146 T)r. Wilson’s Anfwer to the 
or lefs above the common level of the fun’s fpherical furface. 
This idea, though fo very prevalent, feems however to have 
originated rather from p re-conceived theoretical notions of the 
nature and conftitution of that vail body, than from any phe- 
nomena. of a constant and marked kind obfervable in the i'pots 
themfelves. 
The views which I have offered upon this fubjedt difclaim, I 
believe, for the firft time all alliance with hypothecs, and feek 
after a permanence in the ffrong holds of ho imaginary fyffem. 
They make a diredt appeal to our fenfes, upon the teftimony of 
which alone their merits muff finally reff. 
wt 
As for myfelf, fituations will fometimes occur where it 
would be as inconiiffent with the lpirit of the moft guarded phi- 
lofophy to harbour doubts, as on other occafions to be weakly 
credulous. When in the year 1769 I firft mentioned the difco- 
very in the London Chronicle, and even at the time of fending 
a full account of it to the Royal Society, I conlidered it as too 
early to offer my fentiments in a manner intirely decided. But 
in the lapfe of eight more years the fubfequent obfervations 
have all confpired to ffrengthen, and even to perfedt, my con- 
victions. Now, therefore, 1 have no hefitation in pledging 
any credit which may belong to me, as an affronomical ob- 
ferver, to the prefent and to future times, for the reality of 
that difcovery which is laid down in the fir ft part of the paper 
above mentioned. 
% 
But though I maintain that any perfon, with a good tele- 
fcope, and with good eyes pradtifed in obferving, cannot fail of 
beholding frequently in the fun the phenomena 1 have pointed 
out, it yet may require the more palpable dimen lions of fome 
future great fpots, in order to fatisfy people lefs accuftomed to 
examine and to judge of objects by means of glaffes. This is 
7 the 
