1882.] 
397 
On the Application of Solar Physics . 
superior ideal. They should revert to the ancient idolatries 
which worshipped bulls and snakes and beetles, in temples 
erected to their honour. 
IV. ON THE APPLICATION OF SOLAR 
PHYSICS. 
By A. H. Swinton, 
(Sj|)ARON VON HUMBOLDT complained of Sir John 
MpD Herschel that, as usual, that distinguished astronomer 
had pursued his investigations independently of 
others; and the retort of the British press has been — What 
a pity it was that the distinguished Baron should have 
spent so many years in the prime of life working up his 
travels and researches. We may draw, I think, from this 
the conclusion that the happy mean, as regards philosophical 
research will be found to lie between the two aphorisms — ori- 
ginal investigation means progress, but original investigation 
is enhanced in its value when it is referred to its place in the 
archives of the past. I propose at the present time, then, to take 
a somewhat wider glance over the domain of Solar Physics, and 
at the same time to discuss a much-vexed topic that lies at 
the root of the inquiry. With the assistance of a ready 
reference to be found in a pamphlet entitled “ Ueber die 
Beziehungen der Sonnenflecken-periode zu Meteorologischen 
Erscheinungen,” von D. F. G. Hahn, and an article on Sun- 
Spots and Famines, by Messrs. Norman Lockyer and J. 
Hunter, contained in the “ Nineteenth Century ” for 1877, I 
was lately enabled to systematically turn over a very consi- 
derable portion of the recent sun-spot literature that has 
taken shape of late years in the “ Philosophical Transactions,” 
“Nature,” the “Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical So- 
ciety,” and some few of the meteorological journals. I 
likewise found that more papers were to be had in “ Silli- 
man’s J ournal,” and other American publications. As regards 
Germany, I was referred to the “ Berichte der Koniglich 
Sachsischen Gesellschaft, der Wissenschaft ” ; and as regards 
Switzerland, to the “ Astronomische Mittheilungen,” and 
