400 APPENDIX TO CANTO VI. See Stanza 156, and Note. NOTE (A.) THAT rotatory motion is a universal law of Nature, there seems to be no doubt. All the planets revolve, our sun revolves, and we know that many of the stars have rotatary motion. Some important purpose, of course, is effected by it. But, the Rev. T. Milner, in his "Gallery of Nature," p. 55, says: "The end accomplished by the sun having a motion of rotation upon his axis, is inscrutable to us." Now, how is the end accomplished by it inscrutable? Is not rotatory motion the cause of all the centrifugal force in the universe? If the sun's rotation on his axis were to cease, what would be the consequence ? If our earth ceased to revolve on its axis, would not the moon, in a short time, be more intimately acquainted with us? The Rev. T. Milner tells us himself that this would happen, and states the time in which the moon would quit its orbit and fall to the earth "In less than five days." Of the planet Mercury, he says: "If loosened from the centrifugal force, it would require more than a fortnight to accomplish its dash headlong into the sun." Mercury's distance from the sun is 37,000,000 of miles. The Rev. T. Milner also gives the time in which the other planets would fall into the sun, if not kept in their orbits by the centrifugal force, which, at their respective distances, exactly counteracts the sun's attractive power, which attraction prevents its antagonist from carrying off the planet to a greater distance. The cause of rotatory motion is more inscrutable than the end so evidently accomplished by it; but even that cause, the author conceives, may be accounted for in the way already suggested. It is well known to astronomers, that our sun not only rotates upon his axis, but has also a swift motion through space, towards a point in the constellation of Hercules. Many of the stars also revolve, and have their "proper motions" through space. Pairs of stars revolve round each other,' and of these double stars, so revolving, there are two pairs revolving round their companion pair, as, in a ball-room two couples might waltz round each other! There is every reason for belief that this activity is universal in the heavens, and what should it be for? Doubtless to effect some grand purpose. What can be more grand than the universal production of solar light? Supposing the electric element to pervade all space universally-and we have no proof that it does not-may it not be that the swift motion through space, of such immense bodies as our sun, may cause the electric principle to act on the outer surface of the solar atmosphere, and produce the brilliant illumination, and consequent warmth, which we enjoy in common with millions of other worlds? 3 1 The most brilliant star in our heaven is Sirius, or the Dog-star. It must either be much larger than any other, or much nearer to us. In the latter case, may it not be the twin-star of our sun, with which it is revolving and progressing? 2 There is a beautiful animalcule to be found in standing pools of water on heaths or commons-"the volvox globator"-which illustrates this double motion of revolving and progressing very beautifully. A moderate magnifying power will show it. It is a world of living beings in itself; a transparent globe on which the animalcules are spread all round it, and are connected together by fine capillary vessels, like net-work. While progressing through the water they revolve on an axis. Three or four young volvoces are often seen inside the globe. When full grown the parent globe bursts, and the young roll out and commence their revolving progress. 3 At the "International Exhibition" of 1862, an electrical apparatus was exhibited, producing a most brilliant sun-like light, by the means of swift attrition, apparently of metallic substances said to be for the purpose of illumining lighthouses on the coast. : END OF VOL I. |