THE ENDOWMENT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 439 



direct benefits from a knowledge of the sun's surroundings, or of the 

 distance, size, and mass of that himinary. But the nation makes no 

 direct in-ovision for researches into the physical condition and nature 

 of the sun, the planets, stars, star-cloudlets, comets, the moon, and so 

 on. Nor, probably, would an appeal for new observatories to meet 

 this want receive general or efiectual support at present. But, about 

 three years ago, it was thought advisable, by two or three persons, to 

 bring a scheme of this nature before the Astronomical Society, so as 

 to secure the suppoi-t of that body in submitting the matter to tliose 

 in charge of the national purse. Of the fate of this scheme with the 

 Astronomical Society I need say nothing, save that the Council were 

 practically unanimous in rejecting it only four A'oting in its favor. 

 But I would direct particular attention to the nature of the argument 

 used to obtain support for this scheme : " Permanent national provi- 

 sion," said its advocate, "is urgently needed for the cultivation of the 

 physics of astronomy. If the study of the sun alone were in question, 

 that alone would justify such a measure ; for there can hardly be a 

 doubt that almost every natural phenomenon connected with climate 

 can be distinctly traced to the sun as the great dominating force, and 

 the inference is unavoidable that the changes, and what we now 

 call the uncertainties of climate, are connected with the constant fluc- 

 tuations which we know to be perpetually occurring in the sun itself. 

 The bearing of climatic changes on a vast array of problems connected 

 with navigation, agriculture, and health, need but to be mentioned to 

 show the importance of seeking, in the sun, where they doubtless 

 reside, for the causes which govern these changes. It is, indeed, my 

 conviction, that of all the fields now open for scientific cultivation, 

 there is not one which, quite apart from its transcendent philosophical 

 interest, promises results of such high utilitarian value as the exhaus- 

 tive systematic study of the sun." ' 



' I quote from a paper by Lieutenant-Colonel Strange, a Fellow of the Astronomical 

 Society. Of course this would not be the place to discuss his remaiks. It need hardly 

 be said that no astronomer has ever sanctioned such views, though many astronomers be- 

 lieve that an association exists between terrestrial relations and the phenomena of solar 

 disturbance. It may suffice to remark here that the influence of changes in the sun's con- 

 dition, as manifested by sun-spots and other solar peculiarities, must be infinitely less than 

 the influence of those changes of aspect which produce the seasons ; and yet our acquaint- 

 ance with these changes leaves the " uncertainties of climate " still unexplained. How 

 much less must be the significance of the cycles of changes in the solar spots ! The chief 

 of these, again, are already known, yet we are as far as ever from being able to predict 

 the weather. Even the theories which have been advanced as to the connection between 

 rainfall, prevalent winds, etc., and the spot-cycle, compel their advocates to assume con- 

 trary influences for different regions separated by nodal lines of no influence, which lines 

 must also be assumed to shift their position from year to year theoretical devices ad- 

 mitting of being most conveniently adapted to circumstances which would be fatal to any 

 definite theory. Sir J. Herschel well remarks of such ideas that though " some rude 

 approach to the perception of a cycle of the seasons may possibly be attainable, no per- 

 son in his senses would alter his plans of conduct for six months in advance in the most 



