Remarks on the Planets Jupiter and Saturn. 345 



reason of the belchings forth of the monstrous volcanoes 

 which at that period must have been so tremendously active 

 on the earth, the vapour envelope would be most probably 

 marked here and there with just such dingy and black-and- 

 white patches, as form such remarkable features about the 

 equatorial region of Jupiter — probably the result of volcanic 

 matter, such as ashes, &c. — which the volcanoes about his 

 equator may from time to time vomit forth, and send so far 

 up into the cloudy atmosphere as to appear on the exterior, 

 and so cause those remarkable features which so often mani- 

 fest themselves on the outward surface of his vapour enve- 

 lope ; for I doubt if we have ever yet seen the body of Jupi- 

 ter, which will probably remain veiled from mortal eyes for 

 countless ages to come, or until he be so cooled down as to 

 permit of a permanent residence on his surface, of his ocean, 

 that is to be. 



In applying these views to Saturn, it occurs to me that we 

 may obtain some glimpses into the nature of those causes 

 which have induced, and are now apparently inducing, those 

 changes in respect to the aspect of his rings, which have, 

 more especially of late, attracted so much attention. If 

 Saturn also be so hot, that his future ocean is suspended as 

 a vast vapour envelope around him, it is possible, I conceive, 

 that some portion of this vapour may migrate, by reason of 

 the peculiar electrical conditions which it is probable his rings 

 may be in, in respect to the body of the planet ; and that 

 such migration of vapour in an intensely frozen state, as it 

 must be in such situation, may not only appear from time to 

 time, as the present phantom ring does, but also encrust the 

 inner portion of the interior old ring with such vast coatings 

 of hoar-frost as to cause the remarkable whiteness which so 

 peculiarly distinguishes that portion of his rings. In fact, 

 such are the extraordinary phenomena presented by this 

 planet, that one is led to hazard a conjecture or two on the 

 subject ; and, I trust, such as I have now the pleasure to oifer 

 may meet with a kind reception from the Royal Astronomical 

 Society. 



13th January 1853. 



