OF COMMON MATTER. 151 



placed in the image formed by each separate 

 ray, the color of the substance always parti- 

 cipates the color to which it may have been 

 exposed ; in the red ray, the substance appears 

 red ; in the orange ray, it assumes an orange 

 color ; in the green, a green color ; and, so on 

 of the rest; instead of the infinite variety of 

 colors, by which we behold every particle of 

 matter characterised, color would be entirely 

 limited and confined to the prismatic only ; to 

 seven, as SIR I. NEWTON supposed, or even 

 to three, as they are now reduced ; or, to the 

 modification which might be formed, in conse- 

 quence of their union in different proportions* 

 The result would be, the production of some 

 color, varying, it is true, in appearance, from the 

 separate color of each individual ray, but alto- 

 gether different from the specific tinge, or dye, 

 which I contend the ray of light has received, by 

 uniting with the body on which it falls, and from 

 which it was reflected ; conveying with it the 

 tinge, or dye, as it were, of the substance, to 

 the organs of vision. The state of deprivation 

 which the sun is in, respecting color, is equalJy 

 referrible to fire. 



Although the sun has been generally consi- 

 dered the original source whence fire was 

 derived ; every fact of which we are in posses- 

 sion, when properly examined, will be found to 

 militate against this opinion. If the sun is a 

 globe of fire, it must, in every respect, be situ- 



