312 



Utility of the Syniinesometfr 



clouds were there, the indications were always false, the lightning beirsg 

 caused hy the discharge of the electric fluid from one of these to the 

 other, whereas in the first case, it seeiKs as if some disturbance in the 

 usual state of the electricity of the atmosphere was taking place, de- 

 pendant on the effects of currents of air. Here again we are all in douLt 

 and darkness, for we know little of any thing of the correct agency of 

 electricity in meteorology ; there is a wide field open for ifivestigations 

 connected with it, and a few hints are even a] ready given us of the im- 

 portant part it plays in several of our atmospheric phenomena. The in- 

 dications of wind from the appearance of meteors, I found invariably 

 false, although the sailors placed considerable dependance upon them. 

 The appearance of cirri, or Grey Mare's tails in the sky, told us to ex- 

 pect wind, and indeed from their appearance, it is natural to conclude^ 

 they are under the influence of the currents in their own regions, which 

 may soon be expected to aiTect ours. The cirro-cmnuli were usually 

 apparent in settled, and fine w-eather. Some attention was paid to the 

 old, and long established prejudice, in regard to the moon's effect on the 

 -weather. The impossibility of explaining this influence satisfactorily, 

 naturally induces scepticism as to its actual existence, and since there is 

 no method of proving whether the moon actually does, or does rot afi'ect 

 the weather, except by long, and careful observations, conducted by men 

 acquainted v/ith science, and unprejudiced in their views, we must cast 

 aside opinions, hov»^ever hallowed by the lapse of time, and base 

 our conclusions on facts and facts alone. Experience seems de- 

 cidedly to uphold the doctrine, but the Cjuestion occurs — if so, 

 how does ihe moon act ? Tabulated observations indicate slight di- 

 urnal tides in the atmosphere, which we w^ould be led to anticipate, from 

 the action of gravitation, but as to what are the secondary laws, by 

 which the moon exercises such an extensive sway over the weather, it 

 is difficult to say. Her electric influence is scarcely sensible to the most 

 delicate instruments, and indeed, so much difliculty altends our search 

 for the cause of her influence, that we are inclined to consider the w'hole 

 as a deep rooted, though certainly useful prejudice ; the existence of which 

 proves the low ebb of ihe science of meteorology. ■ 



That this apparently most capricious, because to us incomprehensi- 

 ble, branch of natural science, is governed by similar regular laws, to 

 those -which have been impressed on every sister science, there can be 

 no doubt; it is our ignorance only which turns order into disorder, beauty 

 into confusion. The human mind, even when gifted wdth very extensive 

 powers, when it has mjany marked phenomena presented to its view, 

 rinds it difiicult. almost impossible, to rest satisfied till some cause has 



