IN THE SOLAR STSTEM. 



95 



about seven degrees. The declination of the north pole of the sun from that of the 

 ecliptic, is in the direction of longitude 345°. The earth passes through the point of its 

 orbit corresponding in longitude on the 8th September. 



If the declination of the ethereal current from the plane of the sun's equator equalled 

 the inclination of the latter to the ecliptic, viz., 7°, the earth would encounter the mass at 

 only one point in its orbit, at D.* (See Plate I, fig. 6.) 



The declination being less than 7°, the earth must meet the heated mass at two points, 

 the one between B and 1), and the other between 1) and F. 



We have now to consider another element which influences the direction as well as the 

 position of the ascending mass, viz., the motion given to the columns by the sun's axial 

 rotation. 



If, after leaving the solar surface, the columns retained a tendency to move in circles 

 round the sun's axis, we should infer that the points where the earth traversed the mass 

 were equidistant from longitude 345°. 



But, inasmuch as the columns of ether should, after leaving the sun, be impelled in 

 tangents to the circles they revolved in while upon the sun's surface, a different solution 

 to the problem must be found. 



To this point I have given much reflection, and am firmly of the belief that a transla- 

 tory motion of the ethereal columns in the direction of an increase of longitude, should 

 bring the ethereal mass into contact with the earth's orbit at two points whose mean is 

 more advanced in longitude than 345°. 



"We have, therefore, to look for two periods of warmth between the months of June and 

 December, produced independently of the sun's declination, or any other cause to which 

 changes of the seasons have been heretofore ascribed. 



* The circle H in the centre of the figure, is the sun, which, for convenience of demonstration, we will sup- 

 pose surrounded at the distance of the earth's orbit by an imaginary sphere, represented by the outer circle. 

 A 15 1) E F G, is the earth's orbit, seen obliquely. 

 I G B K F, is the solar equator projected upon the imaginary sphere. 

 LCM E, is a small circle projected upon the imaginary sphere, showing where the ethereal current passes 



through it. 



The curved lines within the circle, are the columns of ether passing through the interplanetary space. 



The point A is in longitude 105°, and D in 345°. The latter is the direction towards which the sun's north 



pole is inclined seven degrees. 



The earth is at A, on die 6th March; at 13, on the 6th June ; at 1), on the 8th September; and at F, on the 



6th December. 



At C, the earth's orbit intersects the ethereal cone, the planet (by theory) passes that point on the 10th August; 



the epoch of the mean of the canicular days. 



At E the orbit again intersects the cone of ether, the planet passes that point theoretically on the 12th Novem- 

 ber, the epoch of the mean day of the Indian summer. 



