30 6 Dr. Herschel's Observations to investigate 
emitted from the sun at different times. But, since experience 
has already convinced us, that our seasons are sometimes very 
severe, and at other times very mild, it remains only to be con- 
sidered, whether we should ascribe this difference immediately 
to a more or less copious emission of the solar beams. Now, 
as we have lately had seasons of deficiency, that seem to indi- 
cate a want of the vivifying principles of light and heat, and 
as, from the appearance of last summer, and the present mild 
winter, there seems to be a change that may be in our favour, 
it will be proper to have recourse to solar observations, in order 
to compare the phenomena which indicate the state of the sun, 
with the seasons of these remarkable times. The following two 
sets, which are selected from my journals, I believe will assist us 
materially in this inquiry. 
SIGNS OF SCARCITY OF LUMINOUS MATTER IN THE SUN. 
Visible Deficiency of empyreal Clouds. 
July 5, 1795. i h 6 '. The appearance of the sun is very dif- 
ferent from what I have ever seen it before. There is not a 
single opening in the whole disk ; there are no ridges or 
nodules ; there are no corrugations. 
A perfect Calm in the upper Regions of solar Clouds. 
Dec 9, 1798. i2 h 33'. The sun has no openings of any kind ; 
nor can I perceive any places that look disturbed, like those 
where openings have lately been. 
Want of Openings , Ridges, and Nodules. 
Sept. 18, 1795. There is no opening in the sun. I viewed it 
with powers from 90 to 4,60. 
