352 Address of Sir Wm. Thomson at the Glasgow Meeting. 
north latitude and east longitude, and south latitude and west 
longitude, with equal depressions in the other two quarters, 
amounting at greatest to 10 centimeters, and graduating regu- 
larly from the points of maximum elevation to the points of 
maximum depression in the middles of the four quarters, would 
shift the earth’s axis of maximum moment of inertia through 
1” on the north side towards the meridian of 90° W. longitude, 
and on the south side towards the meridian of 90° E. longitude. 
If such a change were to take place suddenly, the earth’s in- 
stantaneous axis would experience a sudden shifting of but 1,” 
(which we may neglect) and then, relatively to the earth, would 
commence traveling, in a period of 806 days, round the fresh 
axis of maximum moment of inertia. The sea would be set 
great angular separation between the instantaneous (ine 
axis of maximum moment of inertia for the time being. 
fs 10 e 
nal sections of the sea-level, we need no brush 1 tite 
Comets tail,a wholly chimerical cause which can neve 
by Capt. Clarke at about ;', of the mean ellipticity 2 4 
megeny | 
