton and resistance when body removed beyond these
influences, as have supposed? THEY ARE DESTROYED;
the body prOJecte, cenrepltal
rfugal, must govern it. Here meeting with no resis-
ance and being deprived of gravity it is, were,
Uacu-subject to the Influences referred to- and such
others may surround it in its position. It is true,
is in state of inertia, have tendency to approach each
otherthe larger exerng superior influence, agreea
S 9 E its Re ma2a % Is
atmosphere having lost its gravity held together by
attracted by other body larger than ITSELF moving in
the same medium or attract others to it, vice versa.
The question has yet to be decided whether body mov
ing in vacuO can become heated luminous. Our philo
sophcal experiments on this point unsatisfactory butt
evidence of such results appearance of meeorc and
cometca bodes removed far beyond the earhs Influences
entirely the moment body the verge of atmosphere
should become entanged with it, the laws of gravity and
would agreeaby the known laws Science be-
great to produce heat and umnaon the extent of
space through which passes Allowing such momentum to
at the average rate of miles second the body would
soon part with its centripetal qualities and amos
phere becomes more dense approaching the earh the
centrifugal would assert its ascendency and in which
case the body would, before reaching globe, duse
separate many of it's atoms the fall large meteoric
bodies shows Now, why should not similar results take
place in the of vacuo do not pretend to answer
subject.
Some of my views on scientific subjects am sure
do not coincide with those advanced by Others the
mention of whose names frequently taken guaranty
frequently endeavos keep the key of the human mnd
and which is only willing unlock for the admission of
The principles of Science and reason however, mate in
it, and are with due culture fair field, always found
All presume, are familiar with what are called meteorg
and meteorc bodies. The grandest meeorc display of
tsee 4n s Silence Dec, iBssi and which yet fresh
in the recollection Of of citizens. Soon after this
years resident State and Professor Chemistry
the University of North Carolina but afterwards Professor
made known his theory Of the origin Of shooiinq staTs
as they sometimes called claiming that they
before this had Ue other theories respecting meteoc
bodies, emanatng from expansive philosophical minds
ebar hypotheses but while doubling the claims of eth
one singly parental to their existence, inclined
lunar principle may be directly Interested than either
of the others in their origin My for entertaining
without atmosphere and bodies atoms projected from
her VOLCANOES, meeting with resistance would continue
their course IN vacuo, attracting smaller bodies or uniting
with larger Ones from whatever they come moving
in the same medium Hence have theory condensed,
removed beyond the Influences OF attraction and gravity,
cannot return to its starting pont But may be asked,
admitting your hypothesis why is it that meteorc bodies
frequently fall to the surface of earth p have OBJ
lection to the question, and will endeavor it.
Keeping in view the different theories in relation to
teorc bodies, it will be observed that of these aerial
visitors asserted have been the verge of
move within not less than 1000 miles Of its influence Now
suppose rote to be the verge of our atmosphere
as has been stated or entanged in would not globe
Deng the larger body have influence it, and would
not the laws OF attraction and gavaton exert their powers
peda rOe-for some interesting facts connected with
this subject The article is too long for embodiment in
this communication and fearing that have already taxed
your columns beyond reasonable limit, would suggest
if agreeable to yOu its publication in next issue.*
This communication, Messrs Editors am is diff
use but from which character it is difficult to preserve pa
pers scientific subjects well that the best
way cultivate the mind in practical science is the
simple and perspcuous language, and such endeavor
observe in my contributions to your columns.
My next article will probably have the oper
alton of natural laws on inanmate terrestrial bodies.
i G.H.