Chase.] ^jO-j [May 2 and 16, 1873. 



be of great service in fixing the probable sites of precipitation, and the 

 probable cyclonism or anti-cyclonism of the winds. 



If the molecular, or elastic forces are so important as they seem to be, 

 not only in the atmospheric and ocean tides, but even in detei mining the 

 arrangement, masses and motions of cosmical bodies, it is desirable that 

 they should be made the subject of special and critical study in connec- 

 tion with meteoroloffic changes. 



V. THE PLANETARY NODE BETWEEN MERCURY AND VUL- 

 CAN. 

 Any speculations upon the probable position of a planet between Mer- 

 cury and Vulcan may seem premature, so long as the existence of Vulcan 

 itself is so very problematical. I am inclined to believe that any planet- 

 oid bodies that may be found between Mercury and the Sun will prove 

 to be very minute, perhaps of an order of magnitude like the asteroids. 

 It is true that the harmonic coincidences on which I have based my hy- 

 pothesis of an inter-Mercurial pair, may be merely accidental, but when 

 the agreement is so curious and close as I have shown it to be, it is surely 

 well to see whether we can find any other evidence, either to confirm or 

 contradict its manifest indications. 



Near ^ of Jupiter's perihelion (3.485) is the first term of the terrestrial 

 harmonic series (3.5). 



Near x 7 of Earth's mean distance (.7) is Venus's mean distance (.723). 



Near j v of Mercury's mean distance (.271) is the hypothetical planetary 

 node (.269). 



Near 3 times the hypothetical nodal distance (.807) is the octave node 

 of Venus's and Earth's perihelia (.832). 



Near 9 times the hypothetical nodal distance (2.421) is the outer node 

 of Sun and Jupiter's perihelion (2.494). 



Near 27 times the hypothetical nodal distance (7.263) is the octave node 

 of Jupiter's perihelion and Saturn's mean distance (7.259). 



Near 81 times the hypothetical nodal distance (21.789) is the spheroidal 

 centre of gyration of Neptune's perihelion, as referred to Saturn's perihe- 

 lion, (22.138). ' 



Near 81 times the distance of Sun — Jupiter perihelion centre of gravity 

 (81.56) is Mercury's mean distance. 



The ratio of Saturn's mean aphelion to Earth's mean distance (10), is 

 nearly a mean proportional, between the ratio of Vulcan's harmonic dis- 

 tance (.209) to the linear centre of oscillation of solar retardation (.169), 

 and the ratio of Mercury's mean distance to the distance of the solar- 

 Jovian perihelion centre of gravity (fgf X 81.56 = 10.043'-'). 



