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INTRODUCTION

Thomas Jefferson "took pity on his poverty" and appointed Augustus Brevoort Woodward presiding judge of the first civil government of the Territory of Michigan in 1805. Arriving at Detroit, Judge Woodward found many of the inhabitants living in tents and booths on the commons surrounded by the smoking ruins of their dwellings and business houses. Immediately he advocated an elaborate plan for rebuilding the city. He named for himself one of the main avenues, so-called, he facetiously explained, because it ran woodward into the wilderness.

Judge Woodward is noted here at the University of Michigan for his Catholepistemia, or Nomenclature of Universal Science, a contemporary rival of a system of classification used by Jefferson, in connection with the founding of the University of Virginia. In Woodward's scheme under the Diorismia, Uranica, we find only one of the Epistemia, Astronomia. This was adopted, however, as one of the original thirteen Didaxiim (professorships) of the Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania in 1817. Although Solar Physics (a modern term) is lacking even in the learned Judge's Encatholepistemia or the Enlarged Catholepistemia, we are fully convinced that he held the subject in high esteem. What greater evidence could be adduced than the volume reproduced and presented herewith!

Considerations on the Substance of the Sun

Randolph G. Adams, Director of the Clements Library, procured a copy of the original and linked its subject with our present research program in Solar Physics at the Lake Angelus Observatory. This interesting volume by a young lawyer exhibits a pedantry worthy of the period, and a fertile imagination rarely surpassed in any century of the History of Science. The hypothesis is set forth that "the substance of the sun is electron." Electricity seems to be a manifestation of

this elementary substance. Nature displays it in the lightning, in the Aurora Borealis, in meteors, earthquakes, even in the Torpedo, or electric eel. We must recall the analogous substances of the period-"phlogiston," the materiality of heat, various kinds of air (gas) e.g. "azate," basis of pestilential fluids, and "septon," its antithesis, proposed to insure public health.

Analogies between electron and the sun are extremely interesting, though not entirely convincing. We marvel at the brain-child invented but not materialized, an orrery animated with electron. We can visualize the central globe of electron, based upon a description given by an assistant who survived when Richman was killed by accident-a globe of blue fire as large as a fist. There was another reputed sample three-quarters of an inch in diameter seen during an experiment-never repeated. Surround this central globe by revolving planetary spheres of electron and there you have "a perfect and living orrery."

The University of Michigan takes pride in the equipment and results obtained at the McMath-Hulbert Observatory, which has become a twentieth-century center of solar research.

Director Robert R. McMath enthusiastically subscribes to the republication of this little volume, which attests the early interest of one of the "Founding Fathers" of the University of Michigan in his special field. Dr. McMath's spectroheliokinematographical discoveries have been hailed the world around as the most important contributions to solar research in recent years. Observations at Lake Angelus have disclosed new solar phenomena quite revolutionary in their effect upon current scientific theories. The mechanical ingenuity manifest in the equipment of the Solar Tower has achieved modern miracles.

May we anticipate the construction of a mechanical device by the combined genius of director and staff at Lake Angelus to demonstrate Judge Woodward's hypothesis that the substance of the sun is electron! W. CARL RUFUS

ANN ARBOR

I 944

CONSIDERATIONS

ON THE

SUBSTANCE OF THE SUN.

A KNOWLEDGE of the true fubftance of the Introduc Sun would probably tend more to enlarge our acquain- tion. tance with the real Conftitution of the Universe, than any other discovery, relating to matter alone, could poffibly do.

As an hypothefis perfectly new will be advanced, and attempted to be maintained, in this work, it will be proper to collect, and to review with care, the various opinions which have heretofore, at any time, prevailed on this fubject.

The innate activity of the mind of man is fuch, that when his curiofity is attracted to the phænomena of nature, the discovery of their caufes is a concomitant defire. Hence it is that fome general theory of the Universe has been coæval with the first dawnings of fcience.

ents.

2.

All the learned men of antiquity erected their systems Opinions of on fome fundamental caufe of the origin and formation the Anci of the Universe; and the particular opinions which they may have entertained respecting the fubftance of the Sun, cannot therefore be exhibited, without in fome meafure confidering the general theory, with which the opinion was connected.

It was a fault attached to all the science of the Ancients, that they were fatisfied with mere hypothefis, without subjecting their impreffions to the test of experience, and reafun. They inclined to conjecture, more than to proof; and were contented with probability, without expecting certainty.

This difpofition will always render science vague, and depreciate its value. It tends to enervate the mind;

3.

Account

and gives rife to wild and inconfiftent theories, which int a more enlightened and correct age are exploded without effort.

Nothing will more ftrongly confirm the juftice of this remark than the opinions of the learned men of antiquity, refpecting the Univerfe in general, as well as the particular nature of the Sun. We fhall often find them indulging the fuggeftions of an unrestricted and exuberant fancy; without any fubordination to reafon, without any deference to laborious and patient inveftigation.

Ancient science regards no name with greater veneraof Thales. tion than that of Thales of Ionia, the inftitutor of literature among the Grecians. He flourished at Miletus, in the seventh century preceding the Christian æra. Letters having attained, at the age in which he lived, confiderable perfection; and poffefling himself a penetrative and fcrutinizing mind, he foon difcovered that the opinions, and the knowledge of his countrymen, had derived their origin from another fource. Egypt being then the general matrix of all science, his thirst of information induced him to vifit the fountain-head. He travelled into that country; and from the priests of Memphis acquired the rudiments of geometry, of aftronomy, and of general literature.

4.

His general On his return to Greece, Thales foon acquired celebridoctrines. ty. He predicted eclipfes; propounded a general theory of the Universe; and maintained that its origin, and prefervation, were owing to one Supreme Mind. The particulars of his various tenets and doctrines are enveloped in impenetrable obfcurity. It is certain however that he was a Theift. He believed water to be the primitive and original principle of all matter. He is faid to have composed a treatise on meteors, in verfe, which is now loft.

5.

His opini on of the ftars.

6.

Account of

Thales has not left us any direct opinion refpecting the nature of the Sun. He is faid however to have entertained the general fentiment, that the flars confifted of an earthy fubflance, which was continually red-hot.*

Along with Thales must be named another fcientific Anaximaa- character of the fame country, and the fame city; who is reputed to have been his fcholar, and who is not lefs diftinguished in the records of learning. Anaximander of

der.

antient Ionia is confidered as the inventor of those signs of the Zodiac which are ftill ufed in aftronomy. To him is afcribed the difcovery of the obliquity of the Ecliptic; and the first invention of Maps.

7.

Anaximander differed in many particulars from his The first great predeceffor. He is reprefented as the firft Atheist Atheist. recorded in hiftory; having contended for the non-existence of any other principle, in the Conftitution of the Universe, than matter. History has preserved for us both his general theory of the Universe, and his particular opinion refpecting the nature of the Sun.

8.

The following may be prefented as a condensed account His general of his general creed: "The infinity of things is the primitive creed. " and universal element. This infinity always preferves "its unity, though its parts are in a conftant and inceffant "flux. All things came from it; all will again return to "it. The worlds compofing the Universe are infinite. The "ftars are composed of air and fire; and the earth is "placed in their common centre."

In

Sun,

9.

Of his particular opinion refpecting the nature of the His partiSun, the following is a reprefentation: "There is along cular opi"the heavens an exterior sphere of fire; and within this nion of the "fphere there is an interior sphere of opaque matter. "this interior sphere of opaque matter, there is a circular "aperture. Through this aperture the light is transmitted; "and appears to the inhabitants of the earth as a round "and diftinct body of fire. Eclipfes are occafioned by "the clofing of this aperture."

pre

10.

Anaximenes was a native of the fame place; and was Opinions of the scholar, and fucceffor of Anaximander. Like his Anaxideceffor, he was also an Atheift; but he qualified the menes. vague and indeterminate principle of Anaximander, by affirming that the original and caufative principle of the Universe was the Air. This he alledged was attached to, and fuperincumbed all matter. He has left no particular affertion respecting the nature of the Sun; but his dictum was, that the nature of the ftars was fiery, and that terreftrial bodies, invifible to us, were carried round them.*

II.

Diogenes of Appollonia, in the island of Crete, was Account of the scholar and fucceffor of Anaximenes; and rectified Diogenes. the opinion of his master, that the air was the primitive

Stob. Ecl. Phys. c. 25.