1876 *] Notices of Books. 525 
In short, the author contends that the sun contains many 
elements not present in our earth, and that, such being the case, 
all computations on the length of time during which a mass of 
matter like the sun could continue to burn are necessarily 
illusive. 
His remarks on the assumed identity of matter throughout the 
universe are not without interest to chemists. It is plain that he 
does not regard our present chemical elements as essentially 
and primordially distindt bodies, but as mere modifications or 
compounds of materials as yet unknown. 
We have thus laid before the reader some specimens of this 
extraordinary work. Space will not permit us to give the evi- 
dence adduced by the author in support of his positions, espe- 
cially as it is of a cumulative nature. We by no means see our 
way to a general acceptance of his conclusions, and we entertain 
strong doubts concerning some of his fundamental fadts. To the 
following passage we take decided exception : — “ It (the objection 
to the chemical theory of stellar light and heat) assumes, thirdly, 
that no new chemical elements can be formed in the sun,' — that the 
materials of the sun cannot be decomposed or metamorphosed so 
as to be burnt over again. Here we can decompose water, and burn 
the oxygen and hydrogen a hundred times ; but we lose as much 
force or heat in the decomposing as we gain in the burning. But in 
the sun the case may be very different.” We can as readily con- 
ceive that in the sun two and three are equal to six, as that a 
compound there can be decomposed without a consumption of 
force equal to that which was liberated during its composition. 
We have carefully read the sedtion in which the author under- 
takes to prove that new combustibles may be prepared in the 
sun from matter which has already been burned ; but we cannot 
say that he has made out his case. 
But for all this we are far from condemning the work before 
us. The author seeks not to overturn, but to extend and supple- 
ment the work of his predecessors in astronomy and physics, and 
even where he — in our opinion — has failed his labours cannot 
fail to prove useful. 
The Moon , and the Condition and Configurations of its Surface. 
By Edward Neison, F.R.A.S. London: Longmans and 
Co. 1876. 
A book on the moon, dealing specially with selenographical 
relations, is needed. In fadl, lunar literature is incomplete for 
want of such a work. Nasmyth’s interesting treatise on the 
moon, besides being too costly for the observatory, deals rather 
with theoretical than pradtical selenography ; and Prodtor’s 
treatise is general, not selenographical. There was room, there- 
fore, for a treatise devoted specially to this department of lunar 
research. Unfortunately Mr. Neison has not been content to 
