16' 



and the universe is being thus gradually brought down to a 

 uniform temperature. 



One of the most noticeable instances of the ideas to which 

 this theory has been adapted, and of the play of the imagination 

 in physical science, will be found in a Lecture entitled, "A Glimpse 

 through the corridors of Time," delivered in the Midland Institute, 

 Birmingham, on October 24th, 1881, by Professor Robert S. Ball, 

 of the University of Dublin and Eoyal Astronomer of Ireland. 

 In such Lecture he sketches the changes that in his opinion have 

 been brought about by time, and attempts to foreshadow the 

 earth's destiny. He uses the well-worn illustration of a machine 

 as applied to this question, the earth being a gigantic fly-wheel, 

 in which a stupendous quantity of energy is stored. The tides 

 are with him mighty agents for withdrawing the energy fi'om this 

 earth. He assumes that there is no new source of supply. This 

 withdrawn energy is dissipated through the universe. The tides, 

 he says, are increasing the length of the day, the moon recedes 

 further and farther. Some 50,000,000 years ago, or thereabouts, 

 he is unable to chronicle the event with perfect accuracy, the 

 moon was born, thrown off in fact from an earth then revolving 

 on its axis, in a day equal in length to about three hours of the 

 present day. Gradually this period has lengthened, and it will 

 continue to lengthen ; the rotation of the earth will diminish 

 until the moon will go round the earth in 1,400 hours, while the 

 earth will rotate on its axis in the same time. In other words, 

 the day of the future will become as long as 57 of our present 

 days. This epoch we are told will assuredly come, if the world 

 lasts as long. All this and much more of the same kind is put 

 before us as the result of the hypothesis of the conservation of 

 energy applied merely to unorganised matter. Pondering upon 

 such speculations, is it to be wondered at that even high sounding 

 names and magniloquent phrases should fail to secure entire 

 admission of the truth of an hypothesis which leads to such 

 results, or that we should ask for more patient observations and 

 more rigorous examination. While admitting that in relation to 

 motion and some other manifestations of physical energy, the 

 hypothesis is found to give satisfactory results a just appreciation 

 of all consideration, will I think convince us that with regard to 

 its extension into wider regions and into the domain of organic 

 life, and its denial 'of the introduction into this world of any new 



