The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-11 00:00:00

THE SOLAR SPOTS.

The surface of the sun has of late presented a
very striking and diversified aspect, when contem-
plated through a powerful telescope. The spots
of all descriptions by which its disc is divaricated
have been more numerous, and some of them much
larger, than have been observed for several years
past. On Monday, the 2d ult., almost the whole
surface of this luminary seemed to be diversified
with large and small spots of every description pe-
culiar to the sun. A cluster containing four or five
very large spots, and,about thirty or forty smaller
ones, disappear_ d from the western part of the disc
on Tuesday, but a very great number of both large
and small spots still remain. At present (Septem-
ber 4th) there is a very large cluster, approaching
the centre of the disc, which consists of about
eighteen large spots, the smallest of them not much
less than the size of the earth, and some of them

much larger. Besides these, there are within the
compass of the same cluster above eighty smaller
spots, which can be distinctly counted by means of
an achromatic telescope magnifying one hundred
and twenty titnes—making about a hundred spots
in all within the limits of one cluster. The smallest
of these spots cannot be less than from five to nine
hundred miles in diameter. One of the spots
which lately passed off from the western margin
of the disc, measured about the one-thirtieth part
of the sun's diameter, and consequently must
have been about thirty thousand miles in diameter,
or nearly four times the diameter of the earth ;
and, if it is to be considered as a solid body, it
must be above sixty times larger than the earth.
It contained an area of more than seven hundred
millions of miles. Besides the cluster noticed
above, there are five other clusters nearer the
western edge of the disc, containing several large,
and a number of smaller spots, amounting in all to
about seventy or eighty ; so there are at present '
nearly two hundred spots, great and small, diversi-
fying the surface of this luminary. The largest
cluster will likely remain for about eight days longer
before it disappear from the western limb. Some
of the other spots will disappear in the course of
three or four days. There are indications of other
clusters about to appear oil the eastern limb. Each
of the larger spots has a dark nucleus, surrounded
with a penumbra, or fainter shade, nearly of the
shame shape as the nucleus. Some of the nuclei
"
pear nearly round, others elliptical, others coni-
cal,a and some of them are divided in the middle by
a bright streak. When these spots are near the
margin of the sun, they appear surrounded with
a mottled appearance, such as is seen on some
parts of the lunar disc—evidently indicating eleva-
tions and depressions, or, in other words, moun-
tains and vales of very great magnitude. These
mottled appeal ances generally precede the appear-
ance of spots on the eastern limb, and plainly
show that there is a very great diversity of surface
and scenery on this magnificent orb, and that
changes and operations of inconceivable magnitude
are continually going forward—probably for the
purpose of Preserving this central body in a proper
state for diffusing light and heat, and other infl

. .....
enee to surroundin,'' worlds. Four or five of the
larger spots may bedistinetly seen by means of au
opera glass which magnifies about two or three
times, and even by the naked eye, provided
coloured glass is interposed between the eye and
the sun, or a common plain glass smoked with
the flame of a candle.—Correspondent of Dundee
Advertiser.

NORTH ESSEX AGRICULTURAL. ANNIVER
sARY.—The Anniversary of the Agricultural and Con-
servative Association of North Essex was celebrated on
Tuesday evening, by a dinner at Castle Hedingham, in
the Hinckford hundred. The dinner was much more
numerously attended than it has hitherto been, in con-
sequence of its having been understood that several
attempts had been recently made to induce the mem-
bers of the Association to abandon that portion of their
title which binds them to Conservatism, and which at-
tempt led to considerable discussion. Mr. Round, M.P.
for North Essex, took the Chair, and George Spurling,
Esq., the Vice-chair, and were supported by Sir John
Tyrrell, Bart., M.P.,' Sr Alexander Rae, Bart., J. P.
Owes, Esq , the Hon. and Rev. Dundas, the Rev.
Dr. Burney, Messrs. Hutt, Wias, J. Spurling, C. New-
, man, H. L. Majendie, J. Jardine, and a great number
of other influential gentlemen and clergymen of the
county. We regret to perceive, from a report of the
speeches made on the occasion, that several of the
speakers dilated on the necessity of preserving the
check on a supply of corn. Sir John Tyrrell was con-
fident that " without the protection which the present
system of Corn-laws afforded to the farmers, they would
not be enabled to remunerate their labourers." And
as the House of Commons would look coldly on any
petition from the agriculturists " they were thrown upon
their own resources, and must stand forward in support
of the present Corn Bill." Mr. Elwes, as well as Mr.
Round, the Member, spoke in the same strain. The
termer gentleman made the following instructive and
very remarkable declaration--that it was impossible for
the agriculturists to uphold agriculture unless they were
Conservatives.

We understand that the Coal Masters in and
around Glasgow have advanced the price of C 0415 Is. a
waggon.
Two NEW THINGS.—There is a man down
East, rather a facetious chap, whose name is New. He
named his first child Something, as it was Something
New. His next child was christened Nothing, it being
Nothing New.—American Paper.
BROTHERLY LOVE.---It iS with unfeigned
gratification that we learn from an authentic source,
that John E. Lacon, Esq., has in the most handsome
and disinterested manner divided the large fortune left
to him by his father, the late Sir E. K. Lacon. Bart.,
equally with his elder brother, Sir H. K. Lacon„ Bart.
It will be remembered that the present Baronet mar-
ied,contrary to his father's desire, a daughter of Mr. Ron-
mett, a partner in the house of Esdaile and Co., bankers.
The old Baronet never forgave this act of insubordina-
tion in his son, and consequently left nearly all to his
younger son, J. E. Lacon, Esq., who with most noble !
feeling has divided the property with his eider brother.
—Cambridge Independent,

Te.i. ;.•••."
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