DE MORGAN'S ACCOUNT OF WRIGHT'S SPECULATIONS 195 



sun to more distant planets than our own, by means of 

 concave glasses fitted to reduce the apparent diameter 

 duly. The homogeneity of the stars with our sun, both 

 as to constitution and attendant bodies, is strongly insisted 

 on from analogy. 



The fifth letter first mentions the milky way, which he 

 says "... still continues to be unaccounted for, and even 

 in an Age vain enough to boast Astronomy in its utmost 

 Perfection. What will you say, if I tell you, it is my 

 belief we are so far from the real Summit of the Science, 

 that we scarce yet know the Rudiments of what may be 

 expected from it? This luminous Circle has often engrossed 

 my Thoughts, and of late has taken up all my idle Hours; 

 and I am now in great Hopes I have not only at last 

 found out the real Cause of it, but also by the same 

 Hypothesis, which solves this Appearance, shall be able 

 to demonstrate a much more rational Theory of the 

 Creation than hitherto has been any where advanced, and 

 at the same Time give you an entire new Idea of the 

 Universe, or infinite System of Things." The milky way 

 is then described, and the opinions of the ancients upon 

 it. A plate is given of a portion near the foot of Antinous, 

 as observed by Wright himself with what he calls a very 

 good reflector : the plan was formed " by a Combination 

 of Triangles." He afterwards mentions his observing with 

 a "one Foot reflecting Telescope." Proceeding on the 

 opinion of Democritus and others among the ancients, and 

 on his own partial resolution of the galactic light, he pro- 

 nounces the phenomenon to arise from a congeries of 

 small stars. He does not seem to be acquainted with the 

 partial resolution made by Galileo : and in general, his 

 reading in astronomy anterior to his own day seems to 

 lie rather in classical or mediaeval authors, or their trans- 

 lators and compilers, than in those of the seventeenth 

 century. 



Making the assumption that the stars shine by their own 

 light, he proceeds thus : " Here it will not be amiss to 

 observe, that it has been conjectured, and is strongly sus- 

 pected, that a proper Number of Rays, meeting from 

 different Directions, become Flame ; and that hence it 

 may prove not the Sun's real Body which we daily see, 

 but only his inflamed Atmosphere. I begin to be of 



