ticle. Let us therefore endeavour to form a
complete view of the physical state of the solar system, and for the
sake of simplicity we will suppose it to be at rest in space. We shall
deal with the effect of its motion upon its own planetary system, when
we explain Kepler's Laws.

We have, therefore, the Sun in the centre (see Fig. 14) of the system,
with Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
Neptune revolving round the sun at their respective distances, which are
subject to variations owing to certain causes which can be
satisfactorily explained. But circulating round the sun, in the same
direction as the rotation of the sun on its axis, we have the
electro-magnetic Aether, with its wide-spreading flow and extensive
electro-magnetic field. In like manner, we have each planet with its
aetherial electro-magnetic field, which also circulates round each
planet in the same direction as the planet revolves, that is, from west
to east, and in the same direction as the sun's electro-magnetic field
revolves.

Thus we have to picture the whole of the solar system in a state of
regular and harmonious rotation, while each planet adds to the harmony
of the rotation by itself rotating in its own aetherial electro-magnetic
field, while all rotate in the same direction, viz. from west to east.

Of course there are several objections that can be raised to such a
hypothesis, and those objections will be briefly dealt with in a
subsequent article, but I venture to think that this hypothesis is the
true philosophical explanation of a problem which has formed one of the
greatest outstanding difficulties in regard to the Aether medium for
many years, that problem being the relative motion of the Aether and
Matter. Lord Kelvin, in an article in the _Phil. Mag._ for July 1901,
entitled "Clouds over the Dynamical Theory of Light," refers to this
very difficulty, and states there are two clouds over the present
undulatory theory of light, one of which has reference to the difficulty
of conceiving a body like the earth or any planet rushing through the
Aether without subjecting the Aether to enormous laceration, and
concludes by saying that "we must still regard this cloud as very
dense." Here, then, is the key to the solution of the problem.

The earth does not rush through the Aether, but the Aether being
gravitative, it is associated with and bound to each planet, and
accompanies that planet in its journey though s