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* Phil. Trans. for 1811, p. 280.

+ Nichol's Architecture of the Heavens, p. 133, 134.
Phil. Trans. for 1811, p. 291, 292.

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This kind of expansion (firmament) admits of the utmost variety of lengthened form and position; and from the great number of nebula to which I have referred," says Sir W. Herschel, "the existence of such nebulosities is fairly to be deduced."* “The appearance of an irregular round figure necessarily requires that the extent of two dimensions of the nebulous matter should be nearly equal in every direction at right angles to each other. Except an irregular cylinder or cone, placed in a particular required situation, no expansion of the nebulous matter but an irregular globular one can be the cause of the irregular round figure of these nebulæ."†

The term expansion (as the original Hebrew word, translated firmament, literally means) of nebulous matter is of repeated occurrence in the writings of Sir W. Herschel, in describing different forms of nebulæ, and it appropriately designates the sphere of each. By the breaking up of former extensive nebulosities, the waters, or by whatever name the nebulous fluid be designated, were divided from the waters. Each separate nebula had its own firmament in the midst of them. And if, as Sir W. Herschel states, and as appearances indicate, "the separate and scattered nebulæ owe their origin to the breaking up of some former nebulosities," the nebulous fluid under the firmament, or within the expansion of each nebula, was thus divided from that above or beyond it, till the word had its perfect work. And it was so; and over the mighty space, throughout which matter in "its rudest state," or without form and void, was previously diffused, the expanse of heaven was stretched out, and God called the firmament heaven; and there was evening and there was morning the second day.

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry (land‡) appear and it was so. And God called the dry (land) earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he seas; and God saw that it was good. Gen. i., 9, 10.

The diffuse nebulous matter, without form and void; the dividing of the light from the darkness; and, subsequently, the dividing of the waters (or the nebulous fluid) from the waters; and, next, the gathering together into one place of the diffused elements of matter, may be seen, as, in the wonderful progress of astronomical science, "the construction of the heavens," in all its grades, is brought before the "observation" of man. The same law of gravitation, or word of God, manifests its power over all. The gradual condensa

+ Ibid., p. 297.

* Phil. Transactions for 1811, p. 294, 295. Not in the original. The same fluid or waters once void became consolidated; and that which was once liquid became dry, and, formerly covered or unseen, it appeared.

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