New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-06-20
Doe. the Moon Influence the ", aihcrt

From the Fourth Number of DR.. Lar ncr's Pop
ular Lectures on Science, which has 3 been pub.
iishcd we make the following extract The niiu-
ence which the changes of the Moon are generally
supposed to exer, upon the Weather, we think are
very clearly shown by the Doctor TO be fallacious
Among the many influences which the Moon l.
supposed by the world in general to exercise upon
our globe one Of those which have been most uni
versally believed, in all ages and in all countries,
that which il is presumed 10 exert upon the change
Of the weather Although the particular details OF
this influence are sometimes pretended 10 be dc
scrbcd, the only general principle, or rule winch
prevails with the world in general H. that change
Of weather may be looked for at the epochs OF new
and full moon that say, If the weather be pre-
viousv fair il will become foul, and II ioul will be
come fair. Similar changes are also, sometimes
though no; 70 confidently looked for, at the cpocs o.
the quarters.
4 question ofthis kind may be regarded either a.
4 question of science, or question OF fact
ifit be regarded as a question OF science, we ar,
called upon 10 explain how and by what property o
matter what law OF Nature or attraction the moon
# distance OF quarter Of million OF miles. com
binine its effects with the sun at four hundred tmc'
thai distance can produce those alleged changes r.
To this il may be readily answered that no known
asy or principle has hitherto explained any suci
phenomena The moon and sun must. doubtless al
feet the OF air which surrounds the globe. a.
hey affect the ocean of watcr-prOducIns effect
analogous 10 tides but when the quantity of such al
effect /, estimated, it is proved 10 be utterly map
probable and such could 10y no means account TO-
Inc meteorological changes here adyerlcd To-
But in conducting investigations of tins kind we
proceed altogether IN the wrong direction, and be
,in al the wrong end when we commence with III.
Investigation OF the physical cause OF the supposed
phenomena. That method Of conducting physica
inquiries, which was bclueathed TO Us BY the Illus
rous Bacon. and which has led TO such an immcus,
extension of our knowledge of the universe, impe
ronsy requires that before we begin seek for the
causes OF any phenomena. we must prove beyond
he possibility of doubt the rc0lfV Of the phenome
na and ascertain with the utmost precision all the
circumstances attending them. In other words, We
are required toconsder all inquiries of the kind now
advertedio, as mere questions OF fdcf, before We
take them a. questions of science.
What. then let Us see is the present question p
Ii is asserted tina, the moon produces such an iniiu
ence on the weather 10 cause II TO change al he
new and ful. moon, and al the quarters But IN thu
mode OF stating the proposition there are implicit,
included Two very distinct points, one OF which i o
simple matter OF fact and the other point OF phys
zeal science.
FyrsL--Itis asserted that at the epochs Of a new
and full moon and at the quarters there Is generally
a change Of weather This is mere statement o.
alleged fact
Second-I, il asserted that the phases Of ih1
moon or in other words the relative position OF the
moon and sun in regard 10 the earth Is the cause O.
these changes.
Now it Is evidently necessary 10 settle the hrs.
question before wc trouble ourselves with the sec
ond for If il should 50 happen that the hrsI s'aiemen,
should prove be destitute of foundation the second
falls TO the ground
The question of fact here before rs j. one most
easily settled. Ia many meteorological observation
throughout Europe, a register OF the weather IN al
respects. has been kept tor a long period OF time
Thus the hight OF the barometer. the condition OF the
thermometer, the hydrometer, and The rain suase
the form and character OF the clouds the times OF th,
falling of rain hs and snow. and IN short. every
particular respecting the weather has been duly reg
stcrcd from DAY to day and often from hour 10 hour
The period OF the lunar phases. II j. needless 10
say has also been registered, and II IS. therefore
other.
Inns IN inc, has been done We can imagine
placed IN mo parallel columns in jux'aposi;ion, the
series OF epoch> OF the new and fun moons and TIT
quarters, ana ihc corresponding conditions OF the
weather al these times Tor firv or one hundred year.
! back, so that We may h. enabled 10 examine as q
mere matter 81 fact the conditions OF the wcaihei
/ for one thousand or twelve hundred full and new
moons and quarters. The result of such an cxami
nation has been, that no correspondence whatever
| has been found 10 exist between the two pheiome
IA. Thus let US suppose that one hundred ano
twenty five full moons bc taken at random from III,
table if the condition Of the weather al these seve
raj epochs be examined j, will be found. probably
/ that in sixtv.,hroc cases there was change o
weather and in sixtv-iwO there was not. so ria
under such circumstances the odd moon IN TIN
division Of one hundred and twenty hive would lave
the popular opinion; but II another random collec