Such are the views of one who had, it must be acknowledged, great powers of observation, and means of observation in higher perfection than have ever been enjoyed by any other individual; but, with all deference to such authority, I am compelled to think that the hypothesis is encumbered with very serious objections. Clouds analogous to those of our atmosphere (and the Doctor expressly asserts that his lower stratum of clouds are analogous to ours, and reasons respecting the upper stratum according to the same analogy) cannot exist in hot air; they are tenants only of cold regions. How can they be supposed to exist in the immediate vicinity of a fire so intense, that they are even dissipated by it at the distance of ninety-five millions of miles? Much less can they be supposed to be the depositories of such devouring fire, when any thing in the form of clouds, floating in our atmosphere, is at once scattered and dissolved by the accession of only a few degrees of heat. Nothing, moreover, can be imagined more unfavorable for radiating heat to such a distance, than the light, inconstant matter of which clouds are composed, floating loosely in the solar atmosphere. There is a logical difficulty in the case: it is ascribing to things properties which they are not known to possess; nay, more, which they are known not to possess. From variations of light and shade in objects seen at moderate distances on the earth, we are often deceived in regard to their appearances; and we must distrust the power of an astronomer to decide upon the nature of matter seen at the distance of ninety-five millions of miles. I think, therefore, we must confess our ignorance of the nature and constitution of the sun; nor can we, as astronomers, obtain much more satisfactory knowledge respecting it than the common apprehension, namely, that it is an immense globe of fire. We have not yet learned what causes are in operation to maintain its undecaying fires; but our confidence in the Divine wisdom and goodness leads us to believe, that those causes are such as will preserve those fires from extinction, and at a nearly uniform degree of intensity. Any material change in this respect would jeopardize the safety of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, which could not exist without the enlivening influence of the solar heat, nor, indeed, were that heat any more or less intense than it is at present.