According to the views of a distinguished

astronomer, the earth is gradually increasing

its distance from the Sun, and in the course

of six thousand years the distance will be so

great that only an eighth of the warmth we

now enjoy will be communicated to the Earth

from the Sun ; the Earth, therefore, will be

covered with eternal ice and snow, as we now

see the plains of the North, where the ele

phant formerly lived, and where there is nei- PyOOO 0

Vher Spring nor Autumn. In this case, we