OF ARTS AND SCIENCES: DECEMBER 13, 1804. 379 



heretics ; if burning he, as it most assuredly is, a most effectual mode of 

 suppressing opinions, why should we not burn ? If the relation in which 

 government ought to stand to the people be, as Mr. Gladstone tells us, 

 a paternal relation, we are irresistibly led to the conclusion that perse- 

 cution is justifiable." Just below he says: "If a boy plays truant at 

 church-time, a task is set him." Again, we find if it be true and if ex- 

 perience shows, both in the same paragraph. It might be thought that 

 Macaulay was unwilling to use any other subjunctive than be, which in- 

 deed is the one that most frequently occurs in modern English. Mr. 

 Gladstone writes (Studies on Homer, I. p. 18), " If Homer is not fully 

 studied in our Universities," and in the next page, " If my estimate of 

 those purposes he correct." Again (p. 39), "If it he contended," and 

 (p. 80) " If such there has been." 



These instances are quoted here not by way of criticism, but simply 

 to show the utter want of any principle in English on the subject. It 

 is for scholars to determine whether it is desirable to retain the sub- 

 junctive in English; and whether, if it is to be retained, it is not better 

 to restrict its use to conditions referring to the future, or at least not to 

 allow it to be used beyond the hmits which the classical languages so 

 clearly define. The present laxity of usage in respect to it is certainly 

 no honor to our language. 



Five hundred and forty-third Meeting. 



December 13, 1864. — Monthly Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary read letters relative to ex- 

 changes. 



Mr. Ferrel read the following paper. 



Note on the Influence of the Tides in causing- an Apparent 

 Secular Acceleration of the Moon's Mean Motion. 



As the unit of time depends upon the time of the earth's rotation 

 upon its axis, any slight secular change in the time of its rotation, 

 must cause an apparent secular acceleration or retardation of the 

 moon's mean motion. There are two circumstances which may affect 

 the time of the earth's rotation, first, the effect of the attractions of the 

 sun and moon upon the tidal wave retarded by friction, secondly, a 

 gradual decrease of the earth's volume from a loss of heat. 



