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XXV. Ldler to the Editor of the Phihfophlcal Magazinf. 

 Refpefted Friend, 



J- H E fubjoined paper has appeared to me, on perufal, 

 fufficienilv interelling to deferve publication in the Philofo- 

 phical Magazine. It is another proof (which I was not 

 poflefl'ed of at the time my elVay on the fame fuhjeiSt ap- 

 peared) of the attention which this queflion had obtained on 

 the continent; and as, notwithftanding a confiderable fimi- 

 larily in the introduftory part, our inquiries appear to have 

 been direfted to diftinft though clofcly-conneited branches 

 of the fubjeft, each of thefe papers may prove to the reader a 

 ufeful commentary on the other. The infcrlion of it will 

 therefore be acceptable to 



Thy Friend, 

 Plai.low, 1 6rh of the Tenth Month, looi- L. HoWARD. 



On the Injiuence ivhich the S7in has on the State of the 

 Barometer. By J. J. Hem ME R *. 



WHEN philofophy, in modern times, emerged from that 

 lamentable itate of darkncfs in whicli it was for fo many years 

 involved, and philoibphers employed the more rational and 

 certain way of obfervation and experience for examining; the 

 nature of things, all the aHertionsand opinions of the antients 

 rcfpefting the influence of the heavenly bodies were fubje£led 

 to more accurate inveftigation. Some, as being contrary to 

 experience, were totally rejected; others were retained, and 

 placed beyond all doubt, as they evidently coincided with 

 nature ; and others were claflled among uncertainties, as ex- 

 perience furnifhed nothing decilive for or againd thern. 

 Among the number of the latter, according to moll modem 

 philofophers, is the opinion that a part of the wonderful va- 

 riations which we obferve in the barometer are to be afcribcd 

 to the efTecfs of the fun and moon, and other heavenly bo- 

 dies. This opinion, indeed, after a long ferics of experiments 

 and refearches, ajipeared to Pafcal, Garcin, VVallis, llalley, 

 De la Hire, Mariotte, Woodward, Leibnitz, Mairon, Ber- 

 noulli, Mufchcnbroek, De Luc, &c. fo litde fupported by 

 proofs drawn from nature, that they did not think proper to 

 mention it. This, however, is much to be wondered at in 

 rcirard to De Luc, as he fays in his work on the atmofphere, 

 tliat it is attraiiled with more or Icfs force by the planets, ac- 

 cording to their diflcrenl diltances. 



* From the '/ranjii^ions of the EleHoral Academy of Sciences at Erfurt, 

 vol. vi. 



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