the whole disturbing power of the sun,
which is only 1/178th of the earth's gravity at the moon; yet, on this
1/178th depends the revolution of the lunar apogee and nodes, and all
those variations which clothe the lunar theory with such formidable
difficulties. The moon's mass cannot be less than 1/80, and if we
consider it greater, as it no doubt is, the results obtained will be
still more discrepant. Much of this discrepancy is owing to the
expulsive power of the radial stream of the terral vortex; yet, it may
be suspected that the effect is too great to be attributed to this, and,
for this reason, we have suggested that the fused matter of the moon's
centre may not gravitate with the same force as the exterior parts, and
thus contribute to increase the discrepancy.

As there must be a similar effect produced by the radial stream of every
vortex, the masses of all the planets will appear too small, as derived
from their gravitating force; and the inertia of the sun will also be
greater than his apparent mass; and if, in addition to this, there be a
portion of these masses latent, we shall have an ample explanation of
the connection between the planetary densities and distances. We must
therefore inquire what is the particular law of force which governs the
radial stream of the solar vortex. It will be necessary to enter into
this question a little more in detail than our limits will justify; but
it is the resisting influence of the ether, and its consequences, which
will appear to present a vulnerable point in the present theory, and to
be incompatible with the perfection of astronomical science.

LAW OF DENSITY IN SOLAR VORTEX.

Reverting to the dynamical principle, that the product of every particle
of matter in a fluid vortex, moving around a given axis, by its distance
from the centre and angular velocity, must ever be a constant quantity,
it follows that if the ethereal medium be uniformly dense, the periodic
times of the parts of the vortex will be directly as the distances from
the centre or axis; but the angular velocities being inversely as the
times, the absolute velocities will be equal at all distances from the
centre.

Newton, in examining the doctrine of the Cartesian vortices, supposes
the case of a globe in motion, gradually communicating that motion to
the surrounding fluid, and finds that the periodic times will be in the
duplicate ratio of the distances from the centre of the globe. He and
hi