m THE SOLAK SYSTEM. 



101 



The explanation is a graft induced by the periodicity of the phenomenon upon the theory 

 of Chladni.* It is a mere addition, however, not an improvement. 



The two grandest exhibitions of shooting stars recorded in modern times, occurred on 

 the night of the 12th November, in the years 1799 and 1833. Many observers claim to 

 have seen wonderful displays of the phenomenon on other anniversaries of the 12th No- 

 vember. The belief is strong, however, among astronomers, that the displays of 1799 and 

 1833, were incomparably superior to those of any other years. 



Olbcrs, the celebrated physician and astronomer of Bremen, suspected that these grand 

 exhibitions would only occur at intervals of thirty-four years.f 



Von Humboldt says, "The acute mind of Olbers led him almost to predict that the next 

 appearance of the phenomenon of shooting stars and fire-balls intermixed, falling like 

 flakes of snow, would not recur until between the 12th and 14th November, 1867.$ 



It would have been prudent in the philosopher of Bremen to have given the world the 

 data upon which his prediction was founded. If his only ground for making it were, that 

 the time which had elapsed between 1799 and 1833, when added to the latter date, will 

 brino- us to 1867, we can award him but a slender meed of praise. A man of less ability 

 might have made a surmise as likely to prove correct. 



The explanation which I am about to offer for the phenomenon of periodical shooting 

 stars, is a part of the grand scheme of ethereal currents. Up to this time, I have asked 

 for the admission of no new astronomical condition, without accompanying it with inde- 

 pendent evidence of its existence. This constitutes the scheme a theory. I shall now be 

 obliged to bring forward one or two points which are hypothetical, but I trust the re- 

 markable numerical coincidence which I shall adduce in support of these points will lead 

 to their adoption. 



Experiments made with the spectroscope by Messrs. Bunsen and Kirchoff, upon the flames 

 of various combustible metals, and a comparison of the resulting phenomena with the dark 

 lines of the solar spectrum, have led them to the conclusion, that the sun consists of an 

 ignited solid or liquid central body, throwing off white light, and an atmosphere contain- 

 ing iron, sodium, lithium, and other metals in a vaporous state, yet capable of absorbing 

 parts of the white light. § 



Upon these positive results, I now postulate that a portion of the metals in the solar 

 atmosphere escape from the sun without undergoing the chemical change which produces 

 the light and heat; that the portions of the sun's surface from which these metals escape 

 are limited in number and small in extent; that the vaporous metals are, by the ascend- 



* Milncr, Gallery of Nature, p. 137. -t Astronomic Populaire, vol. iv, p. 329. J Cosmos, vol. i, p. 127. 

 § London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine, or Journal of Chemical Society, Loudon, 18G1 and 

 1862. 



