the Newtonian constant, that of the centripetal force weakened less than the other-as 7:6 exceeds 11:10; yet with this advantage it has only in part been able to restrain the planet from flying off in a tangent, since its radius vector has steadily lengthened.

But from A to P again, the conditions are reversed; the centrifugal force steadily increasing, while the centripetal force will increase in a smaller ratio (falling from 7:6 at A, to 11:10 at P.) How then could the latter, with its power, relatively to the centrifugal force, weakening, draw the planet back to perihelion, or shorten its radius vector, when it was unable to restrain the same from lengthening, on its way from P to A, where the conditions were reversed, wholly to its advantage?

The truth of the matter is, that at P the centripetal force is not sufficiently strong, relatively to the centrifugal, to keep the radius vector of the planet from lengthening; but by the aid of the Newtonian constant it becomes so at A, from which point, if the orbital motion continue the same as at A

no greater, no less-the planet will continue in a circle, without any change in its radius vector; but if the orbital motion be increased at A, then the centrifugal force will also increase, and carry the planet still farther from the centre; since the focal attraction on the planet can only be increased--by first bringing it nearer to, the centre of force.

A NEW SYSTEM OUTLINED.

Though I have been freely criticising our present accepted astronomical system, yet it is neither my purpose nor desire to advocate a new one; as I am far from being fully assured that it is the Divine pleasure to reveal to our finite minds, except in a general way, the great plan of the Universe. But lest it should be said of me - He seeks only to demolish and destroy where he could not plan to build,-I will suggest the outline of a plan by which the apparent movements of the heavenly bodies might all be produced, not only in harmony with natural laws, but also with the revealed Word of God.

In such a plan, I would have the earth

practically at the centre, as indicated by E in Fig. 14, rotating on its axis (from w to E) in 25 hours 49 min. 10 sec.; the moon M revolving around the earth in the opposite direction to the earth's rotation, (or from E to w) in her sidereal period of 27.32 days; the

m.

Fig. 14.-A NEW SYSTEM.

sun S going around the earth in the same direction as the moon, in 14.19 days; moving

spirally from solstice to solstice and return, with its circuits a little broader over the northern, than they are over the southern hemisphere, for aphelion and perihelion, as shown in Fig. 8, page 219.

I would have Mercury m, and Venus V, revolve round the sun, as shown, and travel with it, as satellites of that body, in its circuits round the earth; the superior planets, as is shown by their orbits, moving slowly (from E to w) around the sun as a secondary centre in their synodical periods, while traveling round the earth with the sun, and like that body, moving spirally from north to south and return, in their sideraal periods; the stars revolving around the whole in orbits a little eccentric to the earth-centre, in the same direction as the sun, but enough faster to gain one revolution on the sun in a year; which would be a complete revolution in 13.66 days.

This would produce the apparent movements of the celestial bodies in their proper order and periods, and account for aberration, equation of time, and that apparent

equatorial acceleration of the sun, in the manner already explained; but how would I reconcile such a plan with the established law of gravitation?

I would reply-Not by seeking to change that law, so far as it pertains to things terrestrial, (of which portion only we are able to take practical account) but by amplifying and extending the demonstrable portion of that law, to embrace the universe.

UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION.

Respecting the application of this law of gravity to our habitable globe, we have been taught that those portions of the earth the nearest to its centre, are the least attracted centreward, while the attraction increases directly with the distance from the centre, being therefore theoretically greatest at the earth's surface.

Now, is this the result of Cohesion, or is the law of gravity, in this case, modified by that force? Presumably not, since we are taught that cohesion acts only at insensible distances. If then, it is the result of gravi