fuch is the motion of the fun's body. Indeed we are beholden to them for the information that the sun has such a motion; and alfo that he is a globe and not flat.

In looking at any flat object, across which a body moves with uniform velocity, you fee it move ftrait; moreover, it seems in every part of its courfe to move equally quick, fo that on either. fide as in the middle, it seems to make just the same speed; as when I move my watch acrofs the flap of the table, you perceive no difference of velocity in the parts of its courfe; but when L move the fame object round a globe, it seems to move quicker on that part of the globe nearest to you, and most directly oppofed to you (which I might call its protuberance,) and flower on the fides, or receding parts (this obfervation we shall have occafion to confider hereafter); exactly fo are the folar spots; they come on flowly, and increase in their swiftness, but their fwiftnefs decreases as they advance to the extreme edge of the fun, and are about to get on his hinder parts. Another remark if you please; in moving my watch round the globe, you obferve that it is only when directly oppofed to your view on the protuberant part of the globe, that you fee the dial plate to be a circle, or could tell the figures, but as it moves off, the dial plate becomes oval, and the figures confufed; much fuch a change do the folar fpots undergo, becoming narrower as they approach the edge of the folar difk, till at last they become very thin, and disappear.

It is natural to suppose that these spots move in the regular course of the rotation of the folar orb, that is no doubt perpendicular to his axis; had they moved vertically, they would have

proved his axis horizontal; had they moved horizontally, they would have proved his axis vertical; but as they appear to move in a line fomewhat inclined to, and only nearly horizontal, they prove the fun's axis is not perpendicular, but inclined (to the plane of the ecliptic) about feven degrees and an half.

There are various opinions about the nature and formation of the folar fpots; fome have suggested, that the fun has an internal nucleus, opaque, mountainous, and uneven, as our earth is; that this nucleus is covered over with a fiery luminous fluid, whose ebbing or flowing may occafionally lay bare the tops of the mountains, &c. adjacent, and confequently thefe appear like black spots. Others think, that such a nucleus may contain volcanoes, which ejecting from time to time vast quan tities of bituminous fubftances, they, and their smoke, &c. occafion the spots we mention; that as thefe volcanoes exhauft themselves, the fmoke diminishes, and being fired by the fun, become brighter than the parts around them: for they observe, that the dark spots termed maculæ, are ufually fucceeded by extraordinary splendour in the fame parts, which splendid spots they term faculæ. Others guess, that in the fiery fluid are immersed huge opaque bodies of irregular fhapes, which rifing to the furface from time to time, form fpots; while others fuppose, that as in melted metals, the fcum rifes to the top; fo the fluid of folar light being in perpetual agitation (this we have faid is very probable), raifes the groffer parts in various forms, which at length it difiipates or reabforbs,

There

There is great reafon to conclude, that the fun is encompaffed with an ATMOSPHERE of light; either the ether which immediately furrounds his body, heated fo highly as to become luminous, or fiery particles emitted from him, and retained near him by his attractive power. It muft not be omitted, that not only there is of neceffity a much greater number of particles near him, before they are diverged every way into the vast expanfe; but also, that in our infpection of this luminary, his rays cannot but before-fhortened, and confequently more fenfible as they approach his body.

eye

The face of the fun when clear of fpots, feen by the naked through a fmoked or coloured glafs, or through the vapours near the horizon, (the effect of these mediums is only to take off the refulgence of his rays, and thereby permit the eye to bear the fight of the luminary) feems all over equally refulgent; but through a telescope, the middle or protuberance of the disk, from whence the light is darted upon us more directly, feems the moft fplendid, as is natural to expect it from a globe. When there are any faculee toward the edge of the disk, being on a deeper ground, approaching to demi-tint, they confequently feem brighter and more diftinct.

Does the fun diminish? Is he perpetually fupplying light around him, and yielding the important fluid without reftitution? if fo, does he not wafte? In the first place, confider the furprising fmallness of the particles of light; how many myriads may be compreffed into an inch space of folid light, we know not; next confider the immenfe fuperficies of the folar orb; if fuch a globe be diminished throughout one mile,

or ten miles, in the courfe of years, or a much greater depth, yet it bears fo trivial a proportion to the globe itself, that no poffible obfervations could detect it. Perhaps also there is no matter really annihilated and totally loft, perhaps there may be fome circulation of this fluid, which having performed its office throughout the expanfe, may be returned to its celeftial origin; perhaps from diftant funs, perhaps from revolving comets; but if not, ftill fo fmall a decrease of the fun will not prevent his lasting for ages of ages.

66

The proverb fays, "The fun cannot be looked upon ftedfaftly;" and we must acknowledge, that our visual powers are incompetent to an accurate infpection of this luminary; but while our natural organs are weak, and merely adapted to the place of our abode, our intellectual faculties, which elevate human dignity above its fellow-creatures, appear to great advantage in thofe contrivances, and reafonings, by which we investigate fuch immenfely diftant and wonderful objects. Our fenfes are confined, but our ideas are free; they range without control over the univerfe itfelf; and it is our own faults if they return not with treasures of wifdom.

The object we have been contemplating this evening, may well contribute an ample fhare to fuch treasures: this, LADIES and GENTLEMEN, is our conftant friend, not merely paying us occafional vifits, but perpetually exerting his good offices on our behalf; nor are his vifits thofe of ceremonial politeness only; fubftantial benefits ever attend his prefence: joy and hilarity are excited by his appearance, the whole creation awaits his approach, and welcomes daily his

return;

return; his favours are dispensed without partiality, are free as they are important, liberal as they are neceffary; and diftributed with unreferving bounty to every atom of life: this is the benevolent difpofition of the fun; if at any time. he is obfcured from us, it is by our own clouds; if his luftre is ever veiled, it is by terreftrial vapours; the fault lies not in him, but in ourselves, and we will not fuffer fuch interruptions to prevent our gratitude.

Gratitude is the effect of a just sense of favours received; if we undervalue them, we are fo far ungrateful, and cenfurable; if we overvalue them, we are so far verging to idolatry. If we diftinguish not the real fource of our benefits, our gratitude is misplaced; and this very fubject is a proof what dangers arise from a mistake so unhappy, fince the fun himself is a fervant, not the Mafter, a creature, not the Creator. Yet there is fomething more amiable in acknowledging the benefits we receive, though erroneous as to their author, than being infenfible of them, and never raifing an adoring eye to the Heavens which furnish them here we pity error, but there we deteft ingratitude: and while we perfonally wish to be equally distant from both, and while mif-directed fuperftition cannot be fufficiently exploded, I think we may fafely own, it is preferable in many, refpects to brutal and thanklefs atheism.

We began this Lecture by faying, if idolatry might be palliated, it must be in the worship of the fun; and it is true, that the fun to the dazzled eyes of mortals, feems in many respects, if not divine, a fit type of divinity; but we shall find a