372 Catalogue of Works on Gaidetiing, Sfc. 



stances in the atmospheres of the others, by their angular positions. This 

 theory has taken the name of Astral Theory, and is ably advocated by Zadkiel 

 and Simmonite, the two Astral champions of the present day. 



The Astral Theory, or Astro-meteorology, is founded upon certain influences, 

 which celeatial bodies are found by observation to have upon terrestrial matter, 

 or rather upon the gaseous suhstanees contained in the earth's atmosphere. 

 Now, it would seem impossible for bodies, placed at such immense distances 

 from the earth as the planetary bodies are, to have any influence at all upon 

 the gases of the atmosphere, if space were a complete vacuum ; but modern 

 philosophy teaches us that space is filled with a rare and imperceptible fluid, 

 which extends itself over all nature; pervades all space, and enters freely into 

 all bodies ; — its nature is analogous to the electrical fluid, — or electricity, in 

 the common acceptation of the term, — and hence it forms a medium through 

 which communication is effected between distant bodies of the universe. As 

 this connecting medium is extremely rare, and as the planetary bodies fly 

 through space with an amazing velocity, it is very easy to conceive that a 

 wave-like motion may be given to this subtle fluid, which motion will continue, 

 like the waves made in still water by agitation, following each other in rapid 

 succession till impeded by coming in contact with a denser medium; thatjs, by 

 the atmospheres of the different planetary bodies which are constantly and 

 imiformly traversing space, with various velocities, of various magnitudes, 

 densities, and specific gravities ; hence, then, we may readily conceive the 

 electricity of our atmosphere to become agitated, and that agitation to pro- 

 duce those varied results we witness from day to da^', nay, from hour to hour, 

 either in the change of temperature or pressure, the change in the direction and 

 force of the wind, — and to the same source, too, may be traced the fertilising 

 shower, the refreshing dew, the gentle zephyr, the pinching frost, the de- 

 structive storm, and the overwhelming hurricane, all, all are results of these 

 powerful electrical agents. 



" Having dwelt very largely on the astral theory, I will now briefly glance at 

 another theory in name, but indentical with the astral theory in operation and 

 result. I allude to the electrical theory, as found in the Atmospheric Almanac *, 

 a work which professes to have calculated the changes of the weather upon the 

 theory of an iiniversal electric action, induced through the agency of the sun and 

 moon. This theory is founded upon the sun and moon being the only external 

 causes, but that geological locality and physical position, or, in other words, 

 the earth ^5(?r 5ff, is a mighty cooperating agent in their production. Now, I 

 am willing to grant these positions to the electrical theory, but still we find 

 such deviations from that regular series of results that would be induced by 

 the sun and moon only, and the earth jyer se, that we are tempted to look for 

 other agents which may have their portion in the great work of atmospheric 

 changes ; and, as each planet is but a fraction of the whole unit of our solar 

 system, we cannot suppose that any portion can be useless in preserving the 

 exact order of the whole machine, any more than we can part with a single 

 finger without mutilating the whole hand : I am, therefore, strongly inclined 

 to think that the author of the Atmospheric Almanac has taken into his calcu- 

 lations the influences of the planets, although he will not avow it ; my reason 

 for thus thinking is, that most of his storm j^eriods occur at those very periods 

 when there are many planetary aspects formed, — hence, if the sun, moon, 

 and earth, alone are capable of affording a solution of all the problems relating 

 to atmospheric phenomena, then is the astral theory fallacious and un- 

 scientific ; but if there be phenomena which the electrical theory cannot 

 satisfactorily account for, and that the astral theory will clearly demonstrate, 

 then is the electric theory correct only in part, and as a whole cannot be 

 received." 



* By John Russell Ilinde, Esq. 



