slumbered most; for, among those which have shone already, we certainly do not find any symptoms which denote increasing force and productiveness of sentiment. All national manifestations proceed radically from the sentiments which are at work in private life.

But we hear universal complaints, that private life is debased by selfishness and indifference. Pride has discovered the art of folding its arms and sitting still, and irony against others is substituted for exertions of our own. When a sincere admiration of what is great pervades society, men foster and cherish all the noblest movements of each others minds, but at present such admiration is scarce, not merely because of the existence of superciliousness, but apparently from absolute barrenness of mind. For those things in which a person has not himself any desire to excel, it is impossible that he can feel much earnest admiration; and although he may confer upon them the approbation of his understanding, that approbation is too cold and ineffective to fan the ambition either of public virtue or genius, which can only attain their full growth amidst a general blaze of sympathy and consentaneous passion diffused throughout society. To make great artists, a whole nation must consist of enthusiastic amateurs, and the case is the same with respect to public virtue as with respect to art.

If we wish to trace the influence of knowledge upon society, we must look more to the habits of mind which its diffusion engenders in private life, than to the light which it throws upon the defects of political institutions, and the improvements which it suggests to be made upon their structure. Reading has one important effect, which well deserves to be considered. It supplies us artificially with a far more rapid series of impressions and causes of feeling, than any human being could ever be subjected to by his own individual experience. In real life, objects approach and depart by degrees; and suggestions follow each other at long intervals; at least, such would be the case before the invention of printing, and among men who had few books. But reading now subjects the mind, at once, to the action of a crowd of thoughts, which of old could only have been gathered slowly, and separately, during the course of a whole

existence. Literature presents nourishment for every sentiment, good or bad, and leaves men still to follow the bias of their own nature. Whether the rapidity of the impressions it communicates, has a tendency to increase or exhaust the energy of our moral nature, is a difficult question. Fineness of perception is augmented by it, and the intellectual faculties, in general, are brightened up; but the source of motion, in the moral world, consists of passions and sentiments, and the destiny of nations depends al◄ together upon their activity in the affairs of life. If reading communicates vigour to their internal spring, and increases their impulsive power, then every thing is to be expected from the diffusion of knowledge; but if reading enervates and renders them passive, there can be no doubt that the splendour of human existence will diminish in proportion.

The consideration of these things would lead one also to inquire, what is the nature of that irony which exercises so much sway over modern society. It seems as if knowledge made us acquainted with so many vast objects and conceptions, that most individuals are overwhelmed with despondency, on account of their own impotence and insignificance. A mixture of listlessness and pride takes possession of them. Whatever a person attempts can always be contrasted with something of the same kind so huge, as to tarnish all his glory, and prevent him from feeling, during his exertions, any of those sentiments of triumph, exultation, or sanguine hope, which are as necessary to great achievements as air is to combustion. Men's minds are most intimately linked to each other, and where sympathy and admiration have ceased, action also becomes languid. Nil admirari is followed by nil moliri, nil facere. Yet self-love is never extinguished; and if we accomplish nothing ourselves, and can therefore put in no claim for honour, we are, at the same time, obliged by our pride to find some plea for disdaining others. The true disciple of modern society has a separate bucket of cold water ready for every different sort of pretension that can possibly make its appearance; and he would think himself a simpleton, if he were found, on any occasion, unprovided.

This seems to be the nature of irony, which does not spring from the love of pleasantry, but from the demands of our self-love-a staunch principle, that never loses sight of its objects. It is to be regretted that this disheartening spirit exists in its greatest force among the highest and best informed classes of society, who, of course, feel no inclination to be put out of countenance, by a greater activity and productiveness in any other class. They are, therefore, more apt to load with ridicule, than to reward with sympathy, the aspirations of fresher though less cultivated minds, who, finding that they cannot move under the auspices, and with the good wishes, of superior refinement, are naturally induced to adhere, more doggedly than ever, to the errors of their own vulgarity. A house divided against itself cannot prosper. National greatness and splendour must depend upon a sympathy in pursuit of great objects being spread from the most enlightened, free-leisured, and respected classes, through all the rest; so that the moral sentiments of the more mechanical orders may enjoy the advantage of being carried towards their aim, in union with those of others, who have more time than opportunity for developing the lights and higher elements of human nature.

But, alas! what can speculations and complaints avail, if the human spirit is undergoing the influence of vitiating causes? Who can retard the steps of destiny?

THE System of the Weather, recently published by Mr Mackenzie, is founded upon a series of meteorological observations made by himself since the year 1802. His observations were made principally, but with great care, upon the Wind and the Rain, and were registered upon the following principles: "If the wind is in the easterly points during the whole of a natural day, it is termed an entire day of east wind, and the same

*The work in which this system is described is entitled "The System of the Weather of the British Islands; discovered in 1816 and 1817, from a Journal commencing November 1802.” Edinburgh, 1818. 4to.

of the west; and if the wind is both east and west on any day, it is then termed a variable wind; and if the wind is in the north or south on any day, this also is termed variable, because it partakes of the

nature of both east and west.

"At the end of a season, the number of entire days east wind are first summed up, after which the same of the west; the sum of the variables is next found, and the proper proportion of these given to the entire days east and west by the rule of three, thus, taking an extreme case by way of example: The winter 1816-17 had 21 entire days of cast wind, and 123 entire days of west, and there were 24 days of variable. Now, in order to find the proportion of the variables which should go to the cast and west wind, the entire days of each of these winds are added together, which make a sum total of 144; then say, if 144 give 24 variables, what will 21, the number of entire days east give; then multiplying 24 by 21, in the usual manner, the product is 504, which being divided by 144, gives 3 as the proentire days east wind, with a remainder; portion of the variables, going to the 21 this makes 24 days of east wind for the scason; the fraction, or remainder, going always to the greatest sum of entire days wind, whether of east or west. The 21 remaining days of variable are then added to the 123 entire days west wind, which makes a sum total of 144 days west wind for the rule of three be sufficient for the general season. Though the bare mention of the reader, it has appeared proper to give the process of finding the sum of wind in de

tail.

"The next phenomenon observed, demanding particular explanation, is the rain: Thus the time when commences and terminates, with the intensity of the fall, is always stated; if the fall in a day, that is, a day and a night, which is always signified in the weather, is under three hours, it is termed a short rain; and if two or more such falls happen in a day, and together consist of more than three hours of heavy rain, it is termed a moderate rain; but less value is attached to rains which fall at considerable intervals in the day, than made on this score is slight; all above three when in continuity, but the distinction hours are termed moderate rains, until it continues seven or eight hours, when it is termed a great rain, that is, if heavy, for sometimes it rains very slightly a whole day, and yet comes under the denomination of short or moderate rain, according to the intensity; and if there is any doubt to which class a rain may belong, it is always stated as of the next lowest class; thus, if a rain is considered more than a moderate, but rather less than a great rain, it is always classed as a moderate rain, and the same rule when it is doubtful whether it should be short or moderate, it being in this case termed a short rain; and if it should rain the whole day and night, it is

but still a great rain for that day. The classing of the rain might have been extended further, into very great rains, or so; but no advantage could be derived from such an arrangement, as will appear from the rules obtained from this article, which will be found most wonderfully consistent and regular. It is to be observed of showers, that when these are frequent, they make up a moderate rain, and even on rare occasions a great rain, but very generally only a short rain; the time and the effect in these cases are considered.

"The method of finding the sum of rain in a season is this: Taking an extreme case for an example, winter 1804-5, it had 5 great rains, 12 moderate, and 25 short rains; the great rains are each supposed equal to 6 short, and the moderate to 3 short rains; and these being added to the actual number of short rains, the whole sum is 91 short rains; but as this number has been considered an inconvenient one, particularly as it would require in general three figures, it is divided by 4 on all occasions, which reduces the product to two figures, at least by the seasons, which was the first mode of treatment of the subject adopted, the System by years having been found long after; therefore, 91 being divided by 4, the quotient is 22; but as no fractions are admit. ted in the sum of rain for a season, the sum total is called 23 for this winter. Any other mode would have served as well, if continued throughout, but this appeared the simplest, and the result has fully warranted its continuance, and for the reason stated, as to the rules obtained in consequence of this arrangement, it giving an exceeding correct result; moreover, it was absolutely necessary to find a round sum, as the representative of the variety of the rain which falls in a season, which has the advantage of simplifying the subject, so as to be easily under

stood and recollected.

As

"In estimating the sum of rain-snow, hail, and sleet, are always included. an enumeration is made of the days' snow in a season, it is explained thus: Any day upon which snow falls, is termed a snowy day, though probably a greater proportion of the fall may have been in rain: this distinction has been made, merely to shew the prevalence of snow upon any season: thus it will be seen that the second winter observed, that of 1803-4, though a

mild winter, yet there was an extraordinary quantity of snow as well as of rain.

"The sum of the force of the wind is found much in the same manner as the rain: Thus, there are gales, and high winds, and windy days; but the high winds are classed under gales, and each supposed equal to 6 windy days, and the sum thus found are added to the actual number of windy days in a season; the whole then is divided by 4, which is a common divisor, and the quotient represents the sum of the force of the wind for the year. It happens, however, on rare occasions, that the gales and high winds

are of short continuance, though frequent, in which case less value is attached to these of course, and are multiplied by 4 or 5, instead of 6, according to circumstances; the first instance of this kind is in the winter and year 1815-16, and also in 1816-17.

"In estimating the quantity of frost in a season, the days or nights on which this phenomenon appeared, are termed a day of frost, and the number of these in a season are simply the number of the frost. A more accurate comparative sum might have been obtained, by a clasification similar to the rain, viz. hard frost, moderate frost, and slight frost, which might gratify the curious; but there was labour enough without this addition.

Of the other phenomena of weather, viz. thunder, lightning, aurora boreales, &c. it has been only necessary to note them in the order of appearance, giving the sums of each at the end of the season or year, as will be found in the tables in the history of the weather; only remarking here, that however frequent the thunder or lightning is on any day, it counts but as one day with thunder,

&c.

By observing the number of days of east and west wind for 14 years, Mr Mackenzie found, that the average number of days of east wind was 135, and the average number of days of west wind 216, a ratio which, for reasons afterwards to be mentioned, he considers as approaching to that of 140 to 210, or 2 to 3. If the east wind, on any given year, shall amount to more than the average of 135 days, there is then an excess of so many days of east wind, but if it amounts to less than 135, there is then a deficiency of so many days of east wind. The same is done with the west wind; and the excesses or deficiencies of both winds are put down for each year. the phenomena of the weather can have no relation to our civil year, Mr Mackenzie begins the weather year, as he calls it, upon the 1st of November, because it is at or near this period that there is the most material change of weather during the whole year, and that this is the only day which gives

As

the averages leading to the system, or rather, it comes out strongest on this day, gradually becoming weaker before and after, till it disappears altogether on the 26th October and the 5th November. Having in this manner found the exces ses and deficiencies of the east and west winds for 14 years, he began to compare them together, and was surprised to find, that they followed one another in a regular progression, the excesses and deficiencies of both winds arrang

ing themselves in groups. The nature of this progression will be understood from the annexed table, consisting of three columns. The first column contains the Years of Observation, the first of which commenced in 1802-3, or on the 1st November 1802. The second column contains the Excesses and Deficiencies of the west wind, and the third the Excesses and Deficiencies of the east wind. Upon comparing these E's and D's, it appears, that in the east wind column the Excesses are grouped in the following manner, EEE, EE, E, and the Deficiencies, which are interposed between them in the following manner, viz. D, DD, DDD, DDDD. In the west wind column the progression is E, EEEE, EEE, EE, and DD, D, DDD. Now it is a very remarkable fact, that by following out these progressions the series returns into itself in 54 years, forming a perfect cycle.*

FORM OF THE SYSTEM.

In the preceding scale, the number of the series of excesses and deficiencies of both winds is exactly equal, viz. 24 groups of each; but if we reckon them individually, we shall find, that the excesses east are 24, and the excesses west 30; and that the deficiencies east are 30, while the deficiencies west are only 24. Hence the east wind is one-fourth less in excess, and one-fourth more in deficiency than the west; that is, it blows one-half less frequently than the west, or the two winds are to one another as 2 to 3, a result which harmonizes in a very singular manner with the ratio of 135 to 216, deduced by Mr Mackenzie from 14 years' observation.

Although it is absolutely necessary, from the nature of the cycle, that the excesses and deficiencies of the east and west wind shall return every 54 years; yet it by no means follows, that the weather in any one cycle shall in every respect resemble the weather in any other cycle. The time of excess and deficiency of both winds may be constantly varying, and may be performing another periodical change of greater or less extent.

"It must therefore become desirable," says Mr Mackenzie, "to ascertain how far one revolution of the system of the weather corresponds with another in every particular; and if journals, conducted upon a sufficiently circumstantial plan, can be found, something of a solution of this point may be accomplished."

We have thus endeavoured to give our readers some notion of the general system delivered by Mr Mackenzie. This, however, forms a very small portion of his work, which contains also Particular Rules of the Weather, deduced from observation; the History of the Weather from 1802; the Laws of the Wind; and the Distribution of the annual series of the Wind upon the seasons. As it is in the power of every person to examine, by their own experience, the accuracy of the rules for the weather, we shall lay before our readers some of the most import

ant.