whose able and most interesting work, "The Fuel of the Sun," he is largely indebted. He also has to thank Mr. Nasmyth for his interesting and beautiful delineation of the planet Mars, as seen with his powerful telescope, which, with Mr. Proctor's admirable map, which he has kindly permitted the author to use, leaves nothing to be desired by those who wish to investigate the geography of that distant and interesting world correctly. To Mr. Browning also, the eminent London optician, the author's grateful acknowledgments are due for his two beautiful drawings of Jupiter and Saturn,* as seen by him with his silvered glass reflector; and lastly, to Mr. C. Burton, for his valuable information respecting the crater Linné, as well as the drawings of that remarkable crater, which he has so kindly furnished him with. To Messrs. Proctor's and Williams' novel views respecting the planets Jupiter and Saturn, the author has found reason to demur, though agreeing in the probability of the general truth connected with them. Reasons for so differing from those able writers on these points being fully given in the following pages, it is unnecessary to refer to them here, further than to say that it is not from any reluctance to give up an old theory, or a groundless conservatism as to the acceptance of a new

* Published by the Royal Astronomical Society in their monthly notices.

one, for he is quite open to conviction, but as he conceives to the want of sufficient evidence in the case of bodies situated at such a vast distance. To Mr. Proctor and Mr. Williams, however, is due the credit of ventilating, with great ability, a subject which must be of deep interest to all astronomers.

The author desires to commend the following little work to the care and blessing of the great Author of all it treats of, praying that the wonders of creation so imperfectly described may yet tend to the glory of His name, by inducing some who may read it to do what possibly they have not yet done,-viz., search the book of Revelation as well as nature, until haply they find the Almighty author of both to be one and the same Jehovah; while to others, who already have received the testimony of these two witnesses, he prays the perusal of it may be as though they were passing, like the high priest of the Jewish temple of old, through its different courts,-from the first court in the grand temple of nature to the second, and from thence to the holiest of holies, even heaven itself, the stately palace of the Most High, the seat of His glory and of the happiness of His people.

Rectory, Violet Hill, Florence Court.

J. C.

Contents of the First Heaven.

ANALYSIS.

CHAPTER I.

The Air.

The three heavens-the seven heavens of Mahomet-the ante-
chamber-a cloud-world-cloud--mountain-the air-aerial ocean-
its navigation-creation-design-qualities and uses-supposed extent
-components-sensible effects-transformations-the resurrection

PAGE

3

CHAPTER II.

Clouds.

Clouds-study of-their uses-design of-necessity for-clouds
our best friends-servants-their nature-composition-formation-
appearance -number-magnitude-variety-transition stages of
changes of shape-spreadings and dispersions of-permanent and
vanishing clouds-rain clouds-artificial clouds clouds a spectacle
of Divine power and skill--mechanism of clouds-their transformations
-appearance and disappearance-cloud-making-effect of temperature
on-evaporation and condensation-metamorphosis-mountain mists
and fog-provision for ascent of-aqueous vapour-capacity of air to
contain it-amount of evaporation in London-in Great Britain—
powerful agency of a floating ocean over head-distillation-ships
value-obedient vapour-atmospheric machinery-regulation of
planetary temperature-movements of clouds-design of-agency of
winds on-electrical wind-drafts-thunder clouds-production of
rain-mutual attraction and repulsion of clouds-their ascent and
descent-cause of-precipitation of vapour-Table-cloth cloud at the