288 Dr Buchner''s Hypothesis regarding Magnetism, 



We see every where in the universe mutual changes taking place; 

 why should the sun, on its part, be always giving, and never re- 

 ceiving any thing in compensation ? If it were so, notwithstand- 

 ing the magnitude of its mass, the productive power of hght 

 which it possesses would necessarily diminish, after a lapse of 

 some thousands of years, while the earth and the other planets 

 would be supersaturated with light and heat. Now, this is what 

 we do not see happening. It appears to me much more pro- 

 bable, thctC there must prevail, with respect to this, in the plane- 

 tary system, a continued order and a periodical return. The 

 sun might be considered as the heart of this system ; a common 

 principle would emanate from this centre under the form of light, 

 and would flow toward the planets, as the arterial blood flows to- 

 ward the extremities ; it would there be successively transformed 

 into caloric, electricity and magnetism. In this latter state, it 

 would flow back toward the sun, as the venous blood flows back 

 toward the heart, to be reconverted into a state of light, by a mo- 

 dification the inverse of the first. Perhaps mathematicians might 

 even seek the cause of the laws which regulate the motions of 

 the celestial bodies, in this alternate transportation of light to- 

 ward the planets, and of magnetism toward the sun. We see 

 motion result from analogous currents in the rotatory electro- 

 magnetic apparatus."" — Bibl. Universelle. 



On the Construction of Meteorological Instruments^ so as to as- 

 certain their indications, during absejice, at any given instant, 

 or at successive intervals of time. With a Plate. 



Jtii ARLY last summer a paper, by Mr H. H. Blackadder, was 

 read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh, in which was de- 

 scribed the mode of constructing meteorological instruments so 

 as to determine their indications, during absence, at any given 

 instant, or at successive intervals of time. One instrument, of 

 this construction, was exhibited, which had been in daily use 

 for upwards of a year, and which had been found to give per- 

 fect satisfaction. An apparatus, consisting of several thermo- 

 meters or atmizomic hygrometers, was at the same time exhibi- 

 ted, nearly completed, and by means of which, with three in- 



