“I think it is only possible to consider heat as ‘energy,’ as discovered by the experiments of Rumford and Davy in 1798 and 1799, the latter’s experiments on the melting of ice by friction being too well known to be detailed, and the same Davy, about 1812, discovered that “the immediate cause of the phenomenon of heat is motion, and the laws of its communication are precisely the same as the laws of the communication of motion.” I consider this the only true idea, notwithstanding the modern tendency to discard these old theories for newer. I can only conceive of heat as particles in motion, and it can only be measured satisfactorily by the speed or energy of the disturbed particles, which in many cases causes a distinct vibration in them, and in the case of gases a direct dashing and pressing of the separate particles, not only against each other, but against the sides or walls of the vessel in which they are confined, in their efforts to expand by separation; and bearing all these things in mind, Godfrey, if the idea on which we have embarked and in which we want your help is successful, we can make some gauze, fasten it on the outside of the ship, and instead of it and the ship setting up a fresh series of _their own_ moving particles in the presence of heat—such as we shall encounter when in close proximity to the sun—and becoming destroyed by the energy or the intense vibration of their own particles, this net will so far _itself_ resist this vibration and thus protect itself and the ship within it. This resisting power will be considerably augmented by the _Regina’s_ own repulsive force, which will be incalculable, being obtained from the sun and capable of enormous augmentation, and this will also assist and give great repulsive force to the net, thus more than counterbalancing any tendency to its becoming heated by so much as a degree. If this theory works out, as we feel sure it will, assuming that the cocoon _is_ fireproof, while all around may be molten in the terrific heat, the _Regina_ and all in her will be cool as a cucumber, literally; for if the net acts as we have reason to hope it will, the protecting force will de-atomise and repel anything and everything—heat included—for at least a foot beyond the ship, and covered with our net, we shall still be able to see what the sun really is, go through his atmosphere and photosphere, which even our telescopes have not been able to penetrate, and do excellent work for science, and that whilst we ourselves are in no way inconvenienced. “And now, Godfrey, you have our whole scheme complete, and whether we are successful or not depends on you and you alone. It may be a wild-goose chase we are on, but we believe the Bonians, and trust you to bring the whole scheme to a successful issue, as we are sure you will. What do you think?”