112 Literary Notice* 



meteorologists ought to take courage from this error in calcu- 

 lation, and rather encourage than censure the attempt made 

 to bring meteorology within demonstrable limits. 



Mr. Murphy still feels a confidence that the second period 

 of frost indicated by him (p. 56.) will still be borne out; viz. 

 Jan. 22. and following days. 



The science of meteorology is at present but in its infancy, 

 compared with astronomy, chemistry, &c. ; and, therefore, it 

 becomes imperative on observers to be very minute in regis- 

 tering facts in connexion with lunar influence, in order that 

 the lunar action on the weather may be fully developed, not 

 through the quadratures of a single lunation only, but through 

 every lunar period during the year. It will then be seen 

 whether periods of heat and cold, drought or humidity, con- 

 stantly refer to the periods of new or full moon, or the 

 quadratures, or whether their changes are not referable to 

 some other agency. 



I ought, in conclusion, to observe that Mr. Murphy still 

 believes that the calculation he made for this hemisphere will 

 be borne out, both as to dates and circumstances, in the 

 western hemisphere ; from which he wishes to demonstrate that 

 "lunar action is an active agency in the production of atmo- 

 spheric cold equally as of heat." Time alone can put us in 

 possession of the fulfilment of these as well as other pro- 

 phecies.— W. H. JVhite. London, Jan. 16. 1837. 



[We do not apprehend, with Mr. White, that any great 

 sensation will be excited among meteorologists in consequence 

 of Mr. Patrick Murphy's " unlucky hit." If it be the wish 

 of the present members that the Meteorological Society should 

 have any pretension to the character of a scientific body, they 

 will have nothing to do with such foolish twaddle as 

 (judging from the above letter) Mr. Murphy's " anticipations 

 of the weather twelve months in advance " appear to consist 

 of. — Ed.-] 



Art. II. Literary Notice. 



The second and concluding volume of H. C. Watson's 

 New Botanist's Guide, containing Scotland and the adjacent 

 Isles, with a copious Supplement to England and Wales, will 

 be published in March. 



