1879.] ^J [Chase. 



It will be readily seen that equations (2) and (4) are entirely independ- 

 ent of each other. The true unknown quantity, or common unit of com- 

 parison, in each case, is the velocity of light. The comparison is drawn, in 

 the first instance, between Earth's centripetal and centrifugal forces ; in the 

 second, between Sun's orbit-controlling influence upon Earth, and Earth's 

 reaction upon Sun. That reaction must be exerted, either through an 

 elastic medium, or by means of quasi-elastic forces. The elimination of 

 the comparative unit, shows that the hypothesis of a luminiferous aether, 

 or "{ethereal spirit" as Newton termed it, accounts for inter-stellar, plane- 

 tary, chemical, electrical, cosmicaland molecular action. I do not, however, 

 regard this fact as conclusive of the existence of such a medium, although 

 it seems to lend the hypothesis a higher degree of probability than any 

 previous investigations, and it requires, at least, quasi-elastic action. 



The difference between the two results is less than one-half of one per 

 cent. It would have been easy to assume values for the constants, which 

 are within the limits of probable errors of observation, and which would 

 have made the accordance exact. The value of Sun's radius (x -s- 214.524) 

 is deduced from Dr. Fuhg's estimate of Sun's apparent diameter. Three 

 other estimates, which do not make so large an allowance for irradiation, 

 are also included in the following table : 



Apparent Diam. x _=~ Sun's r. x. 



Dr. Fuhg* 82' 2."99 214.524 92,579,000 



British Naut. Al 32 3. G4 214.451 92,531,700 



American" " 82 4.00 214.412 92,500,500 



Lockyer's Astron 32 4.205 214.388 92,491,000 



Among the numerous previous mechanical estimates that I have given, 

 the one which accords most nearly with the two present determinations, 

 was the one which was based upon thermo-dynamical considerations de- 

 rived from the "heating energy of flames, "f and which gave 



x = 92,639,500 miles (4,) 



The intimate connection between Sun, Jupiter and Earth, which is indi- 

 cated by LawsJ 13 and 14, should lead to many other relations, no less in- 

 teresting than the foregoing. 



If we take y^ of the cosmical distance which corresponds to the funda- 

 mental wave-length, we find 



2-^of .6 of 214.524 = .5028 = 1.0056 X -5 (5) 



But .5 is the focal abscissa of the primitive paraboloid, of which Sun's 

 radius is the focal ordinate. 



III. Relations of Mass. 

 According to Professor Peirce's meteoric hypothesis, it may be reason- 

 ably presumed that each planet receives meteoric increments, or suffers 



* Deduced from 6827 measurements; Astron. Nach. 2040, cited in Am. Jour. 

 Sci., x, 159, Aug. 1875. 



fAnte, xii, 394; Am. Jour. Sci., iii, 292; 1872. 



X I call all these harmonies "laws," because they exhibit pre-established pur- 

 poses, though some of them are more special than others. 



