/.y?.5. 313 



us matter upon the solar surfaces, surrounded by disturbed 

 regions pinvcd by occasional vortices and outbursts of metallic 

 vapours, and culminating in two outward streams projecting from 

 the equatorial surfaces into space through many thousands of 

 miles. The only supporting evidence in favour of this diagram 

 were certain indications that may be found in the instructive 

 volume on the Sun by Mr. R. A. Proctor. It was therefore a 

 matter of great satisfaction to me to be informed, as I have been 

 by an excellent authority and eye-witness, that my imaginary 

 diagram bore a very close resemblance to the corona observed in 

 America on the occasion of the total eclipse of the sun on the 

 llth of January, 1880. 



Enough has been said, I think, to prove that the theory I have 

 ventured to put forward is the result, at any rate, of considerable 

 reflection ; and I may add that, since its first announcement, I 

 have not seen reason to reject any of the links of my chain of 

 argument : these I have here endeavoured to strengthen only by 

 additional facts and explanations. 



If these arguments can be proved to the entire satisfaction of 

 those best able to form a judgment, they would serve to justify 

 the poet Addison when he says : 



The unwearied sun from day to day 



Does the Creator's power display, 

 And publishes to every land 



The work of an Almighty Hand. 



THE CHANNEL TUNNEL AND CARBONIC ACID GAS. 



To THE EDITOR OF " THE TIMES." 



SIR, The question as to whether a railway tunnel under the 

 British Channel could be made secure against foreign invasion 

 is one which should be judged, not by sentiment, but by the weight 

 of scientific evidence placed before such a mixed committee as has 

 been appointed by the Government for that purpose. I, there- 

 fore, had no hesitation, when called upon, to put my particular 

 views concerning this matter before them, and I am glad to see in 

 The Times of to-day a letter by my esteemed friend Dr. Tyndall 

 furthering the controversy by challenging my conclusions, although 



