LUNAR INFLUENCES. 423 



moon, wliich acts so powerfully as a perturbing force on the tides, 

 should not also agitate tlie atmosphere with a corresponding recipro- 

 cation it is imreasonable to question." Sir W. Herschel, on the 

 contrary, remarks as follows : " The moon is often appealed to as a 

 great indicator of the weather, and especially its changes as taken in 

 conjunction with some existing state of wind or sky. As an attracting 

 body causing an aerial tide, it has, of coiirse, an effect; but one 

 utterly insignificant as a meterological cause, and the only effect 

 distinctly connected with its position with regard to the sun which 

 can be reckoned upon with any degree of certainty is its tendency to 

 clear the sky of cloud, and to produce not only a serene, but a calm 

 night, when so near the full as to appear round to the eye, a tendency 

 of which we have assured ourselves by long continued and registered 

 observation. The effect in question, so far as the clearance of the 

 sky is concerned, is traceable to a distinct physical cause : the warmth 

 radiated from its highly heated surface; though why the effect should 

 not continue several nights after the full, remains problematic." 



Dr. Lardner, in his " Lectures on Science and Art," New York, 

 1846, has entered largely upon the subject. "Two ways," says he, 

 " of enquiring, theory and fact, are the only methods of legitimate 

 enquiry. Present state of physical science not equal to the first, 

 and the latter defective from the want of reliable and lo3ig continued 

 observations." The great advance Vvrldch is now taking place in most 

 civilized countries in tlie diffiision of meteorological enquiry will no 

 doubt do much for the solution of this and other problems. In 

 Canada, for instance, we may specify effect produced by clearing 

 on temperature and agricultiu-e generally, cause of January thaw, 

 Indian summer, subject of cycles, with many other interesting 

 topics of enquiry, which nothing less than sedulous and lon^ 

 continued observations, canied on through the length and breadth 

 of the land can determine We, of the present genertition, must 

 content ourselves with carrying the hod, hewing the stone, and 

 providing materials for the temple of Science, without which the 

 genius of the designer and architect will be of no avail. Had 

 meteorology, like astronomy, been blessed with the labours of an 

 Hipparchus or Ptolemy, wo should not now be subject to those errors 

 and dekisions, especially as to the climate of this our country, which 

 Lave produced so evil an effect upon its onward progress. But when 

 •we reflect that it is only a few years since the ordinary meteoro- 



