2/0 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



been thus far fortunate, so that sons of hers have made 

 the nearest approach as well to the Arctic as to the 

 Antarctic pole, and because Germany, Sweden, and the 

 United States seem likely to send their ships as near or 

 nearer to either pole, therefore England should send 

 out an expedition to forestall the seamen of those coun- 

 tries. A better reason should be given for expeditions 

 into the dangerous polar regions ; and such a reason 

 has been found, we think, in the scientific interest and 

 value of such voyages.* 



* I would venture, however, to speak somewhat earnestly in oppo- 

 sition to the attempt which has been made to attach meteorological 

 importance to polar voyages in connection with solar observations. A 

 persistent effort has recently been made to show that, by the study of 

 the sun, an answer may be given to the long- vexed question whether 

 the weather can be predicted ; and assertions have been very confidently 

 made as to successes already achieved in this inquiry. It cannot be too 

 strongly insisted that there is nothing to encourage the hope of such 

 success, or rather, that there is every reason to feel assured that no 

 success can be obtained. It has been shown, indeed, that in a certain 

 eubtle way, and by no means to an important degree, rainfall is 

 associated with the great cycle of solar spot changes. It has also been 

 shown that probably the hurricanes of tropical regions are somewhat 

 more numerous during the periods of great solar disturbance than at 

 other times. Moreover, terrestrial magnetical disturbances are con- 

 nected with solar disturbances, and are known to be more numerous 

 during periods of sun-spot frequency than at other times. That a 

 connection should thus have been traced between terrestrial phenomena 

 and the most marked of all the cyclic changes affecting the sun's surface 

 is not surprising. But so far is the circumstance from encouraging the 

 hope to which I have referred, that it is altogether discouraging, and 

 indeed seems to negative absolutely all hopes of success in forming any 

 weather presages from the study of the sun's surface. For be it noticed, 

 that not one of these effects gives us any absolute information as to the 

 weather, either as respects rainfall, wind, or magnetical phenomena. 

 We only know that probably there will be more or less rainfall with 

 certain winds, a greater average annual number of hurricanes, and an 

 excess of magnetical activity on the whole. Such information is all but 



