From ethereal resistance is inferred a retardation of all
moving bodies in the Solar System — a retardation which
certain astronomers contend even now shows its effects in
the relative nearness to one another of the orbits of the
older planets. And if this be so, there must come a time —
immeasurably distant, it is true — when the Earth's slowly
diminishing orbit will end in the Sun. It need scarcely be
said that when two such bodies as the Sun and the Earth
come into collision it must end in the reduction of the
smaller body into a gaseous condition. And in the same
manner it is not unreasonable to infer that the whole
Sidereal System will eventually be reduced to the state of



ITS PHILOSOPHICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS. 2Q3

nebulousity from which it originated. When each body
has reached its extreme state of int^^tion, molecular
motion must take the place of molar motion, insensible
motion must appear in the stead of sensible ; and thus a
process of disintegration must be gradually going on ;
while it follows that one body must almost necessarily be
brought under the attraction of its neighbour. And if the
collision of such unequal bodies as the Sun and the Earth
would end in the reduction of the smaller body into a
gaseous condition, it need scarcely be said that the collision
of two bodies of nearly equal size and weight would end
in the reduction of both of them into a gaseous condition.
