222 
AN INI’ERESTING PAPER ON ELECTRICAL THEORY. 
as compared with 
Royal Society, are 
Nocturnal falling 
minimum tide from 
10—11 p.M. to 4—5 
A.M. 
Poonah — ’OlSl 
Royal Society — ‘0162 
Diurnal rising tide 
from 4 — 5 A.M. to 9 — 
10 A.M. 
Poonah + *0445 
observations at the 
Diurnal maximum 
falling tide from 9 — 10 
A.M. to 4 — 5 p.M. 
Poonah .... — •1166 
Royal Society — ‘0289 
Nocturnal maximum 
rising tide from 4 — 5 
p.M. to 10 — 11 p.M. 
Poonah 4- ’0884 
Royal Society 4“ •0185'Royal Soeiety-f- *0272 
These tides occur within the same limited 
hours as in America and Europe, the greatest 
mean diurnal oscillations taking place in 
the coldest months, and the smallest tides 
in the damp months of the monsoon ; while 
at Madras the smallest oscillations are in the 
hottest months, and in Europe it is supposed 
the smallest oscillations are in the coldest 
months. The diurnal and nocturnal tides 
are regular whatever the thermometric or 
hygrometric indications may be, or what- 
ever the state of the weather; storms and 
hurricanes only modifying them. The mean 
diurnal oscillations at Poonah, 1,823 feet 
high, are greater than at Madras. At a 
higher level than Poonah, the diurnal tides 
were less, while the nocturnal tides were 
greater. The maximum mean pressure of 
the atmosphere is greatest in December or 
January, then gradually diminishing until 
July or August, and subsequently increasing 
to the coldest months. The annual range 
of the thermometer is less in Dukhun than 
in Europe, but the diurnal range is much 
greater. The annual mean dew point is 
higher at 9^^ 30’ than at sunrise or 4 p.m. 
The highest dewpoints occur in the monsoon, 
the lowest in the cold months. The rain in 
Dukhun is only 28 per cent, of the rain in 
Bombay (Records, vol. i. p. 291.) ninety or 
a hundred miles to the east. Fogs are rare, 
and are always dissipated by 9 — 10 a.m. 
Circular and white rainbows occur ; solar 
radiation is very great; the atmosphere is 
very opaque in hot weather, and the mirage 
is distinct . — Records of Science. 
ELECTRICAL THEORY OF THE 
UNIVERSE. BY Mr. THOMAS S, 
MACKINTOSH. 
We beg to call the attention of our rea- 
ders to the following paper by Mr. Mack- 
intosh. It is our intention to continue the 
subject in every number. 
The whole economy of nature, so far as 
we know, is guided by one general prin- 
ciple — production, destruction, and repro- 
duction. 'Throughout animated natui’e this 
rule holds without exception — “ one- genera- 
tion passeth away and another cometh,^’ — 
nothing is stationary— all is in a state of 
progression. 'I'he rule holds with the same 
force in vegetable life ; and in the mineral 
kingdom, although the progression is slower 
and less obvious to the general observer, 
yet, so far as we are acquainted with it, 
the progression is exactly the same. If 
this rule holds throughout all the works of 
nature with which we are acquainted, the 
inference is just and well founded, that the 
same rule and order may hold also in these 
higher and more remote operations with 
which we are to a certain extent unac- 
quainted. 
'The author of the following theory has 
been led into this train of reflection from 
observing the very vague and futile uses 
whieh some philosophers have assigned to 
comets in the general economy of nature. 
Some have informed us with all due gravity, 
that they may possibly be abodes prepared 
for the reception of the wicked, where they 
will be exposed altei’nately to the pain and 
misery of extreme heat and cold. This 
theory is beyond the sphere of natural 
philosophy. Others have supposed that they 
are destined at some future time to be used 
as agents in the destruction of this planet. 
Now I hold it to be a physical impossibility 
that a comet can ever approaeh this earth 
sufficiently near even to disturb the settled 
order of the seasons in any material degree, 
much less to cause its utter destruction. 
Comets, in my opinion, are not agents for 
the destruction or derangement of any of 
the planets in the solar system ; but, on the 
contrary, very important and essential in- 
struments for their regeneration. 
I am aware that various hypotheses have 
been, from time to time, submitted to the 
world upon this subject ; but, unfortunately, 
their authors have endeavoured to draw their 
corroborations from sources entirely foreign 
to natural philosophy. They have perplexed 
themselves in forming hypotheses that should 
accord in all their parts with the Mosaic 
accounts of the creation and universal 
deluge. They imagined that their theories 
demanded credence, and derived support in 
proportion as they could be strained to coin- 
cide with the Holy Scriptures ; and that the 
truth of the Scriptures was attested by cor- 
roborations drawn from natural philosophy : 
now, in my opinion, the Scriptures stand in 
no need of sueh aid, and natural philosophy 
has no right to seek support from writings of 
divine inspiration. Every kind of work 
must be judged by the congruity of its parts, 
and the facts and arguments adduced in 
support of the proposition sought to be esta- 
blished ; but if we apply the same rule to the 
different theories of the universe that have 
been submitted to our judgment, we shall 
find little difficulty in discovering discrepancy 
sufficient to invalidate the whole hypotheses. 
However, it is not our present business to 
show that the theories of our predecessors 
are erroneous ; we will leave them to the 
judgment of the world, by which this also 
must be tried. 
