The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-09-27
Miscellaneous.
/ Moons Influence on the Weather.

FINN the Fourth Number OF Or. Lardner's Popu-
81. sc,pres on Science, we make the following ex-
,a The influence which the changes of the moon
W y. generally supposed to exert upon the Weather,
!. think, are very clearly shown by the DR.. TO be
ma b.aciOus:
M Among the many influences the moon is supposed
vbs world in general, TO exercise upon our globe,
s ortbose which have been most universally believ
IN all ages and in all countries, is that which it is
,sumed to exert upon tho changes of the Weather.
Although the particular details OF :his influence are
1simes pretended to be described, the only gener-
"a rnc5e, or rule, which prevails with the world in
q ,sral is that a change OF weather may he looked
III hi the epochs OF new and full moon that is TO say
lbe weather be previously fair it will become foul,
~ had il foul will become Cair. Similar changes are al
20, sometimes though not so confidently looked for,
" !, the epochs oflhe quarters
I'D question of this kind may be regarded either az
question Of science a question Of fact
Irh be regarded a question Of science, we are
called upon to explain how aud by what property Of
natter what law OF nature attraction the moon,
VI, 81 distance Of quarter Of million Of miles, com
GnR; its effects with the sun, a, four hundred times
& hat distance, can produce these alleged changed
Y To this it may he readily answered that no known
y +H principle has hitherto explained any such phe-
M smena The moon and sun, must doubtless, affect
ocean of air that surrounds the globe, they az
1t the ocean of water-producing effects analogous
y tides; bnt when the quantity Of such an effect is
stmaSd it is proved TO be utterly inappreciable, and
Tch as could by no means account for the meteoro-
1 gical changes here adveued TO.
+ But in conducting Investigations OF this kind,
proceed altogether in the wrong direction, and begin
IA the wrong end when We commence with thelinves-
#galion of the physical cause of tho supposed phe-
iOmena Tha, method Of conducting physical inquir
Bes, which WAS bequealhed to us BY the illustrious
Bacon. and which has led 10 such an immense extern
8son FOUR knowledge Of the universe, mperiousIy
qalres that before begin seek Tor the cause OF
y phenom ena, we must prove beyond the possibili-
81! Of doubt, the reality of the phcnomena, and ascer.
bin with utmost precision, all the circums tances at
,lndng them. In other words, we are TO consider
IS N inquiries Of the kind now advered to, ~ mere
eions of fact, before we take them "a questions Of
Silence.
What then, l't us see, is the present question: II
asserted that the moon produces such influence
M@Ihe weather as to cause il to change at new and
hl moon, and the quarters. Blu, in this mode of
stating the proposition, there implicitly included
Two very distinct points, one Of which is simple
natter of fact and the other poin, Of physical sci
nce.
tns 1t is asserted that at the ePochs of new and
'l moon, and at the quarters, there is generally
eanse OF weather. This is mere statement Of alleg
y ed fact
second 1t is asserted that the phases OF the moon,
" IN other words, the relative position of the moon
aa sun in regard to the earth is the cause Of these
changes
wow Is evidently necessary to settle the first
f4e'Uon before we trouble ourselves with the second,
W. should so happen that the first statement
'ou'c prOVeio be destitute Of foundation, the second
falls to the gound.
a"o question Of fact here before US is one most
9 settled. In many meteorological observations
"'Us"Oat Europe, register OF the weather in all
,p'''S' has been kept for long period Of time
anus the hight OF the barometer, the condition of the
~'''"Oneter, the hydrometer, and the rain guage;
n "'n and character Of the clouds, the times of
'''nns OF rain hail and snow, and in short, every
y "'u'% respecting the weather has been duly reg
M p' from day to day, and often from hour to hour.
'"' period of the lunar phases. it is needless TO
"'' also been registered, and it is, therefore, pos
" compare one set of changes with the other
i, ."'' In line, has been DONE We can Imagine,
,, III TWO columns, in juxtnposition, the series of
,'l' Vi inc new and full moons, and the quarters,
A.. "o corresponding conditions of tho weather at
M,, 'nes' 10 fifty or one hundred years back, so
IA, may be enabled to examine, as a mere mat
,,, ACT The conditions OF the weather for one thou
a.. Twelve hundred full and new moons and quar-
H., i"e result Of such an examination has been,
u;. ~ correspondence whatever has been found TO
O.. :, ''"een the two phenomena Thus let us sup
nko. ' one hundred and twenty five full moons be
r,n random from the table: iftbe condition of the
De- n :" these several epochs he examined it will
Wa, probably, that in sixty-three cases there
DO, Anse of weather. and in sixty-two there was
in II. nat under such circumstances the old moon
Lvo. '"s'on Of one hundred and twenty FIVE would
.c,. "e popular opinion; bu, il another random COL
aksr one hundred and twenty five full moons be
adv amilarly examined, it will be found prob
' Sxty-thres are not attended with changes Of