C 219 ] 



XLVIII. Strictures on Dr. Young's anclLx Place's Theories 

 of the Tides. In a Letter to Dr. Young. By Cap- 

 tain FORMAN, R.N. 



Sir, 



IB EG leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 

 February 6th, 1823, m which I am informed, " that the 

 Board of Longitude sees no reason to alter its sentiments re- 

 specting my theory' * ; and that the Board considers it as un- 

 necessary to give me the trouble of a personal attendance at. 

 any of its meetings." 



'Now, Sir, under correction, I submit, that, if tlie members 

 of the Board of Longitude had really vvislied to ascertain 

 whether my Theory of the Tides was well founded, their best 

 plan would have been to have permitted me to have been pre- 

 sent at the time of its discussion, in order to give me the o\>- 

 portunity of explaining those parts of it tliat might have re- 

 quired explanation, and of replying to any objections that 

 mio-ht have been brought against it. This, Sir, would at least 

 have looked like sincerity, and have taken from me all right 

 to complain ; but as you will neither afford me this opportu- 

 nity of explaining my hypothesis, nor condescend to inform 

 me upon what grounds you found your objections, the only al- 

 ternative that is left me is to compare my theory with the one 

 that is most in vogue at present ; and if I can make it appear, 

 that the necessary and achiowledged consequences of the lat- 

 ter are at variance with facts, I expect that the Board of Lon- 

 gitude will embrace the opportunity of proving its impartiality 

 and love of justice, by pronouncing this theory to be ill-found- 

 ed also. 



I have now before me the first volume of your " Lectures on 

 Natural Philosophy;" and as you have referred to La Place's 

 opinions, witliout pointing out any material difference in your 

 sentiments, it is fiiir to consider both theories as substantially 

 the same ; and consequently the same arguments Uiat are suf- 

 ficient to prove your theory ill-founded, must be equally effi- 

 cacious when applied to the other. The grand feature m both 

 your theories is, that the tides, which visit our coasts, and in- 

 deed all the coasts of the Adantic, come from the Southern 

 ocean ; and the only difference in your opinions, at le^ast so far 

 as concerns the jiroduction of the derivative tides, is, that you 

 sujipose the original wave, from whence this tide is derived, 

 moves at die rate of about five hundred miles an hour, and 

 reaches the port of Brest about twelve hours after it has en- 



• Which was icfciTCd, In thp Board of Adminilty, to the Board of Lon- 

 gitude, ami iiroiiouiited hy the hitter to be ili-foundcil. 



E c 2 tertd 



