78 



THOUGHTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF ETHER 



The next point to be considered is the difference of heat in different parts of the earth, 

 in comparison with the temperature of space contrasted with that of the sun's surface. 



The heat of the sun's surface is estimated at 300,000 times that produced by its rays 

 upon the surface of our planet. If we assume the minimum temperature of our atmos- 

 phere to be the same as that of space, we should have the measure of the sun's power to 

 expand the ether, as compared with the influence of its rays upon our atmosphere, at 

 300,000. 



This is the second element of our comparison. 



The last I shall offer is the difference between the height of the earth's atmosphere, 

 and the depth of the ethereal ocean. 



The earth's atmosphere is supposed to extend to the distance of from 40 to 200 miles 

 above its surface. We have no reason to suppose the ether has a limit within that of the 

 solar system. 



If the velocity of the ether depend upon these agencies, it certainly defies computation. 

 But we may safely believe that it surpasses that of all known ponderable fluids ; and can 

 be likened, in the vicinity of the sun, only to that of light. 



"When an image of the sun is thrown upon a sheet of white paper, it may be observed 

 that the borders of the disc are much less luminous than the centre. This may be ex- 

 plained by the refractive or the absorptive power of the sun's atmosphere. 



When, during an eclipse of the sun, the moon is centrally over the former, a ring or 

 corona of light is seen fading gradually away. This phenomenon cannot be explained 

 without admitting in the sun's atmosphere the existence of some matter capable of reflect- 



ing light. 



Various hypotheses have been offered as to the origin of this reflecting matter. Its 

 existence alone concerns us ; without it, a link in the chain of reasoning would be want- 

 ing, which would defeat our aims; for unless the ether contained matter which could 

 arrest the sun's rays, it would be impossible to establish by ci priori reasoning, the exist- 

 ence of currents.* 



A mass of ether ascending from the equatorial region of the sun, and containing matter 

 capable of reflecting light, should certainly make an impression upon our visual organs, 

 whenever the absence of the sun favored its being seen. It therefore becomes a question 

 of much interest, what form should be given by perspective to such an object, as seen 

 from the earth. 



The approximate form which I have deduced for the ascending current of" ether, is that 



* It will be observed that I have used the terms ether and sun's atmosphere, almost as synonymos. Until we 

 learn in what the constitutions of these fluids differ, or where is the dividing line between them, the confounding 

 of their names can produce no evil results. 



