Now Prof. Balfour Stewart says, in the communication in 
question, “ Sometimes we have very hot days and cold nights 
in which the diurnal temperature range is very great, and 
these are succeeded by close rainy weather in which the 
diurnal temperature oscillation is very small. In like man- 
ner we have sometimes a very large, and at other times a 
comparatively small, diurnal oscillation of the magnetic 
needle ; so that it also is affected by the influence of a mag- 
netic weather.” He then shows, by a Table, that the diurnal 
oscillation or declination of the needle corresponds in this 
country to the weather or range of temperature that may be 
expected to arrive six or seven days afterwards. As a reason 
for this he adduces evidence that the temperature range 
weather, when once produced, travels from west to east, 
taking probably on an average eight or nine days to cross 
the Atlantic ; and that there is also evidence to show that 
the declination range weather travels likewise from west to 
east, but quicker than the temperature range weather, taking 
about two days to cross the Atlantic. 
The conjecture is not remote if we follow the reasoning 
here suggested, that the fine and dull weather we experience 
on this planet vacillates as the spots come and go on the 
sun’s photosphere ; and if the weather, may it not be that 
the storms do so likewise ? Now at the moment of writing 
a circumstance has occurred that would certainly lend 
colour to such a conjecture. On the 18th of November, 
1882, a huge spot was seen on the face of the sun ; on the 
22nd of the same month warning came from New York that 
a dangerous disturbance would arrive on the British and 
Norwegian coasts between the 24th and 26th, attended with 
gales, snow, and rain. As I am now writing, on the 27th 
of November, wind, snow, and rain are holding jubilee, and 
raving about the sun-spot. Have we here any true con 
nexion, or merely a coincidence ? 
