The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-15
TIE EVOLUTION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

iast, having Deen unable 10 OBTAIN copy during
my travels last week. Although DO not wish to
protract discussion which might probably lead
to no useful result, there two or three points
in the article Of Tuesday last requiring comment.
In the nrst place I must point out that
l have not at any time spoken Of my
theory OF the evolution OF the solar sys-
TEN as demonstrated. The point which seems TO
me as nearly as possible demonstrated Is the
general fact that our solar system reached Its pres
ent condition by some process Of evolution.
When We consider that the antecedent odds
against the observed Uniformity Of revolu-
tional direction ito take only one relation) are
274 900 900 Ooo ooo Ooo oOo ooo 900 to l,
are compelled to believe that either the Crea-
tor specially selected the observed arrangement
I'm which. nevertheless, we can recognize no
special advantage) or else that it resulted from
process OF development. The former view may be
entertained by those who prefer it, but 1t seems
to me to correspond in character with the view
onoe advanced against the supposed atheistical
teachings OF geology by religious men, VINO
maintained that fossil animals were specially
created to lead men to doubt the then received
Interpretation Of the Book OF Genesis.
Agreeing with Laplace that our solar system has
in all probability reached Its present condition by
process Of evolution, adopt theory differing
from his respecting the nature OF that process /
the theory OF Laplace. He selects process un-
like any ofwhich we have any experience. Ipont
to one which Is even at this day going on, however
slowly. His theory accounts only for the general
features OF the solar system; mine accounts also
for characteristic details His Is opposed by
tain exceptional characteristics las the retrograde
motion Of the satellites Of Uranus mine allows
for exceptions OF the kind. Yet only claim for
my theory that ON the whole 1t is the more proba-
BILE. have nowhere spoken OF 1t as demonstrated
! or demOnstrable.
Your article describes me as modifying my
theory when pressed. cannot see how l have
done this in saying that the meteor streams were
much denser and more numerous when the solar
system was still sensibly growing. Surely this
must be regarded as a necessary inference from
! the general theory Of accretion. II system grows
by the gathering in of matter, how can we expect
to ind the matter left after the growth Of the sys
tenn has been completed to be similar in quantity
to the matter which was unattached before the
solar system was formed
| Your contributor seems imperfectly informed
respecting the results Of the spectroscopic analysis
of comets. The third comet examined by Higgins
gave carbon-spectrum. so did Encke's comet as
examined by Higgins, Young and Hall of ASKING.
ton. Then part OF the comets light gives spec
trum indicative Of their shining by reflected sun
light, and we must infer the nature of the material
OF the matter so rejecting light by considering
what we have learned as to the association be-
tween comets and meteOrs. MeteOrs and shooting
stars examined with the spectrOscope by Pro-
lessor Alexander Herschei were found TO give spec
ira indicating the presence OF sodium, potassium
ana magnesium; nor need insist on the evidence
obtained from meteorites and &rolites under mi
crOscopcal and chemical analysis.
must refer your contributor to biologists for
life has existed on the earth. That evidence Is
now accepted as overwhelming. Nor can / agree
with him that men OF science hesitate to admit
that our earth was formerly in a state Of intense
heat. Some have questioned the igneous origin
OF particular formations, but without questioning
an antecedent igneOus condition.
without regarding the opinion OF any man as
decisive on this matter, let me quote few words
Of Hemhoitz's Is quoted with approval by Tyn.
dall:-"Direrent BIOLOGISTS, proceeding from differ
ent premises, have sought to estimate the length
OF this period
DURING WHICH LIFE EXISTED ON THE EARTH,
and they set 1t down from one to nine millions OF
years. The time during which the earth has gene
rated organic beings is again small by comparison
with the ages during which the world was mass
OF molten rocks. The experiments OF Bischof upon
basalt show that our globe would require $50 mil
lions Of years to cool down from 1000 degrees to
200 degrees centigrade. The history OF
man, therefore. is but minute ripple In the In.
finite ocean Of time"
controversy as to the relative value OF the in.
ductive and deductive methods would be endless.
Your contributor adopts the common opinion on
the subject, but frequently cOnlau'ais Opi,ai0 COM
nuntS error, and certainly the common opinion
about the Baconan system must have been based
on very imperfect study of Bacon's own words,
as Buckle Liebig, De Morgan and many others
have clearly shown. 1t would have been more to
the purpose II your contributor had mentioned
any case Of great scientific discovery erected by
the Baconian method 1 could quote hundred
discoveries erected by the chief use OF de-
duction, but l will content myself by men,
tioning one. I would ask, then, whether,
IN the discovery Of the law OF gravitaton,
Flamstead's observations (Which Afforded the
nrst full lnductive evidence OF that law preceded
or followed Newton's deductive reas0ningf Did
Newton seek to interpret the Green witch observa-
lions, or did Fiamstead make special observations,
az Newton's request, to test the results Of New
toms deductions We all know how these ques-
tions must be answered. Can your contributor
match that instance, or can he even give any in
stance OF a valuable discovery in science following
the application OF the purely inductve method ?
But, after all, the great proof of the failure OF
the Baconian method is found in the fall
ure OF Bacon's own test for the method-the
test residing In his prediction that the method
would put the man OF ordinary mind on level
with the man OF highest genius We know this
has not happened though we may, perhaps. recog-
nze In the prediction Itself the cause Of the wide
popular approval which the Baconian method has
received. would question very much whether
any one, not OF ordinary or even inferior mind.
could apply the Baconian method strictly passing
through all the orders of istantt to the rindenato
Ia vintage OF sour grapes it would be) without
being once led to adopt the more effective pro-
cesses Of deductive reasoning
RICHARD A. PROCTOR
NEW YORK. Feb. Z. 1874