194 



Yast chemical changes are taking place in the sun, and 

 for every grain of matter altering its form there, an equiv- 

 alent of physical forces is given out in a radiant state. 



These rays pass through space and reach our earth, where 

 they are employed in producing exact equivalents of vital 

 and other phenomena. 



The minutest terrestrial organism is the result of chem- 

 ical changes taking place in the sun, which stupendous orb 

 is the great laboratory where those powers are generated, by 

 whose agencies all the planets of the system are regulated. 



In obedience to the fiat of the Great Creator, who causeth 

 the " day spring to know his place," those mysterious 

 agencies, whose source man is now becoming acquainted 

 with, are flooding out in profuse abundance from the sun, 

 causing crude inert matter to pulsate iuto life, and beauty 

 upon every rolling orb withiu the solar realm. 



NOTE. 



For much of this Paper we must acknowledge our indebtedness to the work 

 of Kirchoff, of the University of Heidelberg, Researches on the Solar Spectrum 

 and Spectra of Chemical Elements,- also, to an article in the Edinburgh Review, 

 Oct., 1862, but particularly to an article on Solar Chemistry, by Robert Hunt, 

 F. R. S., in the Popular Science Review, London, 1862. 



The demonstrations to illustrate this Paper, were made by Dr. George F. 

 Barker. Professor of Chemistry in the Albany Medical College, and the Spec- 

 trascope used was made for Henry Townsend Martin, Esq., of this city, by G. 

 C. Hiscox, Philosophical Instrument Maker. 



