12 THE BODIES OF SPACE, nected with it by its own peculiar tie. The resemblance is now perceived to be a true family likeness; they are bound up in one chain—inter woven in one web of mutual relation and har monious agreement, subjected to one pervading influence, which extends from the centre to the farthest limits of that great system, of which all of them, the Earth included, must henceforth be re garded as members.”* Connecting- what has been observed of the series of nebulous stars with this wonderful rela tionship seen to exist among the constituents of our system, and further taking advantage of the light afforded by the ascertained laws of matter, modern astronomers have suggested the following hypothesis of the formation of that system. Of nebulous matter in its original state we know too little to enable us to suggest how nuclei should be established in it. But, supposing that, from a peculiarity in its constitution, nuclei are formed, we know very well how, by virtue of the law of gravitation, the process of an aggregation of the neighbouring matter to those nuclei should proceed, until masses more or less solid should become detached from the rest. It is a well- Astronomy, Cabinet Cyclopa?dia.
