STRANGE NEWS ABOUT THE SOLAR PROMINENCES. 
59 
I shall merely note, in conclusion, that it would require only 
very moderate assumptions respecting the retarding influence 
of the solar atmosphere, to prove that the least of the jet 
prominences must have required a velocity of ejection com- 
petent to carry the vapours of metals as far as the outermost 
observed limits of the radiated corona. Now that we have 
such distinct and incontrovertible evidence of the retardation 
exerted above a height of 100,000 miles, the opinion* respect- 
ing the corona discussed by me in 6 Fraser’s Magazine ’ for 
last April, can no longer be regarded as other than a highly 
probable theory. 
* It would be unfair not to mention, that this opinion bad been much 
earlier urged, and very strong evidence in its favour adduced, by Mr. Mat- 
thew Williams, in his interesting work, “The Fuel of the Sun.” It was 
still earlier suggested by the late Prof. Graham. I have been led to it, 
however, by a perfectly independent line of reasoning. 
