New-York tribune., 1841-12-20


mate, would be the only land and habitabl- parts
instead OF which We now have the best climates
occupied By land and he coolest BY II the
Earth were globe there is another curious con-
sideration admitting of easy illustration. To ex-
plain this it will be necessary TO enter upon re-
narkabe principle OF revolving bodies. Every
material body may be made to revolve upon seve-
raj axes: bur it will be found that there Ger
Tain lines round which most bodies have natural
tendency to spin. If they be made to revolye
around any other, they will not continue to turn on
II for long tire but will ,hitt the axis continually
until the motion be about The natural axis =
This may AT first appear difficult to understand ;
hut its truth admits OF clear mathematical demon
straton. II MAJ, however, be made more easily u-
derstood by simple experiment. Ii cylinder be
made to turn swiftly about its geometrica axis, you
would say II would continue to SPIN about 1t; but
you would seon find that it ha, will Of its own,
and that it would speedily find an a.cis 81 its own
and in spite OF its own gravity would turn upon an
axis right angles that upon which it was first
set in motion. Thi, is general proposition which
Is continually brought to bear upon the motion Of
he planets. II you take circular ring surround
ing sphere, the ring Of Saturn surrounds that
planet, and set it spinning around the diameter OF
The circle as It's axis it will not continue that
tion but will soon, of is accord shift its axis
and turn upon the diane er ofihe sphere.
have stated that bodies OF certain forms have
natural axes; but there are others which have no
axis of preference, and will turn indifiereny about
either of them sphere is one Of the most re-
markable u body of this form will turn equally
well around any OF It's diamciers Now, if the
Earth were perfect sphere and were set revolving
around any diameter axis, the slightest de-
rangement-the Improvement OF any body--woud
nd -bo of aSi.
and produce climates in every portion OF the
Earth. But VIC easily show that if tho Earth,
having its present form, should be thrown from Its
present axis by any whatever, il would only
sustain u slight nervous STOCK, and would speedily
regain its former position. IT, or Instance. ii should
revolving around its equatorial diameter, it
would ere long le2vs this, and again turn around
it's polar diameter = an axis. This Is the only axis
around which IL will permanently turn. The rims
of Saturn, as have before shown, revolves around
that planet if it shpulci be SET revolving in aly
other way, II would iorsake it and turn around
It's centre so that the revolving motion of Sar
turn is seen TO be Just the required by theory.
There is another beautiful circumstance in the
economy of the planets; that each one has do
gree of iatne-s corresponding exactly with the
length of its days; they all have Just that degree
of urnp shape, (if may use this expression
Of their rotation. Ii, instead of tweni four hosr-
The Earth revolved in twelve, it would have still
tlaltcr poles. Now suppose the of which |
the planets composed TO he the same that OF |
he Earth it is easy to say what must b. their fiat
ness, in order TO ensure an equal distribution oi
land and water. The calculation is easy ana i, |
has been made so that the latness of each of the
planets Is known. Hence could easily calcu-
late the times OF the planetary revolutions by their
l.. So a., ~,,ti1 hs bN
watching the spots their discs.
| will now again call your attention. 10 the Moon.
have heretofore cndeavorcd 10 show that the
Moon has no influence upon the weather, as is very
generally believed. Another belief Is quite as gen
eral throughout Europe, namely, that the phases oil
the Moon have influence upon the quality of UNI
Der, either the times of telling planting ltls
SAID that timber should not be cut during the Moon
increase nor trees planted during her decrease
Indeed, so prevacn, and deeply rooted ia this
opinion, that in the forest laws OF Germany there
was introduced an enactment, iorbddiaS the PTac'
Using of certain processes IN planting, pruning,
srattlng and telling during particular phases
Of the Moon What is still more singular, these
opinions found TO exist, precisely the same, in
countries which apparently have intcrcommuni-
cation with each other. member of the French
Institute AT Paris, while travelling in Brazil, was
surprised TO find there ihc same opinion prevalent
winch had such an influence in France and Ger
many.
The facts have been submitted to the closest OBJ
seryation by French philosopher named Ddham-
cl aud he found BY careful investigation that no
possible influence OF this kind could be observed.
la wine-growing countries these ptcjudces are
equally strong, and Just as untounded.
There i, one Other supposed influence OF the
Moon which has been generally believed, ana
which indeed has become 30 Incorporated into our
very language, that it will probably ba long before
1t will be eradicated. 1t is supposed that the Moon
has strong influence certain diseases aSd from
,his circumstance ono maiady. Lpaacy, has recelv-
ed lis name. 1t is generally believed that the dit
ierent phases of the Moon connected with the
diferen, crises of this disease; that the fits OF III
sanity are moro vioen, during the uew Moon than
at sny other times. This opinion Is very prevalent
in England, and was net little surprised to Ind
that even among intelligent physlcians IN this
country where inquiry is so free and bold, there Is
a very strong impression that the opinion IS we'll
founded Ii is easy 10 susmii his 10 careful PHI
losophical investigation, and here independent,
thnkins physicians VINO have the care OF hospitals,
could easily make the trial. Ii Is only necessary
that the times when the most violent its occur
should be registered Tor long while and In great
number of cases, and then that Il careful comfari-
son be made between them and the phases OF the
Moon. This investigation has been made as
extensively as ona could wish in Europe. Ose rea-
son of this is, undoubtedly, the thradom OF public
opinion, which holds even medical men IN fear
They are afraid OF losing practice, OF thousand
other things, if they disturb dispute any opinion,
however groundess, when has obtained fast hold
upon the public mind.
DR.. Oloers. OF Bremen, however. celebrated for
being the discoverer of PalIas and Nesta-,wo ii
the four fragments 0 = broken planet--ha' made
some interesting inquiries upon this point
| L a.cirnr,