planets, in consequence of the fact that they all move in the same direction, in orbits of small eccentricity, and but slightly inclined to each other, their secular irregularities are periodical, and included within narrow limits; so that the planetary system will only oscillate about a mean state, and will never deviate from it, except by a very small quantity. The ellipses of the planets have been and always will be nearly circular. The ecliptic will never coincide with the equator; and the entire extent of the variation, in its inclination, cannot exceed three degrees."" To these observations of La Place, Professor Whewell adds the following, on the importance, to the stability of the solar system, of the fact that those planets which have great masses have orbits of small eccentricity. "The planets Mercury and Mars, which have much the largest eccentricity among the old planets, are those of which the masses are much the smallest. The mass of Jupiter is more than two thousand times that of either of these planets. If the orbit of Jupiter were as eccentric as that of Mercury, all the security for the stability of the system, which analysis has yet pointed out, would disappear. The earth and the smaller planets might, by the near approach of Jupiter at his perihelion, change their nearly circular orbits into very long ellipses, and thus might fall into the sun, or fly off into remoter space. It is further remarkable, that in the newly-discovered planets, of which the orbits are still more eccentric than that of Mercury, the masses are still smaller, so that the same provision is established in this case, also." With this hasty glance at the unity, power, and wisdom, of the Creator, as manifested in the greatest of His works, I close. I hope enough has been said to vindicate the sentiment that called Devotion, daughter of Astronomy!' I do not pretend that this, or any other science, is adequate of itself to purify the heart, or to raise it to its Maker; but I fully believe that, when the heart is already under the power of religion, there is something in the frequent and habitual contemplation of the heavenly bodies under all the lights of modern astronomy, very favorable to devotional feelings, inspiring, as it does, humility, in unison with an exalted sentiment of grateful adoration. I have thus, my dear Friend, responded to your call, in such a manner as I could, in the transient intervals between severer professional studies, and by appropriating to you nearly the whole of my long vacation. In giving publicity to these Letters, how happy should I be, to find that they prove acceptable and even attractive to the youth of our country, of both sexes. The inquiry has often pressed itself upon me, when enjoying myself so high a degree of pleasure from the study of both the science and the literature of astronomy,-Cannot the reading community, especially the youthful part of it, learn how much more solid and enduring pleasure is to be derived from truth than from fiction? Sated as the present age has been with fictitious narratives, is it not ready for a change? And if truth can be disrobed of her severity, and arrayed in a more attractive garb than she usually wears, is not this a favorable moment for bringing her forward from the obscurity into which she has long been forced by her powerful rival? In the schools, indeed, where mental discipline is the leading object, science must be permitted to retain her wonted rigor; but I see not why, for the purposes of the general reader, she may not relax her features, and be happily allied with her own literature. That you, dear Madam, will use your influence to effect such a change of taste among your youthful friends, as may lead them to prefer the interesting and exalted truths of astronomy above the most enticing works of fiction, I cannot for a moment doubt. And in this expectation, I bid you, affectionately, ADIEU. |