290 Mr. Sturgeon in reply to Mr. Bevari, 



instead of saying azimuth S. 47° 20' E. as is usually done, I 

 would express it thus, azimuth 4'7° 20' SE. 



While on the subject of Astronomy, let me notice the strange 

 anomaly that one planet of the solar system should have a 

 name which does not harmonize with those of the others, all 

 of which are taken from the heathen mythology; the conse- 

 quence is, that it is named differently by different authors, be- 

 ing called in turn the Georgium Sidus, the Georgian, Uranus, 

 and Herschel. Now as this planet was a British discovery, 

 and made at a period when the naval achievements of England 

 might jusdy entitle her to assume that the god of the ocean 

 presided over her destiny, ought she not with gratitude believe 

 that the deity, which then for the first time revealed himself 

 to her admiration, could be no other than Neptune? Should 

 this name be thought appropriate, the astronomical character 

 of the planet might be made to resemble that of Mars, merely 

 substituting the trident for the spear, 



I have thrown out these few hints sir, in the hope, that the 

 subject will attract the notice of some abler pen, or that it will 

 be taken up by some scientific body of men, whose authority 

 would ensure currency to such new terms as they might de- 

 cide upon. 



I am, sir, yours, &c. 

 April 25, 18^5. M. Smith. 



XLIX. Mr. Sturgeon on the Came oftheEatih's Motion : 

 in reply to Mr. Be van. 



WE have received a communication from Mr. Sturgeon, 

 relative to Mr. Bevan's letter in our last, from which we 

 give an extract. 



" I feel no astonishment at the similarity of opinion enter- 

 tained by Mr. W. Herapath and myself respecting the cause 

 of the rotary motion of the earth ; for the same idea has struck 

 several gentlemen to whom I have exhibited electro-magnetic 

 experiments. 



" Priority of o/3/«?o« would at all times be a difficult task to 

 discover ; but for priority in the support of opinion, when ac- 

 complished by the test of successful experiment, I presume 

 that Mr. W. Herapath's friend cannot in the present case 

 put in any just claim. If, however, a more early date than 

 that of my last paper, which I consider satisfactory on the 

 subject, be recjuired, I must refer those gentlemen to another, 

 dated Feb. 16th, 1824', in the postscript of which will be 

 found something relative to my rotating sphere. I am not 

 aware that any such exjierinients have yet been accomplished 



by 



