in all directions, and at all inclinations of the
ecliptic, conformably to what has been observed. Thus
the condensation of nebulous matter, by which we
have at first explained the motions of the rotation and
revolution of the planets and their satellites in the same
direction, and in nearly approximate planes, explains
also why the movements of the comets escape this
general law."[3]


The nebular hypothesis thus given detailed completion
by Laplace is a worthy complement of the grand
cosmologic scheme of Herschel. Whether true or false,
the two conceptions stand as the final contributions of
the eighteenth century to the history of man's ceaseless
efforts to solve the mysteries of cosmic origin and cosmic
structure. The world listened eagerly and without
prejudice to the new doctrines; and that attitude tells
of a marvellous intellectual growth of our race. Mark
the transition. In the year 1600, Bruno was burned
at the stake for teaching that our earth is not the centre
of the universe. In 1700, Newton was pronounced
"impious and heretical" by a large school of philosophers
for declaring that the force which holds the planets
in their orbits is universal gravitation. In 1800,
Laplace and Herschel are honored for teaching that
gravitation built up the system which it still controls;
that our universe is but a minor nebula, our sun but
a minor star, our earth a mere atom of matter, our
race only one of myriad races peopling an infinity