Review of Recent Geological Literature. 183 
minished — there would be only an infinitesimal change in the sun's 
path. "Only in tho improbable event of the meteor's developinp more 
heat than would bo necessary to raise its own tempi^rature to an equal- 
ity with that of the sun, couM it increase the sun's temperature." (g) 
These bodies which are assumed to be continually failing on the 
Bun either float idly in space or belong to some system. They cannot 
belong to our system because it would be impossible for them to leave 
their orbits. Then to what system? Could any other sun control 
them within the limits of our sun's force of gravitation? And as to 
their floating idly in space it would be time wasted to point out the 
many absurdities it would involve, (h) Our sense of permanence in 
the order of nature, and faith in the constancy of the sub, is not consist- 
ent with the idea that such constancy depends on the fortuitous meet- 
ing of exactly the right number of meteors of exactly the right veloci- 
ty and size, daily, with the sun. 
Third, The condensation or shrinkage theory, by which it is supposed 
the sun's heat is due to his "flagellating himself by the descent upon 
himself of parts of himself," not only has the defect of making the sun 
and by analogy all suns, machines which when once wound up are al- 
lowed to run down hopelessly by enormous emanations given out but 
never returned : but also is self-destructive in that, necessarily, the 
heat that may be produced by the supposed shrinkage would cause at 
once an equal expansion and there would be no contraction, and no 
heat resultant. But the heat emanations from the sun are suflicient 
to heat two billions two hundred million worlds ecjual to the earth; 
such a loss, unless suplied ah extra, would cause an appalling rate of 
cooling and condensation which would become visible even within the 
time since man became an astronomical animal. For five thousand 
years his light and heat have undergone no perceptible diminution. 
Fourth, The theory of potential energy, which, while allowing that the 
energy of the sun is being gradually dissipated by radiation, yet asserts 
that "the potential energy of the solar system is so enormous, ap- 
proaching in fact, possibly to what we in our helplessness call infinite 
that it may supply for absolutely incalculable future ages what is re- 
quired for the physical existence of life." We know of no great store- 
house of potential energy. This theory assumes it but does not inform 
us where it resides. The unoxidized matter existing in the sun is al- 
ready too far heated to allow of combustion. 
Fifth, Tho f/K-orj/ 0/ atmospheric condensation, Vth'\ch is that of W. 
Matthieu Williams, is summarized by Mr. Kedzie in three proposi- 
tions. 1. "That there is a universal atmosphere. 2. That the sun is 
constantly (if I may be pardoned the colloquialism) butting against 
this atmosphere at the rate of 450,000 miles per day. 3. That the com- 
pression produced by the sun's impact evolves the heat of the sun. He 
also deals largely in the rollings, tossings, explosions, dashings, clash- 
ings and flasliings of the alternating combinim: and decomposing gases 
in the sun's atmosphere." To this the author brings the following 
