an autobiography-第82章
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ich there is such abundant and unquestionable evidence。 As before said； it is the existence of such facts as we have in stars of transitory brightness； and the above named evidence of an arctic climate existing in what are now genial climates； that renders some adequate cause to be looked for。 I have accordingly hazarded the preceding remarks as suggestive of a cause； in the hope that the subject may receive that attention which its deep interest entitles it to obtain。
〃This view of the source of light； as respects the existence of the luciferous element throughout space； accords with the Mosaic account of creation； in so far as that light is described as having been created in the first instance before the sun was called forth。〃 Dr Siemens read a paper before the Royal Society in March 1882； on 〃A New Theory of the Sun〃。 His views in many respects coincided with mine。* ＇footnote。。。 Interstellar space； according to Dr。 Siemens； is filled with attenuated matter； consisting of highly rarefied gaseous bodies including hydrogen； oxygen； nitrogen； carbon； and aqueous vapour； that these gaseous compounds are capable of being dissociated by radiant solar energy while in a state of extreme attenuation； and that the vapours so dissociated are drawn towards the sun in consequence of solar rotation； are flashed into flame in the photosphere； and rendered back into space in the condition of products of combustion。 With respect to the influence of the sun's light on geology； Dr。 Siemens says： 〃The effect of this continuous outpour of solar materials could not be without very important influences as regards the geological conditions of our earth。 Geologists have long acknowledged the difficulty of accounting for the amount of carbonic acid that must have been in our atmosphere at one time or another in order to form with lime those enormous beds of dolomite and limestone of which the crust of our earth is in great measure composed。 It has been calculated that if this carbonic acid had been at one and the same time in our atmosphere it would have caused an elastic pressure fifty times that of our present atmosphere； and if we add the carbonic acid that must have been absorbed in vegetation in order to form our coal…beds we should probably have to double that pressure。 Animal life； of which we had abundant traces in these 'measures；' could not have existed under such conditions； we are almost forced to the conclusion that the carbonic acid must have been derived from an external source。〃 。。。＇
Soon after my paper was read； Lord Murray of Henderland； an old friend； then a Judge on the Scottish Bench； wrote to me as follows： 〃I shall be much obliged to you for a copy； if you have a spare one； of your printed note on Light。 It is expressed with great clearness and brevity。 If you wish to have a quotation for it； you may have recourse to the blind Milton； who has expressed your views in his address to Light：
〃'Hail； holy Light！ offspring of heaven first…born Or of the Eternal co…eternal beam May I express thee unblamed？ since God is light； And never but in unapproached light Dwelt from eternitydwelt then in thee； Bright effluence of bright essence increate！〃'
About the same time Sir Thomas Mitchell； Surveyor General of Australia； communicated his notions on the subject。 〃My dear Sir；〃 he wrote； 〃Your kind and valuable communications are as welcome to me as the sun's light； and I now thank you most gratefully for the last； with its two enclosures。 These； and especially your views as to the source of light； afford me new scope for satisfactory thinkinga sort of treasure one can always carry about； and； unlike other treasures； is most valuable in the solitude of a desert。 The beauty of your theory as to the nature of the source of light is； that it rather supports all preconceived notions respecting the soul； heaven； and an immortal state。〃
I still continued the study of astronomy。 The sun； moon； and planets yielded to me an inexhaustible source of delight。 I gazed at them with increasing wonder and awe。 Among the glorious objects which the telescope reveals； the most impressive is that of the starry heavens in a clear dark night。 When I directed my 20…inch reflecting telescope almost at random to any part of the firmament； especially to any portion of the Milky Way； the sight of myriads of stars brought into view within the field of the eye…piece was overpoweringly sublime。
When it is considered that every one of these stars which so bewilderingly crowd the field of vision is； according to rational probability； and； I might even say； absolute certainty； are Suns as vast in magnitude as that which gives light to our globe； and yet situated so inconceivably deep in the abyss of space as to appear minute points of light even to the most powerful telescope； it will be felt what a sublime subject appears before us。 Turn the telescope to any part of the heavens； it is the same。
Let us suppose ourselves perched upon the farthest star which we are enabled to see by the aid of the most powerful telescope。 There； too； we should see countless myriads of Suns； rolling along in their appointed orbits； and thus on and on throughout eternity。 What an idea of the limitless extent of Creative Powerfilling up infinite space with the evidences of His Almighty Presence！ The human mind feels its utter impotency in endeavouring to grasp such a subject。
I also turned my attention to the microscope。 In 1851 I examined； by the aid of this instrument； the infusoria in the Bridgewater Canal。 I found twenty…seven of them； of the most varied form； colour； and movements。 This was almost as remarkable a revelation as the mighty phenomena of the heavens。 I found these living things moving about in the minutest drop of water。 The sight of the wonderful range of creative powerfrom the myriads of suns revealed by the telescope； to the myriads of moving organisms revealed by the microscopefilled me with unutterably devout wonder and awe。
Moreover； it seemed to me to confer a glory even upon the instruments of human skill； which elevated man to the Unseen and the Divine。 When we examine the most minute organisms； we find clear evidence in their voluntary powers of motion that these creatures possess a will； and that such Will must be conveyed by a nervous system of an infinitesimally minute description。 When we follow out such a train of thought； and contrast the myriads of suns and planets at one extreme； with the myriads of minute organised atoms at the other； we cannot but feel inexpressible wonder at the transcendent range of Creative Power。
Shortly after； I sent to the Royal Astronomical Society a paper on another equally wonderful subject； 〃The Rotatory Movements of the Celestial Bodies。 As the paper is not very long； and as I endeavoured to illustrate my ideas in a familiar manner； I may here give it entire：
〃What first set me thinking on this subject was the endeavour to get at the reason of why water in a basin acquires a rotatory motion when a portion of it is allowed to escape through a hole in the bottom。 Every well…trained philosophical judgment is accustomed to observe illustrations of the most sublime phenomena of creation in the most minute and familiar operations of the Creator's laws； one of the most characteristic features of which consists in the absolute and wonderful integrity maintained in their action whatsoever be the range as to magnitude or distance of the objects on which they operate。
〃For instance； the minute particles of dew which whiten the grass…blade in early morn are moulded into spheres by the identical law which gives to the mighty sun its globular form！
〃Let us pass from the rotation of water in a basin to the consideration of the particles of a nebulous mass just summoned into existence by the fiat of the Creatorthe law of gravitation coexisting。 〃The first moment of the existence of such a nebulous mass would be inaugurated by the election of a centre of gravity； and； instantly after； every particle throughout the entire mass of such nebulae would tend to and converge towards that centre of gravity。
〃Now let us consider what would be the result of this。 It appears to me that the
