Physical Astronomy; Or, New Theories Of The Universe.

complexity of the systems which exist within the ¦ solar domain . Meteors , shooting stars , and serolites , have taken their place among the attendants of the sun ; and , in several instances , the orbits they have folloived before they reached the earth have been

approximately determined . Nor is this all . Within the last few months the startling discovery has been made , that two of the meteoric systems , at least , and probably many others ; coincide throughout their calculated extent with the orbits of known comets .

Accordingly we are led to trace au intimate coiinec - tion , if not an absolute identity between comets and . shooting-star systems , " This confirmatory [ tribute , by the able writer of the foregoing , to the vast importance of Dr . Bedford ' s

Theories , propounded sixteen years ago , at once denudes those Theories of their hypothetical origin , and clothes them Avith all the dignity of substantial fact . The acknowledged identity between meteors and comets , shadowed forth in 18 ol < , by Dr . Bedford , has

¦ been in 1869 , acknowledged by competent authority to be " the most remarkable feature of modern astronomical discovery ; " and we have the same eminent authority for the knowledge that the coincidence of meteoric systems throughout their calculated extent

with the orbits of known comets , also limned forth sixteen years ago as a " New Theory of the Universe , " has "within the last few months , " developed itself into a " startling discovery , " and been ¦ confirmed in all the fullness of its unmistakeable import and significance . In direct reference to this important branch of the

¦ question , I find Dr . Bedford thus advancing his hypotheses : " I may state my belief , " he says , " that meteors , falling and shooting stars , meteoric stones , fireballs , independent comets , aud suns , are all identical in ori gin * * While the surfaces of the planets forming our system were incandescent , they presented

all the appearance of comets , Avhich they certainly were ; and our ;' suu is still a comet to observers in distant systems , its tail being in the direction iu space last occupied by the solar orb in its progress towards the constellation Hercules , its appearance differing ,

in relation to its position , from the point at Avhich it is viewed . * * That the sun ' s incandescence is fading I doubt not , but ere its light and heat shall have ceased , the planets Avhich now enjoy its life-giving power shall have returned to their former gaseous

state , to serve for new formations . * * The sun is the parent of our system , as other suns are the parents of their respective systems . * * Comets are still revolving around comets , the primary comet is the sun of every system ; the secondary comet , Avhen no longer incandescent , becomes the primary planet ; the ter-

Physical Astronomy; Or, New Theories Of The Universe.

tiary comet , in like manner , is the satellite of the primary ; comets being infant worlds chemically progressing to habitable globes . * * I am . confident in my own mind that all planets Avere originally comets . " Can anything be more simple than this nice

arrangement of the mechanism of the heavens ? and yet how incomprehensibly majestic does the idea become , as it expands aud strives in vain to grasp the whole celestial organisation of systems that pervade illimitable space ! By the aid of telescope appliances ,

we can guage the firmament to a distance of which no adequate conception can be formed , and yet there are doubtless millions of Avorlds beyond . Our observations now range over a circle whose diaareter the

swift lvinged messenger , light , travelling at its uniform velocity of one hundred and ninety-two thousand miles iu a second of time , cannot traverse in less than seven millions of years . Aud yet AVO cannot probe to the limit of this wonderful celestial structure of the Divine Architect ! That all is perfect harmony , is

evident . Each world has its allotted sphere : each its orbit : each moves iu obedience to a superior influence , which governs it , and regulates it , and guides it onward in its trackless path . Well might the great astronomer Laplace , who is said to have known more

of the celestial mechanism than any man then living , exclaim on his death-bed : "That ivhieh Ave know is little ; that Avhich Ave know not is immense . " ( To be continued . )

English Gilds.*

ENGLISH GILDS . *

( Continued from page 216 . J On May 22 , 1745 , the Company of Frame Work Knitters ordained IIOAV bye-laAA * s , Avhich Avere confirmed by the Lord Chancellor' in accordance with the 19 th Henry VII . o . 7 . They enacted onco more

the old restrictions as to apprentices . Besides , these bye-laAA s contain the first direct HOAVS of the practice Avhich Avas to bring such infinite misery on tho Avorkmen , namely , of oAvners of frames AVIIO , though they did not themseh ^ es exorcise the trade , let frames out

on hire . This is the first intimation of mere capitalistemployers . But when the Company did nothingfurther but attempt to enforce its authority in favour of the London employers throughout the whole country , this led to tho entire loss of its influence .

When , at the beginning and in tho middle of the eighteenth century , the trade retired more and more from London to Nottingham , the Company sont its