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ANALYSES OF BOOKS. 
The Disestablishment of the Sun. By John Bland. London: 
Sprague and Co. 
It has been asserted, perhaps in too boastful a strain, that 
Science knows neither sedts nor heresies, and that her revela- 
tions are based upon such evidence as to render dissent altogether 
impossible. What, then, will be the sensations of our leading 
astronomers, physicists, meteorologists, and of the educated 
public in general, to find it boldly declared that there is no heat 
in the sun’s rays ? Such an assertion and others scarcely less 
startling are made in the pamphlet before us. Now we do not 
belong to that numerous and influential class who seek to esta- 
blish a scientific orthodoxy, and who treat all dissidents with 
sublime contempt. We hold that he who looks at any question 
from a novel point of view may possibly see something worth 
recording, and that he who detedts a flaw in our received theories 
gives us an opportunity not to be negledted. Still we must 
confess ourselves disappointed in this little work. We expedted 
to have our attention called to fadts hitherto overlooked, which 
the author had possibly discovered. We looked for experimental 
evidence. But our expeditions have not been fulfilled. We 
must even doubt whether the author has in all cases taken the 
trouble thoroughly to apprehend the received theories which he 
is assailing, and the fadts upon which such theories repose. 
Mr. Bland’s objedts are — “ To show the fallacy of the popular 
belief in the heat of the sun. To prove that the only heat we 
have on the surface of the earth comes from an internal source. 
To explain the primary fundtion of vegetation. To explain the 
law under which trees develop. To show that at one time it is 
probable there was no water on the surface of the earth. To 
account for the formation of mountains. To show that it is 
probable that the quantity of water on the surface of the earth is 
still increasing. To account for the deposit of marine shells on 
hills. To account for the formation of coal strata. To show 
that it is probable that at one time no air existed on the surface 
of the earth. To explain the existence of heat under a burning- 
glass held in the rays of the sun, &c., &c.” 
Many of these explanations are of course perfectly unneces- 
sary. The formation of mountains, the presence of shells not 
on but in hills, the formation of the coal strata, have long since 
passed out of the range of problems to be discussed. To say 
that at one time there was no water on the surface of the earth 
VOL. II. (THIRD SERIES). 2 0 
