Descartes and the Rainbow
Newton's Experiments on the Composition of Solar Light
His Mistake regarding Achromatism
Synthesis of White Light
Yellow and Blue Lights produce White by their Mixture
Colours of Natural Bodies
Absorption
Mixture of Pigments contrasted with Mixture of Lights

LECTURE II.

Origin of Physical Theories
Scope of the Imagination
Newton and the Emission Theory
Verification of Physical Theories
The Luminiferous Ether
Wave-theory of Light
Thomas Young
Fresnel and Arago
Conception of Wave-motion
Interference of Waves
Constitution of Sound-waves
Analogies of Sound and Light
Illustrations of Wave-motion
Interference of Sound Waves
Optical Illustrations
Pitch and Colour
Lengths of the Waves of Light and Rates of Vibration of the
Ether-particles
Interference of Light
Phenomena which first suggested the Undulatory Theory
Boyle and Hooke
The Colours of thin Plates
The Soap-bubble
Newton's Rings
Theory of 'Fits'
Its Explanation of the Rings
Overthrow of the Theory
Diffraction of Light
Colours produced by Diffraction
Colours of Mother-of-Pearl.

LECTURE III.

Relation of Theories to Experience
Origin of the Notion of the Attraction of Gravitation
Notion of Polarity, how generated
Atomic Polarity
Structural Arrangements due to Polarity
Architecture of Crystals considered as an Introduction to their
Action upon Light
Notion of Atomic Polarity applied to Crystalline Structure
Experimental Illustrations
Crystallization of Water
Expansion by Heat and by Cold
Deportment of Water considered and explained
Bearings of Crystallization on Optical Phenomena
Refraction
Double Refraction
Polarization
Action of Tourmaline
Character of the Beams emergent from Iceland Spar
Polarization by ordinary Refraction and Reflection
Depolarization.

LECTURE IV.

Chromatic Phenomena produced by Crystals in Polarized Light
The Nicol Prism
Polarizer and Analyzer
Action of Thick and Thin Plates of Selenite
Colours dependent on Thickness
Resolution of Polarized Beam into two others by the Selenite
One of them more retarded than the other
Recompounding of the two Systems of Waves by the Analyzer
Interference thus rendered possible
Consequent Production of Colours
Action of Bodies mechanically strained or pressed
Action of Sonorous Vibrations
Action of G