168 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



is flowing fastest in the Channel. This was first 

 brought to light by Admiral Beechey. 



I wish I had time to show the similar theory 

 as to the tides in the Irish Channel. The water 

 runs up the English Channel to Dover, and up 

 the Irish Channel to fill up the basin round the 

 Isle of Man. Take the northern mouth of the 

 Irish Channel between the Mull of Cantire and 

 the north-east coast of Ireland. The water rushes 

 in through the straits between Cantire and Rathlin 

 Island, to fill up the Bay of Liverpool and the 

 great area of water round the Isle of Man. This 

 tidal wave entering from the north, running south- 

 ward through the Channel, meets in the Liverpool 

 basin with the tidal stream coming from the 

 south entrance, and causes the time of high 

 water at Liverpool to be within half-an-hour of 

 the time of no currents in the northern and 

 southern parts of the Channel. 



I would like to read you the late Astronomer- 

 Royal's appreciation of Laplace's splendid work 

 on the tides. 



Airy says of Laplace : " If now, putting from 



