Read Ebook: Symmes's Theory of Concentric Spheres Demonstrating that the Earth is hollow habitable within and widely open about the poles by McBride James Symmes John Cleves

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Containing an introductory glance at some of the different Theories and Opinions which have been embraced respecting the formation of the Earth, and the reception which those Theories met with from the world when first promulgated.

Symmes's Theory; comprehending his description of the form of the earth, and of the other orbs in the Universe; his principles of gravity, and the points wherein he differs from the old or generally received theories.

Symmes's Theory supported by arguments drawn from the principles inherent in matter, and the consequences resulting from motion; tending to show that, from necessity, matter must form itself into concentric circles or spheres, such as Symmes describes the earth to be composed of.

Arguments in support of Symmes's Theory, drawn from Celestial appearances.

The Theory of Concentric Spheres, supported by arguments drawn from Terrestrial facts; such as the migration of animals to and from the arctic regions, and from refraction, and the variation of the compass, observed in high northern latitudes.

Several objections, made to the Theory of Concentric Spheres, answered, particularly the one that it contravenes religious opinions; demonstrating that the earth, and the other orbs of the universe, are formed on the best possible plan for the maintenance and support of organic life.

General observations on the Theory of Concentric Spheres, with a few suggestions to the Congress of the United States, to authorize and fit out an Expedition for the discovery of the Interior Regions; or, at least, to explore the northern parts of the continent of America.

A few brief suggestions, relative to the description, tonnage, and number of vessels, necessary to be equipped for a voyage of discovery to the interior regions of the earth; the number of men necessary to be employed on board, articles necessary for the outfit, and the probable expense attending the same; also, as to the route most proper to be pursued to accomplish the object of the expedition.

A short Biographical sketch of Captain Symmes; with some observations on the treatment which he has met with in the advancement of his theory.

It often happens, that those who have been early taught to believe a certain set of principles and doctrines as true, whether in philosophy, religion, or politics, adhere to them with the utmost pertinacity during the remainder of their lives. Any new theory, or principle, is resisted with peculiar energy; and, however inconsistent or untrue their favorite systems may be, they are disposed to make principles and facts bend to them; and would sooner call in question the general and immutable laws of nature, than the correctness of their own opinions. Perhaps this pertinacious adherence to prevalent and received opinions has retarded the progress of philosophic improvement more than the want of bold, original, and enquiring genius.

In former times those who cultivated science, or rather those who were called learned, generally based their philosophy on the doctrines of Aristotle; which, as they had been taught to reverence them from their infancy, had become almost interwoven with their constitutions. Hence, though time has unfolded to us their errors, during several centuries, suspicion never hinted their fallibility. The doctrine of the revolutions of the earth, and other planets; of gravitation, magnetism, and other properties now known to belong to matter; have each in their turn met with a strong opposition from the most learned men living at the time of their discovery. But, notwithstanding this opposition, in all ages, a few bold, enquiring minds have had the firmness to dissent from the established doctrines of the schoolmen, and to lay the foundation of new systems, the correctness of which subsequent improvements in science have more or less demonstrated to the world.

Although nearly six thousand years have elapsed since man has been placed upon the earth, he yet knows but little of its formation. Notwithstanding all our enterprise, all our boasted acquirements, and discoveries, its true form yet remains uncertain; and although admitted that it is not quite eight thousand miles in diameter, we still have never explored its extent. A space of nearly forty degrees of latitude remains as little known to us, as if it were a part of the surface of Saturn, or an orb revolving round a star of the eighth magnitude. We know nothing of the inhabitants of those regions, or what kind of animate beings exist in them.

It was a prevailing opinion among the ancients, the correctness of which they for ages never called in question, that the temperate zones of our globe were alone habitable.--The torrid zone they imagined was composed of nothing but sandy deserts, scorched up by the vertical and insupportable beams of a burning sun. The frigid zones, they believed were begirt with eternal snows, and "thick ribbed ice," which rendered them inaccessible to man, and incapable of supporting animal or vegetable life. Hence none ventured to approach them.

We are constrained to acknowledge, notwithstanding our improvements in science, that, comparatively, we know but little of the economy of nature. Within a few years past, almost an entire revolution has taken place in the world respecting the philosophy of light and heat--a change which affects the theory both of their nature, and of their causes:--They are now believed to be two distinct things, and that the sun communicates neither, but merely gives activity, in some manner not yet known, to the principles, or matter, of light and heat with which our elements abound. If this be the case, as I believe is now admitted by the learned world, we cannot undertake to say, that the intensity or the absence of either, is necessarily dependant alone on the altitude of the sun, under any particular latitude; or on our nearness to, or remoteness from, the centre of the system:--For aught we know, both may be connected with arrangements that require but few of the sun's rays to make them answer the purposes of organic life. For aught we can tell, the planet Georgium Sidus, which rolls eighteen hundred millions of miles distant from the orb of day, may, nevertheless, be favoured with as brilliant light, and as genial warmth as our little globe; and for aught we know the interior of this planet, in the concavity of the spheres, under the equator, may enjoy the same light and heat that fructify and bless the equatorial climes on the convex surface.

During a period of several thousand years the ancients were of opinion that the earth was a perfect plane, at rest, and supported below by an unknown something; that it was bounded on all sides by an impassable barrier, and covered with the blue canopy of heaven, in which the sun, moon, and stars performed their diurnal revolutions for the sole use and service of a few frail mortals. They believed that the sun, every morning rose out of the Eastern sea; and in the evening plunged into the Western ocean; that the stars were lighted up in the evening by some kind deity, and extinguished before the appearance of the sun. For ages none doubted the correctness of such a theory. At length, however, from an attentive examination of the regular appearances and revolutions of the heavenly bodies, some of the Babylonians adopted the opinion that the earth was spherical; revolving at regular periods round the sun, as the centre of the universe. In this they were followed by Pythagoras and others. But those efforts of genius, for the most part, met no other reward than the execrations of the exasperated multitude. Such innovations were deemed an impious crime against the gods, and could only be atoned for by the sacrifice of their lives. In those times the people of every nation, like the untutored Indian of our North Western wilderness at this day, considered their own country to be situated in the centre of the world, and they, the most favoured people. Even in later times, when the system of the Babylonians, and that of Pythagoras, were revived by Copernicus; and, when new discoveries respecting the form and revolutions of the earth, and other parts of the universe, were made by Galileo, not more than two hundred years since, we find an ignorant and bigoted world alarmed at such opinions. We find Galileo, that incomparable philosopher, cited before the court of Inquisition, accused of heresy, and thrown into prison. The charge of heresy against him was supported by alleging that he maintained the two following positions, viz.

These positions he was not permitted to maintain or defend, but was ordered to renounce them; and was prohibited from vindicating them either in conversation or writing. However strange and impious these doctrines appeared at that time, subsequent ages have confirmed their correctness.

When Columbus advanced the theory of a western continent, he was ridiculed, persecuted, and contemned, by nearly all the literati of Europe. It was an idea which had never before entered their minds. But, notwithstanding all their opposition and ridicule, the correctness of his "visionary theory," as they were pleased to call it, was demonstrated by the actual discovery of this vast continent, which is now sustaining millions of the very happiest of the human race.

Many of the important discoveries of the immortal Newton, at the time they were first promulgated to the world, were denounced as the splendid visions of a madman; but, subsequent ages have done him justice.

Much as we may feel ourselves elated on account of the new lights which have since been shed upon us, by the further progress and developement of science; yet, when I reflect on the unkind treatment which Captain Symmes and his new theory have received in our own day, I cannot help fearing that we are still, in some degree, under the influence of the same feelings and prejudices which brought the earlier philosophers to the torture, and the prison. This theory differs much less from the one now commonly received, than the doctrines of those philosophers differed from the prejudices of the multitude, in an age when every one believed the earth to be as flat as a table; and, consequently, it is but a small innovation in comparison to what the theory of Pythagoras and Copernicus must have appeared to be in their day; yet Captain Symmes has been constantly, and almost every where, represented as a visionary and dangerous innovator, and his alleged discovery ridiculed as the silly dream of a deranged imagination.

But let us not turn our backs and give a deaf ear to him, or to the discoveries of any other man, merely because they are new, and in contravention of our previously received impressions. True it is, novelty is frequently dangerous and hurtful: but on the other hand, it is often necessary and useful. Without it we should still remain destitute of many of the greatest advantages we enjoy. Without the advancement of new principles, and speculative ideas, neither ourselves, nor any other people, could ever have emerged from a state of savage barbarity. Without it, what purpose could our reason serve, which, under proper regulations, and by a gradual progress, is capable of contributing so largely to the general good of society?

The exact shape and formation of the earth are admitted not to be well understood. The laws of gravity, and the admeasurements which have been made in different places on the same meridian, have demonstrated to us, that the greatest mathematicians have mistaken its real figure. Various theories have at different times been published and refuted, and others substituted in their stead. Yet still a shade of darkness and mystery appears to hang over the subject; for many principles, attractions, and apparent variations from the established laws believed to exist in the economy of nature, have been discovered, particularly in the polar regions, which remain unexplained and unaccounted for. Let us, therefore, examine and investigate any theory which proposes to explain them. Let us not be so tenacious of our own opinions, and hereditary prejudices, as to stop at the very point where every thing invites us to proceed. Let us rather push our researches after knowledge to the utmost, and exercise our reason, and every means in our power that may tend to the advancement of science and knowledge. In the pursuit, let us not be retarded by the cry of prejudice, or the sarcastic whispers of the narrow minded, and selfish.

Let us, therefore give Captain Symmes a "gentle meeting," and a candid hearing, in the following short chapters; ascertain what his theory is, and on what principles he supports it; and then adopt or reject it, as our reason may dictate.

According to Symmes's Theory, the earth, as well as all the celestial orbicular bodies existing in the universe, visible and invisible, which partake in any degree of a planetary nature, from the greatest to the smallest, from the sun, down to the most minute blazing meteor or falling star, are all constituted in a greater or less degree, of a collection of spheres, more or less solid, concentric with each other, and more or less open at their poles; each sphere being separated from its adjoining compeers by space replete with aerial fluids; that every portion of infinite space, except what is occupied by spheres, is filled with an aerial elastic fluid, more subtile than common atmospheric air; and constituted of innumerable small concentric spheres, too minute to be visible to the organ of sight assisted by the most perfect microscope, and so elastic that they continually press on each other, and change their relative situations as often as the position of any piece of matter in space may change its position: thus causing a universal pressure, which is weakened by the intervention of other bodies in proportion to the subtended angle of distance and dimension; necessarily causing the body to move towards the points of decreased pressure.

It is a sound principle of philosophy, that the particles of the common air of our atmosphere are of a repellant quality, and mutually repulse each other. The whole system of pneumatics goes to prove that air presses equally in all directions. Not a single experiment in this branch of natural science can be performed that does not depend on such a property. This being the case, if the boundless extent of the universe, beyond the limits of our atmosphere, be an entire vacuum, why should the atmosphere be retained in its present circumscribed form, and not expand, by virtue of its repellant quality, far beyond its known height? To prevent this, Symmes believes universal space to be filled with an elastic fluid, inconceivably rare, and uniformly distributed throughout; differing from common air, and from the elastic fluids existing in our atmosphere. This tendency is what Symmes believes should be understood by the term gravity; the laws of action governing which he holds to be true, as defined by Newton: and he moreover holds that the application of the laws of gravity, as laid down by Newton, leads a reasoning mind to the belief of concentric spheres, with open poles, as all planetary bodies are in his opinion formed.

The author of the new theory entertains a belief that the principles of planetary orbicular forms, developed by him, extend as well to the molecules of the most subtile fluids, as to the innumerable stars or suns of the universe, and all their planetary trains: he contends that though he may not have discovered any new principles in physics, yet that he has made interesting advances in a knowledge of the application of what was heretofore known.

The lowermost point, or the place where the distance is least from the equator to the verge of the northern polar opening, will be found in the Pacific ocean, about latitude fifty degrees, near the north-west coast of America, on or near a meridian running through the mouth of Cook's river, being in about one hundred and sixty degrees west longitude, the real verge being in about latitude fifty degrees and becoming apparent to a person travelling northward at right angles with the magnetic equator, at the distance of about twelve hundred miles further. The verge varies progressively from the lowest to the highest point, crossing the north-west coast of America between latitude fifty-two and fifty-four, thence across the continent of North America, passing through Hudson's Bay and Greenland, near cape Farewell; thence by mount Hecla to the highest point; thence tending gradually more to the south, across the northern parts of Asia, at or near the volcanoes of Kamtschatka, and along the extinguished volcanoes of the Fox Islands, to the lowermost point again, near the northwest coast.

The heat and cold of the different climates are governed by their distance from the verge of the polar opening, and do not depend on their nearness to or remoteness from the equator. The natural climates are parallel to the planes of the polar openings, and cut the parallels of latitude at an angle of twelve degrees. When the sun is on the tropic of Capricorn, the circle of greatest cold would be about twenty-three and a half degrees south of the apparent verge, and when the sun is on the tropic of Cancer this circle would probably be just under the umbrage of the real verge: hence it follows, if this doctrine be correct, that the climate of forty degrees north latitude on the plains of Missouri, in the western part of the continent of America, will be as cold in winter, as the latitude of fifty or fifty-two degrees in Europe; and observation has fully confirmed such to be the fact.

The magnetic principle which gives polarity to the needle, is believed to be regulated by the polar openings, and that the needle always points directly to the opening, and of course parallel to a line drawn perpendicular to the plane of the opening. And when the apparent verge shall be passed, the needle will seem to turn nearly round, so as to point in an opposite direction; having the contrary end north on the interior of the sphere, that was north on the exterior, the same end being north on the interior which was south on the exterior. Hence, when navigators arrive in the neighbourhood of the apparent verge, the variation of the needle becomes extreme; and when the verge is passed, the variation is more or less reversed. The meridians run from the highest northern to the highest southern point on the verges; hence, in tracing a meridian, or sailing due north, we would pursue that line which would conduct us directly from the sun at his greatest altitude; and when we come to the verge, the meridian would vary, and wind along the vicinity of the edge of the real verge, until it brought us to the highest point of the apparent verge. The magnetic needle, on arriving at the verge would appear to cease to pursue the same direction, but would in reality continue to maintain it, and lead directly into the polar opening.

According to this formation of the sphere, a traveller or navigator might proceed true north any where west of the highest point of the verge, say on the continent of America, until he come to the verge. The meridian on which he was travelling would then wind along the verge to the right, until he arrived at the ninetieth degree; and by proceeding south, in the same direction, he would arrive at the coast of Siberia, without going far into the concavity of the sphere, and without knowing that he had been within the verge. Should such a journey be effected, it would appear to confirm the old theory of the form of the earth, and put the subject at rest; although pursuing the needle might have directed the traveller into the interior, and enabled him to discover those fine countries which Captain Symmes alleges to exist there.

Each of the spheres composing the earth, as well as those constituting the other planets throughout the universe, is believed to be habitable both on the inner and outer surface; and lighted and warmed according to those general laws which communicate light and heat to every part of the universe. The light may not, indeed, be so bright, nor the heat so intense, as is indicated in high northern latitudes by the paleness of the sun, and darkness of the sky; facts, which various navigators who have visited those regions confirm; yet they are no doubt sufficiently lighted and warmed to promote the propagation and support of animal and vegetable life.

The different spheres constituting our planet, and the other orbs in creation, most probably do not revolve on axes, parallel to each other, nor perform their revolutions in the same periods of time; as is indicated by the spots on the belts of Jupiter, which move faster on one belt than another.

The atmosphere surrounding the sphere is probably more dense on the interior than the exterior surface, the increased pressure of which must increase the force of gravity; as the power of gravity must increase in proportion as we approach nearer the poles.--Clouds formed in the atmosphere of the convexity of the sphere, probably float in through the polar openings, and visit the interior, in the form of rain and snow. And the long continuation of winds, or regular monsoons, which occur in some parts of the earth, may be supplied by winds sucked into one polar opening and discharged through the other, thus performing the circuit of the sphere; without which supposition, it would be difficult to account for the long continued winds which, at certain seasons, are known to blow constantly for several months, more or less obliquely to and from the poles.

FOOTNOTES:

National Intelligencer of June 10th, 1824.

A tolerably correct representation of the sphere might be made by taking a hollow terrestrial globe, such as are used in colleges, and insert a saw at north latitude sixty-eight degrees in Lapland, sawing obliquely through, so as to come out at latitude fifty degrees in the Pacific ocean. The aperture thus produced, will show the general dimensions and slope of the north polar opening. And in the southern hemisphere, commencing with the saw at south latitude thirty four degrees, in longitude between fifty and fifty-five degrees east, in the Indian ocean, and sawing obliquely through, in the same manner, so as to come out at south latitude forty-six degrees, and longitude one hundred and thirty degrees west, in the South Pacific ocean, you will represent the appearance of the south polar opening; and the whole will exhibit a general representation of the sphere, according to the new theory.

It is a principle laid down by Sir Isaac Newton, the correctness of which is generally admitted, that "matter attracts matter in proportion to its quantity and the squares of its distances inversely." Captain Symmes contends that gravity consists in a certain expansive quality in the molecules which constitute the aerial fluid called aether, which fills universal space, and creates a pushing, instead of a pulling power. However, let either be correct, I conceive it cannot materially affect the principles necessary to constitute concentric spheres: either principle, I apprehend, would lead us nearly to the same results. When matter was in chaos, or in a form not solid, promiscuously disseminated through universal space, suppose it then should at once receive the impression of those universal laws by which it is governed, and see what would be the consequence.

According to Sir Isaac Newton's principles of gravity, the particle of matter that happened to be the largest would attract the smaller in its neighbourhood, which would increase the power of attraction in proportion to the increase of matter, until all in the universe would be collected into one vast body in the centre of space, and there remain motionless and at rest forever. This, however, we find not to be the case; for innumerable bodies of matter, differing in magnitude, are known to exist throughout the universe, arranged at suitable distances from each other, and performing certain revolutions in obedience to certain fixed laws impressed on them.

The diameter of our globe, according to the best observation, is believed to be about 7970 English miles, and its circumference 25,038: consequently, if it were solid, it would contain 265,078,559,622 cubic miles of matter; while a globe of only half the diameter, would contain only 33,134,819,952.

Suppose our globe divided into parts of one square mile on the surface, bounded by straight lines converging to a point at the centre, as the subjoined figure represents:

and then suppose there were no other particles of matter in the universe but A and B, A containing 1,328 cubic miles of matter, and B only 166, A would attract B so as to make their centre of attraction at O, which point would become at once the common centre: but admitting the whole matter of the globe to exist, A would still exert its influence on B, but both would be operated upon by T and S and the surrounding matter, all perhaps, tending to one common centre. However, I imagine that the tending to the centre would not be so great as is contended for by the generally received theory, which alleges that matter at the centre of the earth is four times as hard as hammered iron. The Newtonian philosophy appears to contemplate a globe at rest, and not in such rapid motion as we know the earth and other planetary bodies to be in, communicating to them a centrifugal force, which tends to throw matter from the centre. The rotary motion of each planet is no doubt regulated by the quantity of matter it contains: so that at its surface centrifugal and centripetal forces are equally balanced--the rotary motion being adequate to communicate a force to counter-balance the force of gravity.

Newton ascertained by his investigations of the properties and principles of matter, the earth to be a globe flattened at the poles: and the French philosophers afterwards confirmed this fact by measuring a degree in different latitudes. This difference between the equatorial and polar diameters of the earth, and of the other planets which are also known to be of that shape, is ascribed by those philosophers who attempt to account for such a formation, to the projectile force of the globe at the equator occasioned by its rotary motion. This is admitting that the matter of our globe was once in so soft a state as to take its form from motion; for were the earth a compact solid body, and four times as hard as hammered iron at the centre, this rotary motion round an imaginary axis could never give to the globe the form of an oblate spheroid, as is ascertained to be the fact; because a hard solid body moving in empty space, could not be supposed to yield into that shape by any law of action as yet unfolded by science.

But were the matter of this globe thrown into a confused, disorganized state, and then put into a quick rotary motion, such as it is known to have, it would throw off from the centre towards the surface, first the heaviest, and next the lighter substances, which is the very order in which they are found to be arranged, in the composition of the earth.

This principle, for it is simply the principle of projectile force, will account for mountains, hills, vallies, plains; and for nearly all the inequalities on the face of the earth. These circumstances depend on the density of substances composing the earth. Substances of the greatest specific gravity are susceptible of the greatest projectile force; and hence we find that mountains are composed of heavy masses of rock, mineral substances, and heavy earths; hills, or the next highest eminences, of earth of the next specific gravity; and plains, or level lands, of lighter substances. Had the earth originally been composed of one uniform substance, sand, for example, of equal fineness and weight, the whole surface of the globe would have presented one uniform level or unbroken plain. But, presuming that it was originally composed of, at least, earths of different densities, the heaviest masses would be first thrown out and raise their heads above the surface of the ocean: thus islands would be formed; and clusters of islands would form continents, rearing their lofty heads into the air; and, if the substances of which they were originally composed, were not as hard as the rocks which we now find on them, the sun and changing temperature of the climates, might convert certain kinds of earth into masses of stone, increasing in specific gravity by petrifaction, and other causes, until the towering peaks of the Alps and Andes assumed their present solid form. One continent having thus emerged, another would naturally be produced simultaneously on the opposite side of the sphere, as an equipoise to the first, to keep equal the earth's motion; until all the heavy substances should be thrown out and united in a compact sphere.

To an observer of the earth the crust every where appears to indicate the emergence of land from water: almost the whole surface of the solid crust is alluvial, and by reasoning and reflecting, we are led to the conclusion, that the solid parts of our globe are nothing more than a crust, and formed into concentric spheres, in accordance with the principles of projectile force. I would ask, what proofs have we, that the sphere we inhabit is solid beyond the degree of thickness necessary to preserve it from injury by its rapid motion round the sun, by its diurnal motion round its own axis, and by its motion round its common centre of gravity with the moon? It has been ascertained with mathematical certainty, that the large planet Jupiter, is more than 1300 times the bulk of the earth, and Saturn independent of his double ring, is about 1000 times the size. If we apply to those prodigious bodies, the reasoning of Newton relative to plastic forms moving variously, there is no just grounds for concluding that they are solid substances to their centres. If they were, their vast weight and remote position would require much more attraction than probably even the sun could furnish, to keep them within their orbits.

The acknowledged and received laws of gravity, together with the measurements made on the same meridian, in different latitudes, have demonstrated to us that the greatest mathematicians have been mistaken as to the real figure of the earth. It is for schoolmen to make exact calculations, respecting the force of gravity, and centrifugal and centripetal forces; it is for them to determine with mathematical certainty where matter, left to its own laws, would settle; for such undertakings, I acknowledge my incompetency. But I have long had strong doubts, whether the laws of gravity are well understood; or whether the rules on which these calculations could be accurately made, are exactly known. However, I take the broad principles of nature, as presented to my view, for my guide; and draw my conclusions from what I have seen or what is well known to exist.

Observe the boy hurling a stone from a sling; he whirls it round his head for a minute to acquire a certain degree of centrifugal force, and although it is not whirled with half the velocity the earth revolves on its axis, yet as soon as it is released from confinement, notwithstanding the whole power of the earth is operating on it with all the force of gravity, the centrifugal force which the stone acquired by the whirling is sufficient to carry it off, at a tangent to the circle described by the sling, for a very considerable distance, before the gravity of the earth and atmospheric obstruction can force it to the ground.

If you will take the trouble to examine a mechanic grinding cutlery on a large stone that is smooth on the sides and has a quick motion, you may observe that if a certain portion of water be poured on the perpendicular side whilst the stone is turning, it does not settle or form itself into a body round the crank or axis; nor does the gravity of the earth draw it from the surface, but forms itself on the side of the stone into something resembling concentric circles, one within another. The surface of the earth, I apprehend, revolves with much greater velocity than any grindstone; and the substances composing the spheres are much firmer than water.

Most of us, I presume, have seen persons for amusement, in displaying feats of dexterity, place a full glass of wine or water on a hoop, and whirl it round their heads without spilling one drop. The centrifugal force it acquires by the revolutions overcomes the power of gravity, although nothing appears to support it but the common atmosphere.

Another experiment, producing a similar effect, might be made with a cup filled with fine sand. On the surface of the sand, describe a circle nearly in the centre; it will then be apparent, on observing the cup, that the sand within the circle, provided the particles attract one another as the planets do, is as much attracted towards one verge of the cup as the other; owing to its being equally surrounded by matter or sand, and therefore it can be but very little, if any, gravitated centrewise. Hence, being in a degree suspended, only a small horizontal rotary motion is required to whirl it towards the rim or sides of the cup into a circular form; and hence it follows, that those particles of sand lying equidistant from the inner side of the circle of sand thus formed, and the outer side would be in like manner balanced, or supported, by being equally gravitated in both directions. A disposition would thus be produced to form into concentric circles, and it would therefore follow, that successive similar dispositions to subdivision should occur, gradually lessening in force and quantity. This principle applied to the earth or other planets, would cause them to be formed into concentric spheres; and would throw the matter from the axis, as well at the poles, as at the centre, and thereby constitute open poles.

Another simple experiment might also be made, to illustrate that a disposition to concentric spheres does exist in nature. On a piece of paper sift a small quantity of very fine magnetic particles, such as steel or iron filings, under which hold a loadstone; and you will observe that the attractive power of the magnet will cause the filings on the paper to arrange themselves into various concentric circles, nearly regular and equidistant from each other. From what cause should this take place, rather than that the filings should be accumulated into one mass?

Various have been the conjectures relative to the cause and origin of the meteoric stones, or fire balls, which have been known to fall to the earth, in all ages, and in various parts of the world. Some have imagined them to be precipitated from a comet or some of the planets; others that they come from the moon; and Captain Symmes's opinion, I believe, is that they are formed isolated in space by spontaneous accumulations, as by attracting molecules of matter at first in a fluid state, which afterwards solidifies by heat or motion. But come from whence they may, they are said to be constituted of a substance unknown to our geologists; and in several instances the fragments have been ascertained to consist of pieces, some of which have concave and some convex surfaces, affording a certain proof that previous to their descent, they had been constituted of hollow spheres.

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