C 2 3 ] 
cular, and that the luminous matter, continuing to< 
flow down on all Tides by an equal gravity, fhould 
To encroach upon the nucleus, as to make it retain 
that figure, till at laft it be entirely overflowed. 
But this not being the cafe, and becaufe it mod 
frequently happens, that the encroachments of 
the umbra upon the nucleus are extremely variable,, 
as mentioned in the 6th article, may we not from 
this infer, that the Turface of the internal dark 
globe of the fun,, is by no means fmooth and level, 
but on the contrary very irregular, for, upon this 
fuppofition, if for example the area of the nucleus 
of a great fpot were To diverfified by mountains 
and vallies, would not the encroachments of the 
luminous matter be confequently irregular and r 
aucording as it was more or lefs retarded or accele- 
rated, at different places, by being contiguous to* 
prominencies or hollows, would not all the al- 
terations in the figure of the decreafing nucleus,, 
how variable foever, be thus plainly accounted 
for? and becaufe it often happens, that the nu- 
cleus of a fpot, w hi lft on the decreafe, is gradually 
cut in pieces by a luminous zone or zones, which 
wander acrofs it, as mentioned in the 7th article, 
does not this look like the gradual flowing in of 
the luminous matter, as it were, into deep chan- 
nels, which would thus appear to abound in the 
furface of the fun’s dark body? If we reflect upon; 
the irregularities, which are upon the furface of this- 
earth, and upon the enormous mountains and 
cavities, which are in the moon, may we not, from; 
inch analogy, imagine, that there may be the like* 
or much greater, irregularities in the furface of the- 
fun,?? 
