An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phænomena of the visible creation; and particularly the via lactea / By Thomas Wright.

  • Wright, Thomas, 1711-1786.
Date:
1750
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe, founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phænomena of the visible creation; and particularly the via lactea / By Thomas Wright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To thofe who are weak enough to think that fuch Enquiries as thefe are over-curious, vain, and prefumptive, and would willingly, fuitable to their own Ignorance and Comprehenfion, fet Bounds to other People’s Labours, I anfwer with Mr. Huygens, “ That if our Forefathers had « been at this Rate fcrupulous, we might have been ignorant dill of the « Magnitude and Figure of the Earth j or that there was fuch a Place as « America. We fhould not have known that the Moon is enlightened by « the Sun’s Rays, nor what the Caufes of the Eclipfes of each of them « are; nor a Multitude of other Things brought to. Light by the late << Difcoveries in Adronomy; for what can a Man imagine more abdrufe, « or lefs likely to be known, than what is now as clear as the Sun.” Had we dill paid that Homage to a Name, Which only God and Nature judly claim j The wedern Seas had been our utmod Bound, Where Poets dill might dream the Sun was drown’d; And all the Stars that (bine in Southern Skies, Had been admir’d by none but favage Eyes. Dryden. Befides the Noblenefs and Pleafure of thefe Studies, WiJdorn and Mo¬ rality are naturally advanced, and much benefited by them, and even Re¬ ligion itfelf receives a double Ludre, to the Confufion of thofe who « would have the Earth, and all Things formed by the fhuffiing Concourfa « of Atoms, or to be without Beginning.” In Adronomy, as well as in natural Philofophy, though we cannot pofitively affirm every thing we fay to beFacds and Truth, yet in fo noble and fublime a Study as that of Na¬ ture, it is glorious, as Mr. Huygens fays, even to arrive at Probability. Notwithdanding then the Difadvantages which ever have attended all new Difcoveries, either thro’ the Ignorance of the Age, or the univerfal Paf- fion of Ridicule in fuch contented Creatures,as can’t comprehend, yet ever at¬ tacking with a fool-hardy Refolution, the advancing Enfigns of Knowledge, if Ignorance was Virtue, and Wifdom Vice j I fay, regardlefs of this noify Shore, it is fure our Duty to fpring forward, and explore the fecret Depths of Infinity, and the wonderful hidden Truths of this vad Ocean of Beings. But how the heavenly Bodies were made, when they were made