This fraction is, however, too small, as the ablatitious action of the sun diminishes the attraction of the earth on the moon, in the ratio of 178 29/40 to 177 29/40. So that we must increase the fall of the moon in the ratio of 711 to 715, and hence the true fall of the moon from the tangent of her orbit becomes 0.00451 feet per second. We have found the fall of a body at the surface of the earth, considered as a sphere, 16.1067 feet per second, and the force of gravity diminishes as the squares of the distances increases. The polar diameter of the earth is set down as 7899.170 miles, and the equatorial diameter 7925.648 miles; therefore, the mean diameter is 7916.189 miles.[36] So that, reckoning in mean radii of the earth, the moon's distance is 59.787925, which squared, is equal to 3574.595975805625. At one mean radius distance, that is, at the surface, the force of gravity, or fall per second, is as above, 16.1067 feet. Divide this by the square of the distance, it is 16.1067/3574.595975805625 = 0.0045058 feet for the force of gravity at the moon. But, from the preceding calculation, it appears, that the moon only falls 0.0044510 feet in a second, showing a deficiency of 1/82d part of the principal force that retains the moon in her orbit, being more than double the whole disturbing power of the sun, which is only 1/178th of the earth's gravity at the moon; yet, on this 1/178th depends the revolution of the lunar apogee and nodes, and all those variations which clothe the lunar theory with such formidable difficulties. The moon's mass cannot be less than 1/80, and if we consider it greater, as it no doubt is, the results obtained will be still more discrepant. Much of this discrepancy is owing to the expulsive power of the radial stream of the terral vortex; yet, it may be suspected that the effect is too great to be attributed to this, and, for this reason, we have suggested that the fused matter of the moon's centre may not gravitate with the same force as the exterior parts, and thus contribute to increase the discrepancy. As there must be a similar effect produced by the radial stream of every vortex, the masses of all the planets will appear too small, as derived from their gravitating force; and the inertia of the sun will also be greater than his apparent mass; and if, in addition to this, there be a portion of these masses latent, we shall have an ample explanation of the connection between the planetary densities and distances. We must therefore inquire what is the particular law of force which governs the radial stream of the solar vortex. It will be necessary to enter into this question a little more in detail than our limits will justify; but it is the resisting influence of the ether, and its consequences, which will appear to present a vulnerable point in the present theory, and to be incompatible with the perfection of astronomical science. LAW OF DENSITY IN SOLAR VORTEX.