William Bower Taylor

“ The integral of gravitation is a function of space. Suppose a central homogeneous globe to augment in bulk by the descent of similar matter from an infinite distance in radial directions all around ; each descending element, on arriving at the surface of the globe, presents itself charged with a certain amount of mechanical force equivalent to the square velocity with which it impinges. ”

“ The first part of this proposition, (as an iteration of the previous one,) that gravitative force "exists in space," is derived as an inference from a metaphysical postulate, — " It is impossible to imagine" it as belonging to a finite body. But our powers of " imagining" can hardly be accepted as the measure of scientific verity. "It is impossible to imagine" the nature of electrical action, chemical affinity, luminiferous vibration, aether, atom, force, or space ! ”

“ It would be taking too narrow a view if we limited the function of the luminiferous aether to the conveying of physical pulses only. The atmosphere also conveys physical pulses, but that is the least important of its functions in the economy of nature. There is nothing that should hinder us attributing to the media concerned in the radiation of heat and light the higher functions of electric polarity and gravitation. ”

“ The special dynamic arrangements by which this is effected may ever elude research, but as there is no limit to the vis viva which such media may conserve in their minutest parts, so there is no physical impossibility in that vis viva being suddenly transferred to the molecules of ordinary matter in the proportions and sequence required to carry out the order and system of nature. The fundamental principle of action in such media must be in accordance with elastic impact, for upon that the dynamic theory of heat and conservation of force rests as a foundation. ”

“ This established ratio of final velocity does not appear in any way to substantiate the general proposition ; nor is it seen to receive support from any of the succeeding illustrations. Gravitation, as a fact of observation, is always found to be rigorously relative to two posited elements ; and its integral is by such observation a function of the distance between these elements. If [245] the distance is infinite, the integral is negatively infinite. But how it is a function of " space" in any more general sense, is certainly not obvious. ”

“ An abstract system of kinematics, under any geometrical arrangement or conception, is indeed quite irreconcilable with the actual system of dynamics found in nature and subject to our observation. All gases would under the operation of the first law of motion, tend to infinite and equable diffusion ”

“ So far as my consciousness reaches, so far as 1 am capable of distinguishing true from false, and like from unlike, all known facts are brought into complete harmony with our laws of thought, when we suppose forces as the causes of phenomena to reside in the masses, the spaces between these masses being traversed by the forces. ”

“ Suppose them removed to the earth's surface, and each projected up a vertical with their acquired velocities respectively : the smaller body rises 100 limes the height ascended by the larger, and thus in again descending would be able to perform ten times the work . ”