NA TURE 



[May 2, 1878 



is so, because the chemists among us are for the most 

 part silent, and chemical theory is ahiiost dead in Eng- 

 land ; indeed it would appear as if the centre of gravity 

 of this science had gone bodily eastward, and Berlin and 

 St. Petersburg now replace London and Paris so far at 

 all events as organic chemistry is concerned. 



But if the chemist has ceased to employ physical tools 

 this is made up for by those large fields of physical work 

 which are being more and more utilised by the physio- 

 logist. The introduction of physical methods into 

 biological research is one which has already borne, and 

 which will in the future bear, rich fruit, and all work of 

 one kind in this direction will be as largely modified in 

 the future by the introduction of physical methods as 

 that of another will be rendered practically a new science 

 by the generalisations of the immortal Darwin. 



All experimental science will gain by this, for each 

 branch of scientific work reacts upon all others, and while 

 in the future a physiologist who simply knows how to use 

 a microscope and a dissecting knife will be an impossi- 

 bility, physics, on the other hand, will be sure to receive 

 new methods of observation and new instruments from 

 those who have been compelled to invent them for their 

 new needs. 



We have recorded the completion of, perhaps, the 

 greatest work ever undertaken and carried to a conclusion 

 by any one man. We allude to the planetary tables, the 

 final touches of which were added by Leverrier only a 

 few hours before a death which has left a void in science 

 which it may take centuries to fill. 



The physical side of geology has attracted much atten- 

 tion during the last nine years, and it has been our 

 privilege to chronicle many investigations dealing with 

 the interior structure and heat and the probable age of our 

 planet. The facts collected by our surveyors with an 

 activity which, especially in America, has been something 

 beyond all parallel, thus find themselves supplemented 

 by theoretical views, the fitting together of which, in the 

 future, will be a work which will be second to none in 

 interest. 



Of practical applications of science made since 1869 the 

 number is legion, and some are of high order. The ad- 

 vance in navigation, perhaps, is the most striking. We 

 have not only in the way of new instruments the batho- 

 meter, a machine for taking flying soundings, and a perfect 

 compass, but also the Avhole art of navigation promises to 

 be revolutionised by the introduction of new methods. 

 One thing which all friends of science should take to 

 heart, has been abundantly established, the science most 

 applied is the science of which the theory is bound to 

 receive the greatest development. The telephone, duplex 

 telegraphy, steam fog-signals, and the application of elec- 

 tricity to lighting, must also be mentioned. 



From the prosecution of science itself we must turn 

 to some of its surrounding conditions. We have had to 

 watch, and have recorded with pleasure, the establish- 

 ment of several new societies, and the strengthening of old 

 ones since our first number was issued. Mathematicians 

 have now a strong society ; physical science is now repre- 

 sented in this way by the side of chemistry; while the latest 

 born of these societies, though by no means the least active, 

 is that devoted to mineralogy. We do not suppose the 

 coming time will see a very large increase in the number 



of these bodies, but we think that it certainly will 

 see a considerable influence of them all upon the Royal 

 Society. It would be a loss universally deplored if the 

 Royal Society were to abate one jot or tittle of its influ- 

 ence, but with active societies all round it representing 

 each branch of inquiry and at once discussing each 

 advance of knowledge in full meetings, it is difficult to 

 understand that the Royal Society may not suffer if some 

 better method than the one at present adopted of 

 providing for the reading of the multitude of papers 

 presented to it is not adopted. 



From our own English societies we once more come to 

 individuals, and here our task is a sad one. It is almost 

 impossible to name a period of nine years during 

 which death has played such havoc among men of 

 science of all nationalities. Herschel, Graham, Wheat- 

 stone, Sedgwick, Lyell, and Murchison are no more ; 

 Leverrier, the great Leverrier, has gone with Reg- 

 nault, Milne-Edwards, Claude Bernard, Becquerel, and 

 many other Frenchmen of note. America \ has lost 

 Agassiz ; Germany, Liebig, Argelander, Erdmann, 

 Mayer, and Heis ; Russia, von Baer and Madler ; Italy, 

 Secchi ; while in all countries the thinning of the ranks 

 of men of lesser note has been disastrous. We may 

 surely hope that in our new series the sad task of 

 bidding farewell to men who have done their work in 

 science may fall less frequently upon us. 



Editor 



T/I£ AMERICAN STORM WARNINGS 



THE interest excited in Europe, and particularly in 

 England and France, by the weather predictions 

 cabled by the New York Herald to its ^London Office 

 during the past year (commencing February 14, 1877) 

 proves that these warning messages are regarded aS 

 important to the interests of commerce, navigation, and 

 agriculture. The generally expressed opinion as to their 

 accuracy is a favourable one, and is justified, I believe, 

 by the fulfilment of a very large percentage. Such a 

 result of the first year's work affords me unqualified satis- 

 faction. It represents all the success I aimed to attain, 

 and much more than I hoped to win. 



I will state at the outset that the carrying out of 

 the whole project of warning the European coasts of 

 the approach of storms has depended on, and has 

 been sustained by, the munificence and generous 

 enterprise of Mr. James Gordon Bennett, the pro- 

 prietor of the New York Herald, whose encouragement 

 and support of every undertaking calculated to promote 

 the advancement of science and discovery are well 

 known and appreciated. The work accomplished so 

 far is the result of some years' study of the phenomena 

 of atmospheric movements. The deductions, therefrom, 

 I have endeavoured to reduce to a practical applica- 

 tion in these cabled weather-warnings of the New York 

 Herald. In this, I believe, a useful step has been made 

 in meteorological inquiry, which may lead to greater and 

 more definite results. 



Before February 19th, 1877, the day on which the first 

 weather warning of the New York Herald (sent on the 

 night of the 14th) was fulfilled, the question as to the 

 possibility of establishing a reliable connection between 



