whose generalizing
powers have never, perhaps been equalled, has the following observation:

"When we regard the real, proper, or non-perspective motions of the
stars, we find _many groups of them moving in opposite directions_; and
the data as yet in hand render it not necessary, at least, to conceive
that the systems composing the Milky Way, or the clusters, generally,
composing the Universe, are revolving about any particular centre
unknown, whether luminous or non-luminous. It is but Man's longing for a
fundamental First Cause, that impels both his intellect and his fancy
to the adoption of such an hypothesis."[13]

[13] Betrachtet man die nicht perspectivischen eigenen
Bewegungen der Sterne, so scheinen viele gruppenweise in ihrer
Richtung entgegengesetzt; und die bisher gesammelten Thatsachen
machen es auf's wenigste nicht nothwendig, anzunehmen, dass
alle Theile unserer Sternenschicht oder gar der gesammten
Sterneninseln, welche den Weltraum fuellen, sich um einen
grossen, unbekannten, leuchtenden oder dunkeln Centralkoerper
bewegen. Das Streben nach den letzten und hoechsten
Grundursachen macht freilich die reflectirende Thaetigkeit des
Menschen, wie seine Phantasie, zu einer solchen Annahme
geneigt.

The phaenomenon here alluded to--that of "many groups moving in opposite
directions"--is quite inexplicable by Maedler's idea; but arises, as a
necessary consequence, from that which forms the basis of this
Discourse. While the _merely general direction_ of each atom--of each
moon, planet, star, or cluster--would, on my hypothesis, be, of course,
absolutely rectilinear; while the _general_ path of all bodies would be
a right line leading to the centre of all; it is clear, nevertheless,
that this general rectilinearity would be compounded of what, with
scarcely any exaggeration, we may term an infinity of particular
curves--an infinity of local deviations from rectilinearity--the result of
continuous differences of relative position among the multitudinous
masses, as each proceeded on its own proper journey to the End.

I quoted, just now, from Sir John Herschell, the following words, used
in reference to the clusters:--"On one hand, without a rotary motion and
a centrifugal force, it is hardly possible not to regard them as in a
state of _progressive collapse_." The fact is, that, in surveying the
"nebulae" with a telescope of high power, we shall find it quite
impos