Objections of M. de la lande. 167 
the polar one, by the retreat of the igneous matter towards 
fchofe regions where no fpots ever appear. But as a difference of 
this kind of nearly a thoufandth part of the whole would be 
perceivable, as we learn from M. de la lande’s own ob- 
lervations, compared with thofe of Mr. short, in Hiffoire 
Acad. 1760, p. 1 23. it would feem, that the theory had alfo 
this difficulty to combat. Further, when among fpots very 
near one another, fome are obferved to be increafing,. whilfl 
others are diminiffiing, how is it poffible that this can be the 
effect of. fuch a fuppofed flux and reflux ? This laft incone 
fiffency is mentioned by the author himfelf, who endeavours to 
avoid it, by making a new demand upon the general fund of 
hypothefis,. deriving from thence fuch qualities of the igneous 
matter as the cafe feems to require; and fuch muff be the me- 
thod of proceeding in all fyffems merely theoretical. 
But it is unneceffary to purl'ueat more length illulive fpecula- 
tions of, this- kind, efpecially as we lie under a convidtion, 
founded upon fadt, of the theory being utterly erroneous. It 
llardly differs in any refpedf from that propofed by M. de la 
hire,, and a little amended by the writer of the Hiffoire de 
IS A cad., for 1707, p^ in.. This near agreement, indeed, is 
taken notice of by M..de la lande himfelf, in his excellent 
affronomy. 
The writer of the Hiffoire de L’Acad. for 1719,- p. 76. after 
reviewing the merits of this theory, and comparing it with 
feveral phenomena of the fpots which had been obferved for the 
four preceeding years, pronounces it unfatisfadlory, and con- 
cludes his remarks with the following expreflion : . II fera 
€ * plus naturel de croire qu’il fe faffe dans le ioleil desgenera- 
tions nouvelles, dependantes de quelque caufe plus ou moins> 
“ forte felon les circonjiances inconnues ou elle fe trouvera.” 
Views,'. 
