May 23, 1859.] PHYSICAL ENQUIRIES— EARTHQUAKES. 279 



known amount of electrical action, as well as the chemical and 

 mechanical combinations which occur during changes of weather 

 (among which the presence or absence of ozone is an interesting 

 subject of investigation) ; the formation and effects of ice, with the 

 characteristics of ocean itself — are all phenomena that have been 

 lately studied by meteorologists. 



The number of meteorological observers and their dispersion over 

 the world is now considerable. Besides Russia, Prussia, and Europe 

 generally — India and Australia* have many well fitted stations — 

 while the United States have spread them over a vast portion of the 

 continent of America ; a point to which I shall hereafter allude. 



In Scotland, the instructive compilations of Mr. A. Keith Johnston 

 have indoctrinated his countrymen with the desire to establish and 

 keep up a well-ordered Meteorological Society, which is worthy 

 of national encouragement. Following out this plan, Dr. Stark has 

 produced a memoir, the result of two years' observations, on ' The 

 Temperature of the Sea around the Coasts of Scotland.' f Whilst 

 we must admit with this author, that the mild climate of Britain 

 is, in great part, due to the prevalence of the south-westerly winds, 

 I find that his opposition to the views of Commander Maury re- 

 specting the course and influence of the Gulf Stream is not accepted 

 by some of our leaders in physical science. 



Earthquakes and their Study (or Seismology). — In a work recently 

 completed on the earthquakes of Switzerland, Dr. Volger has given 

 a chronological account of all recorded earthquakes in that country 

 from the year 562 to 1855. Illustrating his observations by an 

 account of the geological structure of the Valais, he further describes 

 in detail the shock of 1855, and lastly endeavours to explain the 

 relations and causes of earthquake phenomena in general. Col- 

 lating a quantity of curious data, this author attributes these 

 paroxysms of the earth's surface in great measure to the changes 

 and peculiar combinations of atmospheric and meteorological condi- 

 tions. He combats the theory adopted by most geologists of a central 

 heat, and also disallows the intimate connexion between volcanos 

 and earthquakes; suggesting the falling of mountain masses into 

 cavities, and the consequent production of shocks accompanied by 

 much development of electricity. Not doubting that the records 



* See particularly the Third Meteorological Report, with a diagram, of Barometric 

 Pressure (for the years 1857-8), prepared by Mr. R. Brough Smyth, the director of the 

 Meteorological Observatories of Victoria, and presented to both Houses of Parliament. 



f Read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 3rd January, 1859. 



VOL. III. 



