Diurnal Tides on the Coasts of Ireland. 139 



Is it impossible, or improbable, that the result inferred from Age and Acce- 

 leration, viz., 11-65 miles, is the depth of the South Atlantic and Antarctic 

 Oceans, while the depth deduced from Heights, viz., 5-12 miles, is the mean 

 depth of the eastern portion of the North Atlantic ? 



I shall leave this and other intei'esting questions to those concerned in the 

 Mathematical Theory of the Tides, and shall feel content to have contributed, 

 as my share, a few facts to serve as a partial basis for reconstructing the 

 Theory of the Tides, which must be considered at present as a reproach to 

 Mathematical Science. The separation of the Solar and Lunar Diurnal Tides 

 on the coasts of Ireland, and the partial investigation of their laws, must be 

 regarded as an important accession to our knowledge of the Tides — an acces- 

 sion which must be considered as arising, in a great degree, from the exer- 

 tions of the Royal Irish Academy. 



