For example, if we include the whole extent of our sensations of the greatest heat to the greatest cold, within the limits given by the observations of M. Amontons, that is, between seven and eight, and at the same time suppose that the heat of the sun can alone produce this difference of our sensations, we shall from thence have the proportion of 8 to 1 of the innate heat of the terrestrial globe to that which proceeds from the sun; and consequently the compensation which this heat of the sun actually makes on the earth, would be 1/8 and the compensation which it made in the time of incandescence will have been 1/260: adding together these two terms, we have 26/900, which multiplied by 12-1/2, the half of the sum of all the terms of the diminution of heat, gives 325/400 or 5/8 for the total compensation made by the sun's heat during the the period of 74047 years of the refrigeration of the earth to actual temperature. And as the total loss of the innate heat is to the total compensation in the same ratio as the time of the period of refrigeration, we shall have 25 : 1-5/8 :; 74047 : 4813-1/25, so that the refrigeration of the globe of the earth instead of having been prolonged only 770 years, would have been 4813-1/25 years; which joined to the longest prolongation, the heat of the moon would also produce in this supposition, would give more than 5000 years. If we adopt the limits laid down by M. de Marian, which are from 31 to 32, and suppose that the solar heat is no more than 1/32 of that of the earth, we shall have only 1/4 of this prolongation, about 1250 years, instead of 770, which gives the supposition of 1/50 which we have adopted. But if we suppose that the sun's heat is only 1/250 of that of the earth, as appears to result from the observations made at Paris, we should have for the compensation of the incandescence 1/6250 and 1/250 for the compensation to the end of the period of 7407 years of the refrigeration of the terrestrial globe to actual temperature, and we should find 17/250 for the total compensation made by the heat of the sun during this period, which would give only 154 years, or the 5th part of 770 years for the time of the prolongation of refrigeration. And likewise, if in the place of 1/50 we suppose that the solar heat was 1/50 of the terrestrial, we should find that the time of prolongation would be five times longer, that is 3850 years; so that the more we endeavour to increase the heat which comes to us from the sun relative to that which emanates from the earth, the more we shall extend the duration of nature, and date the antiquity of the earth further back; for by supposing the heat of the sun was equal to the innate of the globe, we should find that the time of prolongation would be 38504 years, which consequently gives the earth a greater antiquity of 38 or 39000 years.