METE0R0L007. 215 



within such limits as to prevent changes of temperature or climate 

 destructive of organic life ; that although for thousands of years slow 

 and trifling alterations may accumulate, yet when arrived at u 

 moderate limit, compensation will ensue, and the other half of the 

 cycle restore every element to its original value. It would he digres- 

 sive from the purpose of this article, or it might be shown that any 

 thing more beautiful in mathematical science is not possible than 

 those theorems which exhibit the wondrous harmony, connection, 

 stability, and perpetuity of the solar system. 



To project a scheme of the weather founded on lunar and planetary 

 positions is worse than puerile ; these positions, as has before been ob- 

 served, are connected with widely different relations from those which 

 are concocted in the brain of th^ astrologer. The planets accomplish 

 not merely rotary and orbitual revolutions, but cycles of variation and 

 compensation, and cycles upon cycles, of which the small interval which 

 has elapsed since the creation of man is barely suflicient to indicate a 

 narrow segment, and for the completion of which an almost illimita- 

 ble duration will be required. On the exact relative distances, mag- 

 nitudes, and periods of all the planets depends the order, uniformity, 

 ultimate periodicity of all secular variation, and consequent perpe- 

 tuity of the system ; and from the theorem of forced vibrations it 

 appears that such a connexion and mutual dependence exists, that if 

 derangement occurred in any one body of the system, the shock 

 would be communicated through every other body, whether planet or 

 satellite throughout the system. Amidst all those temporary and 

 slowly accumulating secular variations to which the orbits of all the 

 planets are subject, it is most highly interesting to observe and admire 

 the wonderful provision which is made for the permanent stabilty of 

 their major axis or longer diameters. Whilst all the other elements, 

 comparatively less important, are ceaselessly subject to change, the 

 major axis on which most depends is undisturbed, or subject only to 

 a variation rapidly periodic, so that the mutual mean distances 

 and periods of all the planets are the same now and ever will be as 

 when their motions were begun. 



Not only are the planets and moon deemed by the astrologer the 

 efficient causes of atmospheric changes, but, by way of filling up the 

 absurd catalogue, even telescopic comets, invisible to the unassisted 

 eye, are announced as playing an important part in these occurrences. 



