Oct. 15, 1874] 



NATURE 



477 



of a physical connection between the condition of the sun's 

 surface, and the meteorology and magnetism of our globe. 



" In the first place, we have the observations of Sir E. 

 Sabine^ which seem to indicate a connection between 

 sun spots and magnetic disturbances, inasmuch as both 

 phenomena are periodical, and have their maxima and 

 minima at the same times. 



"On the other hand, the researches of Messrs. Baxendell 

 and Meldrum appear to indicate a relation between the 

 wind-currents of the earth and its magnetism, and also 

 between the earth's wind-currents and the state of the 

 sun's surface. 



" In the last place, the researches of iVIessrs. De la 

 Rue, Stewart, and Locwy appear to indicate a connection 

 between the behaviour of sun-spots and the positions of 

 the more prominent planets of our system. Whatever be 

 the probability of the conclusions derived from these 

 various researches, they at least show the wisdom of 

 studying together for the future these various branches of 

 observational science." 



A further report by the same committee tells us that 

 " It is not enough to obtain a record of the areas and 

 positions of the various sun-spots. The velocity of 

 cyclonic motion, the chemical nature of the outbursts, the 

 disposition and character of the facute and prominences, 

 and many other points, are, as shown by Mr. Lockyer, 

 even more characteristic of the nature of solar action than 

 the magnitude of the spotted area, and are equally worthy 

 of a careful and constant study." 



The evidence in favour of some strange and variable 

 action of the sun may, perhaps, be compared to that in 

 favour of the existence of America before that continent 

 was discovered by Columbus ; and it might have been 

 thought that in an age like the present the difficulty of 

 organising solar research would be very much less than 

 that experienced by Columbus in organising an American 

 expedition ; but this is not the case. Indeed, it is not 

 very creditable to the scientific authorities of this country 

 that they have not entered more readily into a subject of 

 this importance. From the quotations given above, our 

 readers will see that this is not the first time the subject 

 has been brought before the British Association. 



A large and influential committee, embracing in its 

 ranks many of the most distinguished members of the 

 Association, endeavoured to bring the subject before the 

 Administrative Council of that body, but did not succeed 

 in getting the Council to move in the matter, or even to 

 pronounce any opinion upon the subject. We hardly 

 think this was proper treatment of an important problem, 

 which l»d found such advocates as Col. Strange, Drs. 

 De la Rue and Joule, Messrs. Baxendell, Lockyer, and 

 Meldrum, as well as the general support of the most dis- 

 tinguished physicists of the country. 



Clearly Col. Strange is right in supposing that a'problcm 

 of this importance and extent can be properly undertaken 

 only by Government. His remarks on this subject are so 

 well put that we will report them here. Starting with 

 the fundamental axiom that private enterprise should be 

 allowed the most perfect freedom from interference or 

 competition by the State, he lays down the following 

 conditions for Government action in any scientific 

 problem : — 



(<() That the probable results of the research be bene- 

 ficial, in the widest sense of that term, to the community 

 at large, or to the various departments of the State. 



{b) That the research is too costly or commercially 



too unremunerative to be undertaken and vigorously 

 prosecuted by individuals. 



((•) That the research requires continuous, uninterrupted 

 work, extending over very long periods, and conducted by 

 systematically organised establishments. 



It will at once be seen that all these conditions apply 

 to solar research ; and the Governments of other nations 

 have already perceived the fact. Our readers arc aware 

 that the Governments of France and America have it in 

 contemplation to establish solar observatories, and a 

 recent number of this periodical informs them that the 

 German Government has already founded one on a large 

 scale, of which it is possible the illustrious Kirchhoff will 

 be the Director. 



In conclusion, as we are advocating a question of 

 reform, it is desirable that something in the shape of 

 practical suggestions should be made. Now, in the first 

 place and with reference to the great problem of Solar 

 Physics, we think that this should certainly be encouraged 

 by the establishment of a distinct central observatory 

 devoted to the purpose ; for it would be manifestly unfair 

 to our illustrious Astronomer Royal to throw upon him 

 the additional burden of an institution so very different 

 fronji that over which he now presides. 



In tlie next place, with reference to photographical 

 delineations of the solar disc, Col. Strange has made a 

 suggestion, at once so practical and simple, that we 

 cannot do better than quote his own words : — 



" With respect to sun-spot researches, it fortunately 

 happens that the photographic records need not be all 

 taken at the same station. The record of one day taken 

 in England can be combined with the record of the next 

 day taken at the other side of the globe. Hence, in order 

 to obtain this daily record it is only necessary to select a 

 certain number of stations in localities such that there 

 shall always be clear weather at one of them. India 

 offers peculiar facilities for such a selection of stations, 

 owing to the great variety of climate to be found in that 

 country during the same pHjriod of the year. Perhaps four 

 or five such stations would suffice for India, and if absolute 

 continuity of record could not be obtained by them, the 

 deficiencies could easily be made good by stations in our 

 colonial possessions." 



It is well known how slowly such things march in this 

 country ; nevertheless we look with much confidence to 

 the forthcoming report of the Royal Commission ap- 

 pointed to investigate matters of this nature, and to urge 

 upon Government such means as they consider shall tend 

 to the advancement of science and to the good of the 

 country. Balfour Stewart 



VAN DER WAALS ON THE CONTINUITY OF 



THE GASEOUS AND LI<2UID STATES 

 ver dc continuitcit van den gas- en vlot'isfofloeitaiid. 

 AcadciniscJi piocfschrifl. Door Johannes Diderik van 

 der Waals. (Leiden : A. W. Sijthoff, 1S73.) 

 '"pHAT the same substance at the same temperature 

 -L and pressure can exist in two very different states, 

 as a liquid and as a gas, is a fact of the highest scientific 

 importance, for it is only by the careful study of the 

 difference between these, two states, the conditions of the 

 substance passing from one to the other, and the pheno- 

 mena which occur at the ^surface which separates a liquid 

 from its vapour, that we can expect to obtain a dynamical 



