12 Introduction. | Jan. 
immediate interest of my pursuit, and yet this feeling has overcome 
me in all its power. I believe it to be the intellectual yearning after 
the knowledge of the Creator, and an involuntary faith acknowledging 
the immortality of the soul.” 
In Meteorology there are many new features which might afford 
themes for passing thoughts. The students of Physical Science are 
directing their attention to the consideration of the nature of fogs 
upon our coast, and an eminent observer* has discovered that they 
are either confined to a very limited area, or reach from one to two 
hundred miles, whilst none have been observed intermediate between 
these in extent. Nothing definite is known as to their immediate 
cause. The observations of Admiral Fitzroy upon the course of wind- 
currents might further detain us, but we cannot tarry any longer in the 
atmosphere, and must pass, if but for an instant, beyond its limits 
into the infinite universe, in order to direct attention to one or two 
features in Astronomical Science indicative of the character of our 
future inquiries. 
No subject has of late attracted more attention than the appli- 
cation of Photography and of Spectrum Analysis to the examination of 
the heavenly bodies. The labours of Mr. Warren de la Rue in the 
first-named subject are too well known to require comment; and 
although the latter application of physical knowledge is yet in its 
infancy, it has already made us acquainted with some of the consti- 
tuent materials of the sun, moon, and a few of the fixed stars. 
But if the advances made in Chemistry and Physics have placed the 
heavenly bodies within the reach of experimental and analytical treat- 
ment, pure Inductive Science is not on that account the less active in 
the heavens. Only recently it has been busy in our solar system, upon 
whose subordinate members new light is likely to be thrown by a 
careful observation of the so-called “spots” upon the sun’s surface. 
Here, too, the photographie art has been enlisted to perpetuate and 
confirm the results of astronomical observation. An able astronomer 
has arrived at the conclusion, that there is a connection between the 
“behaviour” of the sun’s spots and the configuration and relative 
position of the planets, and has photographed those “ spots,” for the 
purposes of comparison and inference. 
Such experiments as these, and all other matters relating to the 
progress of Astronomy, as well as to the improvement in the fabrica- 
tion of philosophical instruments already in use, or the introduction of 
new ones, will meet with a due share of our attention; and it is only 
necessary to refer to the recent introduction of Time-balls, and Time- 
* Dr. Gladstone. + Mr. Stewart, of Kew. 
