Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

LIGHT AND SOUND.

LIGHT.

We are told that the distance of innumerable fixed stars, or suns, let us supposé them, is so vast, in reference to our earth, that their light has not yet reached us, though now, Ann. Mundi 5013, on the most moderate calculation. This a man may easily believe: he may also believe a great deal more: he may believe; nay, he may be tolerably certain that myriads of fixed stars exist, whose light will never reach us: and this, for a very obvious reason; (viz.) because they are too remote for the performance of the journey. We may venture, perhaps, without offence, to suspect that the light of such fixed stars as was designed to reach our earth, has done it long ago: but, my conception may be wrong. How is this?

Here I will just make a nota benè, that there are, agreeably to the statements of

philosophers; some things hard to be understood in the travels and performances of light. We are told that light moves at the rate of 60,000 miles in a second of time, or 3,600,000 miles in a minute. I believe such to be the calculation. Now, this is brave and expeditious posting. We learn also, from the observations and deductions of astronomy, that the rays of light, issuing from "a fixed star" one among the very, very remote of that class, no doubt -must, in order to reach our earth, travel, or have travelled, further than a cannon ball, projected with the greatest possible momentum, could travel, in the length and numerical of 160,000,000 of "Prodigious!!-as the scholiast, Domine Sampson, has said before. Does this calculation refer to the fixed stars which we behold, or to those which we can hardly bring within the possibility of imagination amidst the regions of undefinable space?—If to the former, then are we certified, that, however we may dispute on the youth or age of this our earth, or our entire, planetary system, we know where to look for objects which have assuredly existed for one hundred and sixty thousand millions of years. Even this is

years.

knowing a great deal: how much longer they may have shone in created glory, 'tis impossible to conceive, and vain, very vain, even for philosophy to enquire.

Again, if this tremendous travel of light refers to fixed stars in the invisible regions of space; to imaginary, theoretical, or, as it were, taken for granted fixed stars: to stars, which shine aloof from our conceptions, and whose light is now upon the road; then, what can we do more than heartily to wish it a prosperous journey and safe arrival, and to hope that posterity may remain to see it?

Here we would merely venture to ask, whether the immense and rapid movements of light, of which we read, and the succeeding permanency of its station in the places which it has once reached, are, positively unquestionable axioms, no less than ordinary doctrines? Again, is it or is it not assuming a principle, and imposing a fact, to determine that light is positive, definable matter? Admitting it so to be, does it not appear to be matter, of which we cannot form any possible conception? Among the attributes of all matter with which we have formed an acquaintance, has not that of an inherent

Р

« ZurückWeiter »