470 SPECIAL METHODS OF DISCOVERY. 



of these solar phenomena. It is well known that disturb- 

 ances of the magnetism and meteorology of the earth 

 are their concomitants. Well, we must try to find out 

 whether such disturbances are caused by the solar out- 

 breaks, or whether both are effects due to some common 

 but unknown cause. Then, with regard to the moon, it 

 will be necessary to investigate fully the nature of her 

 action on meteorology and magnetism, and to ascertain 

 whether this action is independent, or has reference to 

 the position of the sun and to the state of his surface.' 

 ' It ought here to be mentioned that the above list em- 

 braces only those prominent researches that have occurred 

 to the writer of these remarks, and that if observations be 

 thrown open and research encouraged, the dimensions of 

 such a list would be almost indefinitely increased. And I 

 will here repeat that it is only by carrying out such 

 researches as those suggested that we can ever hope to 

 raise meteorology to the rank of a true science.' 



CHAPTER LII. 



DISCOVERY BY THE USE OF NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENTS. 



THERE is scarcely any method which has led to so 

 many varied and new discoveries as this. The use of 

 new instruments, and of improved ones, has disclosed to 

 us an immense amount of new knowledge. All kinds of 

 apparatus for generating, accumulating, directing, con- 

 centrating, maintaining, communicating, distributing, re- 

 gulating, detecting and measuring substances, forces, or 

 their effects, have yielded by their employment new dis- 

 coveries ; and we may take it as usually true, that as 

 every substance, and every different combination of matter 



