238 



NATURE 



[Jan. 13, 1 88 1 



the meteorology and magnetism of the earth, and if so, 

 does an increase of spotted area denote an increase of 

 solar activity, or the reverse ? 



This question, I have already remarked, seems to be 

 rapidly emerging from the realms of mere conjecture. 

 But there is still another question, for we have to inquire 

 whether these recognised solar inequalities bear all or 

 any of the marks of a true periodicity. Now this is 

 still sub jitdice, while at the same time it is a point of 

 very great practical importance. For if the solar ine- 

 qualities be found on investigation to present none of the 

 marks of a true periodicity, we can hardly hope ever to 

 be able to hazard a prediction regarding the state of the 

 sun, and our knowledge of the eleven-yearly period, as it 

 is called, will continue to remain very much the same as 

 at present. But on the other hand, if we find that there 

 are true solar periods and succeed in disentangling them, 

 we may hope to arrive at some measure of predicting 

 power. As I have said, this question is still unsettled, 

 and will of course present itself in different ways to dif- 

 ferent observers. Meanwhile all we can do is to observe 

 and register the actual state of the sun's surface, and 

 inasmuch as the meteorological occurrences of greatest 

 practical issue do not precede but follow solar phenomena 

 by several months or more, we may thus arrive at a limited 

 amount of practical prevision. 



I do not however feel sure that the method of doing 

 this which Mr. Chambers has indicated is in reality the 

 best, for I should imagine that unexceptionable observa- 

 tions of the sun's intrinsic heat-giving power, if these 

 could be obtained, would furnish a more trustworthy 

 instrument of prevision than the sun-spot record. 



Then with regard to indirect observations. No doubt 

 those of the barometer are very immediately connected 

 with the occurrences which we wish to foresee, but yet I 

 think it possible that well-selected magnetic observations 

 might ultimately be found to follow more quickly upon 

 solar changes as well as to indicate with a less amount of 

 local influence the true state of the sun. 



These however are points that can only be settled by 

 future research. Meanwhile it is e.\tremely gratifying to 

 all who take an interest in this subject to reflect that it is 

 engrossing the attention of observers in all parts of the 

 world. Balfour Stewart 



LIFE OF LIVINGSTONE 

 TJie Personal Life of David Livingstone, LL.D., D.C.L. 

 Chiefly from his Unpublished fonrnals and Correspond- 

 ence in /he Possession of his Family. By William 

 Garden Blaikie, D.D., LL.D., New College, Edin- 

 burgh. Portrait and Map. (London: Murray, iSSo.) 

 WHEN the news of Livingstone's sad death on the 

 swampy shore of Lake Bangweolo reached this 

 country, and when his body was brought home by his 

 faithful followers to be honoured as the nation honours its 

 greatest and best ; and again on the publication of his 

 "Last Journals," we spoke in some detail of the great 

 work he accomplished, and expressed our opinion as to 

 the position which that work had earned for him. The 

 years that have elapsed since Livingstone died at his 

 post have only confirmed the judgment of the nation ; 

 and now that Dr. Blai'<ie's admirably-compiled " Personal 



Life " enables us to fill up the portrait, it will be seen that 

 the man was as great as his work. Necessarily the mis- 

 sionary and religious side of Livingstone's character and 

 work occupies a large place in this volume ; this was to 

 be expected from a writer who is a prominent leader in 

 the Free Church of Scotland. But we do not think there 

 is any excess in this direction ; these were genuine and 

 ever-present aspects of the character of the man, and Dr. 

 Blaikie does not give them place at the expense of any 

 other feature. He has honestly endeavoured to give us a 

 complete portrait of his hero, and in this we think he has 

 decidedly succeeded. Simplicity and transparency were 

 marked features in Livingstone's character from first to 

 last ; delight in simple joys, a boyish Jove of fun, tender 

 ness of heart and all-embracing charity, strong natural 

 affection, the yearnings of which he could and did sacri- 

 fice to his still stronger sense of duty, the whole dominated 

 by an all-conquering determination and perseverance in 

 accomplishing the work which he believed was " given 

 him to do." This is the impression which Dr. Blaikie's 

 " Personal Life" gives, and in this it only confirms the 

 impression which is conveyed by a study of Livingstone's 

 own narratives. 



Dr. Blaikie, however, tells us many things which must be 

 new to most of those who knew Livingstone only through 

 his works. We learn here how well qualified he was for 

 the work which from early years he seems to have set 

 before himself Livingstone came of a good stock, which, 

 though humble, knew of and had some pride in its 

 ancestry. One ancestor fought at CuUoden on the side 

 of Prince Charlie, for on the mother's side he had some 

 Highland blood in his veins. But the impulsive and sad 

 temperament of the Celt was considerably modified by 

 the practical and hopeful features of the Teutonic blood 

 of his father. The latter was a type of the devout, 

 rigidly honest, intelligent, and comparatively well-read, 

 humble Scotchman, while the mother held the love and 

 respect of her son to the end of her life. The family were 

 poor, and all had to work hard ; and early in life young 

 Livingstone had to begin to earn his living in a cotton- 

 mill at Blantyre, near Glasgow, where he was born March 

 19, 1 81 3. With his first wages he bought a copy of 

 Ruddiman's "Latin Rudiments," and thus early, it is 

 evident, his aspirations went beyond the cotton-mill. His 

 hours were long, but while attending to his "jenny," and 

 till late at night, after his day's work was over, he conned 

 his Ruddiman and other books to qualify himself for a 

 L'niversity course. His thirst for reading was great, and 

 he devoured all the books that came w-ithin his reach. 

 Natural science also had its attractions for him, which 

 he indulged by scouring the country when he had time 

 in search of natural histoiy specimens. Dr. Blaikie tells 

 of Livingstone's "conversion" when he was a young 

 man. This, in his case, means that what was instinctive 

 action became thenceforth settled and conscious pur- 

 pose. It was doubtless a proud day both for father and 

 son when the former walked with the latter to Glasgow to 

 see him settled in a humble lodging in order that he might 

 attend the classes at Anderson's College. Livingstone 

 never intended to be a clerical missionary ; medicine was 

 the subject of his study in Glasgow, and it was as a 

 medical missionary he intended to accomplish the work 

 of his life. It was only to please his friends and the 



