The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INTELLECTUAL GLOBE. 577
composed of crass and solid matter, it seems that a system with the sun for its centre. And the
dense bodies do not unite in any centre, but lie consent of later ages and of antiquity has rather
dispersedly, and, so to speak, at random. Finally, anticipated and sanctioned that idea than not. For
if in the interstellar spaces we place a vacuum the supposition of the earth's motion is not new,
coacervatuhm, then the several orbs should seem to but, as we have already said, echoed from the
have round them, first, the envelope of certain ancients; but that of the sun being the centre of
subtle effluvia, and then the vacuum. But if these the world, and immovably fixed, is entirely new,
spaces are a plen2um, there should seem to be a (if we except the supposed mention of it in an ill
union of the denser in the centre, and an expul- translated verse,) and was first promulgated by
sion of the rarer substances, to the circumference. Copernicus.
Now, it contributes materially to science to know A third question follows with respect to the
the connexions of questions with one another, depth of the system, not that any exact measure
because under some of them there is found history of it can be taken, but that it may be set down for
or inductive matter to furnish their solution, certain: whether the starry heaven is, so to speak,
under others none. one region, or, as it is commonly expressed, orb,
But, granting a system, next comes our second or whether the stars which are denominated fixed,
question, Whatis the centre of the system l For,' are higher than the others, in a sort of abysmal
if to any of the orbs ought to be assigned the central profound. For it cannot be that they are of equal
place, there appear first to be two orbs which pre- height, if we understand this strictly; for the stars
sent the character of a middle point or centre- are undoubtedlynotarranged as in a plane,having
the earth and the sun. In favour of the earth a certain measurable size on a superficies, like
there are our senses, an immemorial opinion, and spots or embedded gems, but are entire globes,
most of all this circumstance, that as dense bo- large, and lying deep in the profound. Wheredies contract into a narrow, and rare are diffused fore, when they are found of such disproportionate
over a wide space, and the area of every circle magnitude, it is by all means requisite that some
contracts towards its centre, it seems to follow of of them should come out more than others, either
necessity that the contracted part should be placed upwards or downwards; nor can it be that, either
at the centre of the world, as the appropriate, and, in the upper or lower part of them, they are joined
as it were, the only place for dense bodies. For in one continuous layer. Were this true of certhe sun again this reason makes, that to a body tain portions of the stars, itwould be rash to assert
whose functions in the system are greatest and it of them in the aggregate, that the stars are not
most potent, that place ought to be assigned from higher placed the one than the other; but even
which it can best act upon, and diffuse its influ- though this were true, still we can affirm a defined
ence over the entire system. To this we may and very perceptible depth or thickness of that
add that the sun evidently has as his satellites region which is called the sphere or starry heaven,
Venus and Mercury, and, in the opinion of Tycho, containing such projecting points and varieties of
also the rest of the planets; so that the sun plainly altitude; for we see, from the apogees and perigees
appears to possess the nature, and to perform, in of the planets, that there belongs to their several
some instances, the office of a centre. Therefore heavens a certain distinguishable depth through
we are brought so much nearer the determination which they mount and descend. But that questhat it is the centre of the universe, which was the tion only regards this point, whether theie are,
assertion of Copernicus. But in the system of stars one above another, as planet above planet,
Copernicus there are many and great difficulties: and, as it were, in different orbits. And that
first, there is something revolting to belief, in en- again is in like manner collateral to the other quescumbering the earth with three motions, in de- tion, regarding the motion or condition of the
taching the sun from the group of planets with earth. For if the stars revolve with a diurnal
which it has so many common properties, in intro- motion about the earth, since they are all carried
ducing so much immobility into the system of with the like celerity, and, as it were, with the one
nature, (particularly by making the stars and sun impulse; and since it is plainly apparent that
immovable, the bodies most luminous and spar- each of the planets, as it varies in height or.lowkling of any,) in wishing to fasten, as it were, the ness of position, so it also varies in rapidity or
moon to the epicycle of the earth, and in some slowness of motion; it is probable that stars,
other assumptions which he makes; savouring of equal in the swiftness of their revolution, are
the character of a man who thinks nothing of in- placed in one region of ether, of which, although
venting any figment at the expense of nature, the thickness or depth may be supposed consider
provided the bowls of haphazard roll well. But able, still it is not so great as to create a otffer
if we are to ascribe motion to the earth, it seems ence in their incitation or celerity, but only such,
more consistent to banish the idea of a system, i that through the whole of each region respectively,
and of various globes conceived to be distributed all the bodies revolve simultaneously, as if fastened
over space, according to the idea of those whom with the chain of one common essence, or, at least,
we have already mentioned, than to establish such with such discrepancy as, by reason of the dis
VoL. II.-73 3 C