62 THE YEAR. 



derstood is the obliquity of the moon's orbit. That 

 intersects the orbit of the earth in two points called 

 the nodes ; and extends to about 5 on each side of it. 

 The orbit has a motion, in consequence of which the 

 new and full moons happen in all parts of it with re- 

 ference to the nodes. If the new moon be sufficiently 

 near the node, it comes between the sun and earth, 

 and eclipses the sun, and if the full moon happen near 

 enough to the node, it passes through the shadow of 

 the earth and is eclipsed. The nearer the node the 

 moon is at those times, the more nearly will the 

 two luminaries be to acting upon the same point ; and 

 therefore, though an eclipse has no more to do with 

 the fortunes of individuals or the fate of nations, than 

 the rising or setting of the sun, it may, if the other 

 disposing circumstances occur along with it, be a prog- 

 nostic of a high tide, or a change of the weather, as 

 from every material cause requiring some time to pro- 

 duce its effect, the greatest height of tide, and the 

 maximum of atmospheric disturbance take place some 

 time after the conjunction or the opposition of the sun 

 and moon. 



But besides being near the node at the new or full 

 moon, the moon may, at those times, be at the greatest 

 distance from it; and therefore, at the solstices, when 

 the two tides are at the greatest distance north and 

 south of each other, they may be removed ten degrees 

 more asunder; or may be upon the parallel of 28 28' 

 in both hemispheres. When that is the case, there is 

 only one tide in the twenty-four hours in the high 

 latitudes, the evening one if it is new moon, and the 

 morning one if full. When the declination of the 



