324 M. Pouillet on the Recent Researches q/Trof. Faraday. 



back to a yet earlier stage of the phenomenon, we might be 

 apprised that the causes which operate in producing the de- 

 rangement of the level of the Caribbean and Mexican seas 

 were prevailing in any particular year in an unusually high 

 degree. 



I wish in conclusion to guard against the possibility of being 

 understood to suppose that amidst the variety of incidents 

 by which our climate is affected, there may not be others 

 which may be influential in the production of winters of un- 

 usual mildness in an equal, or even in a greater degree than 

 the extension of the Gulf-stream ; or, that whenever the 

 stream reaches the coasts of Europe, its influence on our cli- 

 mate must necessarily occasion winters like that of 1821- 

 1822, or 1845-1846. It is reasonable to believe that there 

 may be degrees of initial velocity between that which is usual 

 and that which is extreme. There may also be counteracting 

 or qualifying causes with which we are as yet wholly unac- 

 quainted. The object of this communication is rather to re- 

 call to recollection, on the occasion of the present remarkable 

 winter, the coincidence that was discovered between the simi- 

 lar winter in 1821-1822, and the extension of the stream; 

 and to promote the adoption of such simple means as may 

 supply additional evidence, whereby we may discern between 

 coincidence observed on a single occasion, and connexion 

 which may be established by the observation of repeated co- 

 incidence. I am, Gentlemen, 



Your obedient Servant, 



Woolwich, March 17th, 1846. Edward Sabine. 



LI. Observations on the Recent Researches of Prof. Faraday. 

 By M. Pouillet*. 



TTpOR some months past there has been much talk about a 

 -*- hew series of researches by M. Faraday, the result of 

 which was one of the most important discoveries, the action 

 of magnetism on light. Two authentic documents have at 

 length reached us on this subject ; one is published in the 

 January number of the Philosophical Magazine, being an ab- 

 stract of the sitting of the Royal Society of the 27th of No- 

 vember, the other was communicated at the last meeting of the 

 French Academy by M. Dumas in the name of Mr. Faraday 

 himself. Various results are announced in these two publi- 

 cations, but only one fact is presented with some development, 



* Translated from the Comptes Rendus, for January 26, 1846. — The re- 

 searches of Prof. Faraday, referred to in this paper, are given entire in our 

 present Number. 



