6Q James Nasmyth, Esq., on the Source of Light. 



for the explanation of which we look in vain to any at pre- 

 sent known cause. 



I must plead the fact of the existence of such wonderful 

 phenomena as those alluded to, as my apology for thus at- 

 tempting to come forth with what, although they may appear 

 crude, theoretical notions, yet may, aS tending to direct in- 

 creased attention to important phenomena, so lead in due 

 time to the development of truth, and extend the present 

 hounds of our knowledge to those mighty laws which are so 

 mysteriously indicated by the existence bf the phenomena in 

 question, and with the evidences of which we are yet sur- 

 rounded. 



A course of observations on the solar spots and on the 

 remarkable features which from time to time appear on the 

 sun's surface, which I have examined with considerable assi- 

 duity for several years, had in the first place led me to 

 entertain the following conclusion, namely, that whatever be 

 the nature of solar light, its main source appears to result 

 from an action induced on the exterior surface of the solar 

 sphere, — a conclusion in which I doubt not all who have at- 

 tentively pursued observations on the structure of the sun's 

 surface, will agree. 



Impressed with the correctness of this conclusion, I was 

 led to consider whether we might not reasonably consider the 

 true source of the latent element of light to reside, not in the 

 solar orb, but in space itself ; and that the grand function 

 and duty of the sun was to act as an agent for the bringing 

 forth into vivid existence its due portion of the illuminating 

 or luciferous element, which element I suppose to be diffused 

 throughout the boundless regions of space, and which, in 

 that case, must be perfectly exhaustless. 



Assuming, therefore, that the sun's light is the result of 

 some peculiar action by which it brings forth into visible 

 existence the element of light, which I conceive to be latent 

 in, and diffused throughout, space, we have but to imagine 

 the existence of a very probable condition, namely, the un- 

 equal diffusion of this light-yielding element, to catch a 

 glimpse of a reason why our sun may, in common with his 

 solar brotherhood, in some portions of his vast stellar orbit, 

 have passed, and may yet have to pass, through regions of 



