We observe that Sir W. Thomson,in his address on Friday
week to the British Association, declared authoritatively that " ease- 1 ul observation with the barometer, thermometer, and anemo- meter, at the time of new moon, full moon, and half-moon, has failed to establish any relation whatever" between the phases of the moon and the weather. " If there is any dependence of the weather on the phases of the moon, it is only to a degree 'quite imperceptible to ordinary observation." It is difficult to account for the deep-rooted popular prejudice that the weather -does change more, and with more significance, at the time of the phases of the moon, than at auy other time. This is a point on which ordinary people will not accept scientific opinion. They raise their brows, and evidently think that vague, popular impressions must have more value than scientific observation. We wonder why. It seems precisely one of the matters which aciontific observation should set at rest.
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