THEORY OF LIGHT. 37 





LIGHT. 



THE disputations which have arisen on the subject of light in 

 reference to its origin (as advocated by Hooke, Huygens, and 

 Euler), from the system of undulation of a highly rare elastic 

 substance, and the contrary hypothesis of Newton and his (Huy- 

 gens) followers, as particles emitted from luminous bodies, have 

 continued to perplex philosophers to the present time ; some 

 adhering to the one, some to the other, and many sceptical as 

 to the admission of the rectitude of either. 



The warmth of discussion created by the antiphlogistic doc- 

 trine of Lavoisier and his opponents, Stahl and others, conti- 

 nued for years with an energy proportionate to the obstinacy 

 with W'hich their opposing opinions were maintained. 



In a similar manner, geologists contended for the establish- 

 ment of their respective favorite systems, the Volcanic and- 

 Neptunian, with a resolution equally determined. 



Now it would appear that the arguments advanced by geolo- 

 gists equally support both systems, and that instead of attempt- 

 ing to establish one distinctly in opposition to the other, it is 

 far more rational to suppose that the agencies of both have been 

 employed to the furtherance of the existing state of our earth, 

 and that both were essentially necessary to its perfection in- 

 stance the basaltic stratifications of the one, and aquatic depo- 

 sitions of the other. 



In the same manner the disputations of M. Lavoisier, Stahl, 

 c., may be disposed of through the medium of recent discovery, 

 while with respect to light, the emanating system of Newton, 

 and the undulating doctrine of his opponents, may be reconciled 

 by the necessity of the adoption of the agencies of both to per- 

 fect and support the continuance of the radiant matter of light, 

 calculating that the consumption of light by the absorption of 

 its constituent atoms by combination with fixed matter, is daily 



