168 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATIOX. 



man has never rested on. It will be necessary 

 to revert to the force of gravitation exercised 

 on the air, with the view to explain a part of 

 the phenomenon of the trade winds, on another 

 occasion. 



Looking upwards into " this vaulted firma- 

 ment," we seek in vain by the eye to fathom its 

 actual depth. Lying at the bottom of this sea 

 of air, we endeavour, without success, to obtain a 

 measure by which some just conception thereof 

 may be formed. As it rolls its thin waves above 

 us, bearing at an immense altitude, apparently, 

 those clouds which seem set there to tell us how 

 immeasurably deep is the aerial ocean, and as 

 we vainly seek some limit where the surface of 

 the air might be supposed to lie, the inquiry 

 presents itself, Has the atmosphere any actual 

 limit? There is a great conflict of opinions 

 upon this question. In the estimation of many 

 talented persons, it is illimitable, or at least is 

 supposed to extend greatly beyond what others 

 consider to be its bounds. This also is the 

 popular opinion, for most persons, uninformed 

 on the science, would give answer that the air 

 extended as far as the sun, moon, and stars. 

 The learned Bishop Wilkins, who was a man 

 of great talent, but of somewhat eccentric turn 

 of mind, in a little treatise written by him, 

 urged the importance of endeavouring to make 



