448 On the Origin of the Light of the Sun and Stars. 



Twelve rough fir poles . ... . £0.12 



One hundred and sixty-five feet of three- 

 quarter inch weather-board for sides, 



at 2d. per foot . . . . 17 9 



One hundred and sixty feet of inch deal board 

 at 2\d. per foot, for floor, plate, win- 

 dows, door, and entire roof . . 1 13 4 

 Slabs for bearers of floor . . . 4 

 Fifteen yards of yard- wide canvas at Is. 4<d. 10 

 Eighteen sash-rollers (iron) . . . 3 

 Nails, screws, and tacks . . . 8 

 Lock, hinges, and bolts . . . 6 

 Eight square feet of glass for windows at 3^. 2 0. 

 Eighteen yards of roofing-felt for inside of 



weather-boards . . . . 12 



Eighteen yards of lining . . . 6 



Paint, etc. ...... 6 



Labour, twelve days at 5s. . . . 3 



Total . 



. £10 1 



ON THE ORIGIN OF THE LIGHT OF THE 

 SUN AND STARS. 



BY BALFOUR STEWART, M.A., F.R.S. 



When we turn our eye upwards and behold the sun, or gaze by 

 night on the starry firmament, and reflect that those glorious 

 orbs have shone through unnumbered ages, .we cannot fail to 

 be impressed with the majesty of that Great Being who upholds 

 them in all their brightness. But if we descend from the great 

 First Cause to those modes of action in accordance with which 

 we are assured the universe is governed, and search for the 

 source and fountain of this brilliancy, wo have to grapple with 

 one of the most perplexing problems in the history of 



Science. 



And (his perplexity has only increased with the progress of 

 knowledge, nor baa it ever been greater than it is at present. 

 In the days of old the sun was looked upon as a ball of fire, and 

 do question wu raised about the source of his heat. But in 

 proportion as we bare become better acquainted with the various 

 probable sources of light and heat, and are convinced that the 

 laws of matter, nay, even its very forms, are the same throughout 



