The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-10 00:00:00

" ALMANAC PROPHECIES."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
_
Sia,—A paragraph under the above head having appeared
in your paper of the 7th instant, which accuses the authors
of, and believers in predictions of the weather, of " folly,
credulity, and superstition," will you permit me to say a few
words in my own defence.
It seems that " a Member of the Diss Mutual Improve-
ment Society " has stated that, " although the variations of
the weather arc dependent upon a variety of natural causes,
still there is a multiplicity of other causes so inexplicable that
it is impossible for man to predict the future, it being alone
subservient to the will of Him who rides upon the whirlwind
and directs the storm." Now, Sir, as the " other causes "
mentioned by this gentleman are not " natural," it follows
that they must be supernqtztral, and pray is not this doctrine
of supernatural causes the very essence of " superstition ?" I
deny that there is any ground to believe that the course of
nature is set aside, and that a miracle is worked by the will
of the Almighty acting without means, that is without " ❑atu-
ral causes," on the occasion of any " variation of the wea-
ther;" and it is no proof of the " march of intellect " that I
should be compelled to offer such an observation in the pre •
sent day. What right can this member of the Diss Body of
Philosophers have to call the suppositions of Mr. Murphy or
myself " erroneous," without he has observed them for at least
a few months, and examined the principles on which they
stand? It is this readiness to stifle inquiry and examination
which is the nursing mother of credulity, and foster father of
slavish superstition. The world is not so very rich in the
possession of scientific truths as to afford to reject without ex-
ainination any system which professes to be founded on a
series of long-observed facts. The rescmt " mild tempera-
ture " I foretold because the Sun and the planet Mars arc
now in the same declination from our Equator ; and I defy
the Diss Philosopher to show any instance during the last
fifty years wherein such was not the case, e., a high tem-
peratui e, wi ea the Sun and Mars had tl e same declination.
This is a simple fact, depending, I believe, on electrical phe-
nomena, and whether so or not, by no means " supersti-
tious." All men know that, in one sense, every cause of va-
riation of the weather depends on the will of God; but this is
no reason why science should not examine the mode by which
that will is carried into effect. Nor is there any reason why
man should not " predict the future," if he will but carefully
record and examine the post-; fur nature remains ever the
same, and is only " inexplicable " to the ignorant and the
superstitious.

Your obedient servant,
R. J. MORRISON, Lieut., R.N.
Author of the " Mcteoro!ogical Ahnena':.."
Cheltenham, Feb. 8, 1838.

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