Illustrations of Universal Progress: A Series of Discussions

"Mécanique Céleste," p. 346.

15

The impending revision of the estimated masses of the planets, entailed by the discovery that the Sun's distance is less than was supposed, will alter these specific gravities. It will make most of the contrasts still stronger.

16

The reader will perhaps say that this process is the one described as having taken place early in the history of nebular evolution; and this is true. But the same actions will be repeated in media of different densities.

17

The formation of Saturn's rings is thus rendered comprehensible.

18

Since this was written, M. Poinsot has shown that the precession would be the same whether the Earth were solid or hollow.

19

See Herschel's "Outlines of Astronomy."

20

Sir Charles Lyell is no longer to be classed among Uniformitarians. With rare and admirable candour he has, since this was written, yielded to the arguments of Mr. Darwin.

21

Carpenter.

22

It may be well to warn the reader against an error fallen into by one who criticised this essay on its first publication – the error of supposing that the analogy here intended to be drawn, is a specific analogy between the organization of society in England, and the human organization. As said at the outset, no such specific analogy exists. The above parallel, is one between the most-developed systems of governmental organization, individual and social; and the vertebrate type is instanced, merely as exhibiting this most-developed system. If any specific comparison were made, which it cannot rationally be, it would be to some much lower vertebrate form than the human.