

SUN-SPOT, STORM, AND FAMINE. 45 



have the influence of the solar spots asserting itself in the 

 Gazette. From the cyclic derangement of monetary and 

 mercantile matters, again, other relations also cyclic in 

 character would arise. But as all these may be inferred 

 from the cycle of cyclones once this is established, we could 

 scarcely find in their occurrence fresh evidence of the neces- 

 sity of that much begged-for solar observatory. The last 

 great monetary panic in this country, by the way, occurred 

 in 1866, at a time of minimum solar maculation. Have we 

 here a decisive proof that the sun rules the money market, 

 the bank rate of discount rising to a maximum as the sun- 

 spots sink to a minimum, and vice versa? The idea is 

 strengthened by the fact that the American panic in 1873 

 occurred when spots were very numerous, and its effects 

 have steadily subsided as the spots have diminished in 

 number ; for this shows that the sun rules the money market 

 in America on a principle diametrically opposed to that on 

 which he (manifestly) rules the money market in England, 

 precisely as the spots cause drought in Calcutta and 

 plenteous rainfall at Madras, wet south-westers and dry 

 south-westers at Oxford, and wet south-easters and dry 

 south-easters at St Petersburg. Surely it would be unreason- 

 able to refuse to recognize the weight of evidence which 

 thus tells on both sides at once. 



To return, however, to the sun's influence upon ship- 

 wrecks. 



Mr. Jeula was " only able to obtain data for two com- 

 plete cycles of eleven years, namely, from 1855 to 1876 

 inclusive, while the period investigated by Dr. Hunter ex- 

 tended from 1813 to 1876, and his observations related to 

 Madras and its neighbourhood only, while the losses posted 

 at Lloyd's occurred to vessels of various countries, and 

 happened in different parts of the world. It was necessary 

 to bring these losses to some common basis of comparison, 

 and the only available one was the number of ' British 

 registered vessels of the United Kingdom and Channel 

 Islands ' manifestly an arbitrary one. I consequently cast 



