vapour raised from the Martial seas can compared with the drawing made at an find its way to the Martial poles only earlier hour by Mr. Lockyer, it was seen along a certain course - that is, by trav- that the clouds which had concealed a ersing a Martial atmosphere. Mars cer- portion of the planet had, at the later hour, tainly has an atmosphere, therefore, passed completely away, insomuch that though whether the constitution of that the whole of the shore-line, which was at atmosphere exactly resembles that of our first concealed, had been restored to view. own air is not so certainly known. On And it is worthy of notice that, referring this point the spectroscope has given no these events to Martial time, it appeared positive information, yet it allows us to that the cloudy weather in this part of draw this negative inference-that, inas- Mars had occurred in the forenoon, the much as no new lines are seen in the midday hour (as often happens on earth) spectrum of the planet, it would seem bringing clear weather, which would seem likely that no gases other than those ex- to have lasted until the Martial afternoon isting in our own atmosphere are present was far advanced. in the atmosphere of Mars.

But we

est.

But we can also learn something of the general progress of the weather during a Martial day. It would seem that, as a rule, the Martial mornings and evenings are misty. This, at least, seems the most satisfactory explanation of the whitish light which is usually seen all round the planet's disc; for the parts of the planet which lie near the edge of the disc are those where the sun is low- that is, where it is either morning or evening out yonder on Mars. The presence, therefore, of this whitish light would seem to indicate misty mornings and misty evenings in Mars.

It seems clear, too, that- as with ourselves - winter is more cloudy than summer; for it is always noticed that near the Martial solstices the markings on that half of the planet where winter is in progress are very distinctly seen, a whitish light sometimes replacing the red and green markings altogether in these regions. On the contrary, at these seasons, the regions where summer is in progress are generally very well seen.

are naturally led to inquire whether the phenomena which our meteorologists have to deal with clouds, fog, and mist, wind-storms and rain-storms can be recognized, either directly or in their effects, when Mars is studied with the telescope. The answer is full of interWe have been able to learn much respecting the meteorology of this distant world. In the first place, we see that at times the features of his globe those well-recognized markings which indicate the figure of oceans and continents -are hidden from view as if by clouds. A whitish light replaces the well-marked red colour of the continents or the equally well-marked green-blue tint of the oceans. But more. We can at times actually watch the gradual clearing up of the Martial skies, for we can see the whitish region of light gradually growing smaller and smaller, the features it had concealed coming gradually into view. On one occasion Mr. Lockyer was observing Mars with an excellent telescope, six inches in aperture, The reader will infer from what has when he became aware that a change of been said on these points, that the study this sort was in progress. A certain well- of Mars cannot be carried on very rapidly known sea was partially concealed from by our astronomers; for, in the first place, view by a great cloud-mass spreading Mars only returns to our midnight skies at over many thousand square miles of the intervals of more than two years, and he Martial surface. But as the hours passed, remains but for a short time favourably the clouds seemed to be melting away, placed for observation. Then one half of whether by the sun's heat or because they his surface only can be seen at a time, and had fallen in rain was, of course, not de- nearly one half even of that hemisphere is terminable. When Mr. Lockyer ceased commonly concealed by clouds, which also observing for the evening - at about half- extend all round the disc, so that perhaps past eleven- -a large proportion of the but about one-eighth of the planet's sursea before concealed had come into view. face can be favourably studied. When But on the same night, the eagle-eyed we add to these considerations the circumDawes, the prince of modern telescopists, stance that not one night out of ten in our as he has been called, was also studying climate or, perhaps, in any ― is well the planet of war. Waiting until the out-suited for the use of powerful telescopes, lines of the oceans and continents had be- while even favourable nights cannot alcome clearly discernible, he made ("in the ways be devoted to the study of Mars wee sma' hours ayont the twae'") an ex- (other celestial objects often requiring specellent drawing of Mars. When this was cial attention), it will be understood that

the progress of discovery has not been so which resists them is much smaller than rapid as, at a first view, might be ex- here, it may be a reasonable inference pected. When we are told that more than that natural selection' has already two centuries have elapsed since the tele- weeded out the loftier growing trees, scopic study of Mars began, it seems as which would stand less chance in encounthough ample time had been given for re-ters with hurricanes than our own." The search; but the time which has been ac- absence of prairies is not so easily extually available for that purpose has been plained, however; and the idea is in fact far more limited than that estimate would suggested that some of those regions imply. which have hitherto been included among the Martial seas, are in reality regions richly covered with verdure. Nor are we wholly without evidence in favour of this view; for there is a certain very wide tract in Mars respecting which the late Mr. Dawes remarked to the present writer that he found himself greatly perplexed. "At times," he said, "I seem to see clear traces of seas there; but at other times I find no such traces." These regions have accordingly been regarded as extensive tracts of marsh land. But the idea seems at least worth considering that they may be forest regions or extensive prairies.

And now, returning to the consideration of the probable condition of Mars, with respect to those circumstances which we regard as associated with the requirements of living creatures, let us briefly inquire how far we can determine aught as to the geological structure of the planet. Here the spectroscope cannot help us. The telescope, and such reasoning as may fairly be applied to the relations already dealt with, must here be our main resource. We see, then, that the land regions of the planet present a ruddy tinge. Sir John Herschel has suggested, and we are not here concerned to deny, that this is proba- There must needs be rivers in Mars, bly due to the ochreish nature of the soil. since the clouds, which often cover whole The planet, in fact, is to be regarded as continents, must pour down enormous perhaps passing through a geological era quantities of rain, and this rain-fall must resembling that through which our own find a course for itself along the Martial earth was passing when the Old Red valleys to the sea. Indeed we can have Sandstone constituted the main propor- no doubt that Mars has been the scene of tion of her continents. But it certainly those volcanic disturbances to which our must be admitted, as a remarkable circum- own mountains, hills, valleys, and ravines stance, that we can trace no signs of exten- owe their origin. The very existence of sive forests in Mars, nor any such appear- continents and oceans implies an unevenances as we should imagine that our prai-ness of surface which can only be explained ries must present to telescopists in Venus as the effect of subterranean forces. Volor Mercury. One is almost invited to adopt the bizarre notion of that French astronomer who suggested that vegetation on Mars is red instead of verdant that in this distant and miniature world the poet may sing of spring, more truly than our terrestrial poets, that

She cometh blushing like a maid.

As respects the absence of forests, we may perhaps find a sufficient explanation in the fact that lofty trees would exist under somewhat unfavourable conditions in Mars; for gravity being so much less than on our own earth, the stability of objects having equal dimensions would be correspondingly reduced. On the other hand, the winds which blow in Mars are probably, as Professor Phillips has pointed out, exceedingly violent; so that, to quote a striking paper which appeared last year in the Spectator (in a review of a work by the present writer), "if currents of air in Mars are of more than usual violence, while the solidifying force of friction

canoes must exist, then, in Mars; nor can his inhabitants be wholly safe from such earthquake throes as we experience. It may be questioned, indeed, whether subterranean forces in Mars are not relatively far more intense than in our own Earth,the materials of which the planet is formed being not only somewhat less massive in themselves, but also held down by a gravity much less effective.

It would seem, also, that the Martial oceans inust be traversed by currents somewhat resembling those which traverse our own oceans. There is, indeed, a very marked difference between our seas and those of Mars. For apart from the circumstance that the terrestrial oceans cover a much greater proportion of the earth's surface, the Martial seas scarcely traversed by appreciable tides. Mars has no moon to sway his ocean waters, and though the sun has power over his seas to some slight extent, yet the tidal waves thus raised would be very unimportant, even though the seas of

are

Mars were extensive enough for the gen- stances that can be regarded as essential eration of true tidal oscillations. For, in to the wants of living creatures.

There remains of course the chance that a third party, composed of all Conservatives but Mr. Disraeli, and of a great many old Whigs, may take the helm; and no doubt such a party might be formed under Lord Derby, so as to include a great many competent statesmen. It would be very gladly welcomed by the upper classes, and might display very considerable administrative resource, but it would almost to a certainty be deficient in following. It could not carry the boroughs, and it would always be ruinously weak upon those semi-ecclesiastical questions which in this country influence so many votes. It would incur the unbending hostility of the Nonconformists, would be disliked and distrusted by the mass of voters, and would have constantly to irritate its true supporters by giving way to the Radicals upon questions of principle. It could only be a tolerated Government, and the country is as yet far from so angry with the Ministry as to be willing to put up with an interregnum. It prefers to hope that Mr. Gladstone will be induced to go the way which it desires, or rather to avoid the course of which, in some half-conscious irritable way, it is inclined to think that it disapproves. As Mr. Gladstone will probably take the hint and suspend action for a time in many directions, there is, we are sure, little danger that he will as yet be overthrown, thongh much that his hands may be too fettered for the good of the country.

dently linked themselves far too exclu- | port him in his place, thus acknowledging sively with the Nonconformists. that to him there is no alternative. Nor The ultra-Radicals are out of the ques- is there. The Conservative party cannot tion; and though for very different rea- expel Mr. Disraeli, unless they can also sons, so are the regular Conservatives. deprive him of his seat; and with Mr. That party has plenty of men competent Disraeli at its head, the Conservative to administer the State, and at least three, party, in its present condition of opinion, any one of whom the country would ac- cannot be really strong. cept as head of Her Majesty's Government without any start of surprise. Moreover its apparent weakness in numerical strength, though in one way real, is in another way exceedingly deceptive. Englishmen have many strongly conservative instincts, especially upon those questions of property, which, as many observers think, the present policy of the Cabinet tends to raise. They are very apt when unexcited to be led by their upper classes, and the upper classes are annoyed, or perhaps we should say worried, by many measures of the Administration. A dissolution would not give them a party majority, but it might very well give them a House in which a majority was exceedingly disinclined to turn them out before they had had a fair trial before the country. Sir Robert Peel under the circumstances might possibly have taken office, but the difficulty of the Conservatives is that they have in the House of Commons no man of that type, no man who, while representing the genuine Conservatism of the country, can head a powerful Ministry against a more powerful Opposition. Mr. Gathorne Hardy, though he fulfils the first function, is not equal to the second; nor if he were, could he take the leadership out of the hands of Mr. Disraeli. The member for Bucks, by virtue of his oratory, his history, and what is sometimes forgotten-his extraordinary tact in dealing with the House of Commons, is the necessary man of the party, which nevertheless finds in him the greatest obstacle in its way. It does not trust him. Many of its representatives still resent his desertion on the suffrage, many more are irritated by his apathy about purchase, and many, including some very prominent statesmen, stand pledged in honour not to serve under his banner. The feeling roughly expressed at the last meeting of the Central Chamber of Agriculture that after all it is not worth while to overset a Government in order to bring in Mr. Disraeli — is very diffused, and for the time acts as a shield to a Ministry to whom he would be the inevitable succes

sor

Mr. Gladstone, when badgered to death, has only to say he will resign; and, his followers, content or annoyed, are compelled to close up their ranks and sup

From The Spectator.

A PROSAIC POSSIBILITY IN FRANCE.

THERE is an inclination in this country, which we confess we fully share, to explain this contest in Paris a little too much, to make too much of an effort to understand its meaning, its tendencies, and its issues, and to pay too little to its immediate course. The prose of the matter, its parish-politics side, is too much overlooked. The monotony of murder has become tiresome, and everybody who now writes of the Commune plunges at once into the philosophy of history, and carried away

enmity between the troops and the citizens is of the fiercest kind, the bulk of the people are evidently not prepared for resistance à outrance. The émeutes have been put down as sharply as under the Empire, and the new Republic has thus shown itself possessed of the brute force which Frenchmen, when in a panic for their property, are so apt to worship. Even the peasants will not resist a Republic if it can shoot them, and if it can arrest all who interfere with their property.

by the fascination of the most stimulating | gle cannot be perpetual, for the workmen of all speculations, closes his eyes to the have to eat. The troops, if they can get events on which those speculations are in, cin disarm Paris, and as we all know, nominally based. There is much truth, we Paris once disarmed can be held down for suspect, in Mr. Harrison's statement that a long time by force. Of course there Paris in asking for free cities has struck will be repression, almost as bad as under out a new system of policy for Continental the Empire; but both M. Thiers and the Liberals to realize; and more truth, we Assembly are ready to repress, and the are certain, in our own account of the former has obtained the right of appointdangers of Federalism in France; but in ing the municipal chiefs and will have a both these speculations one element is too sufficient garrison. He may hold down much disregarded, and that is the element Paris if he conquers it, and the form of of time. Great policies are not established his government, which will be, nominally or exposed in a few days; the immediate at all events, a Republic, will slightly help contest is not between Centralization and him. It evidently does help him both in Federalism, but between M. Thiers and Lyons and Marseilles. where, although Paris, and it may be well for once to ex- émeutes have occurred and although the amine the situation as we should examine a party struggle at home. M. Thiers is trying, wisely or unwisely, to establish a rather narrow-minded reactionary and stupid Republic in France, a Republic as centralized as the Empire, and possibly as corrupt, but ruled by the delegate of an Assembly instead of by a monarch, and the point for politicians is to understand how far he is progressing towards his end. On the whole, we imagine, he is, in a hard, cruel, unoriginal way, advancing towards a success of some kind. He manages his Paris once taken, M. Thiers will, to all attack on Paris very badly, and the defence, appearance, be master throughout France; once the enceinte is passed, may become a and the indications that he will use his defence of Saragossa; but he is evidently ascendancy to secure some kind of ironclad winning his way. His troops, bad or good Republic, and may be able to attain his and we see very little proof of goodness end, are increasing. He is himself, we in them—are becoming savage, and though believe, quite sincere in approving that their excessive cruelty may hereafter pro- form of government, for he would approve duce an undesired result, a final chasm be- any form of which he was the head, even tween the citizens and the soldiery, still if the form did not help to make the cities for the present it daunts all but those who manageable. He consistently snubs both have made up their minds to die for the Legitimists and Orleanists; he has exerted sake of a cause, that is, all but the central the great power of his official position to battalions of the Commune. That body, return Moderate Republican candidates which has shown unexpected capacity for for the municipalities, and he proclaims government, which keeps Paris as quiet as every day and to everybody that the under the Empire and far freer from crime, Republic is a fact. Moreover, he is bedisplaces its Generals the moment they lieved to be organizing a party within the show a disposition to over-ride civil au- Chamber itself. Partly by persuasion, thority, and amidst incessant changes has partly by appeals to the Red Spectre, and fearlessly maintained its claim to every- partly, it is asserted, by a “judicious body's obedience, must be approaching the of his patronage, he is detaching man after end of its resources, and except for a street man from the Centre and Right, and formdefence can hardly have the command of ing a Left Centre party, which, according sufficient munitions. Unless its new Com- to some accounts, will soon give him 120 mandant, Colonel Rossel, turns out to be steady votes. He is much aided by the one of those men who can mesmerize entire absence of any leader of capacity French troops,- quite a possibility but among the Legitimists; by the dissociation still only a possibility, in the air- between capacity and hereditary right the Commune within a week or two among the Orleanists, and, as we suspect, must be defeated by a dully murderous though we decline to affirm, by a regular, system of fighting, and then the resistance though reluctant, support from the Left, of Paris to M. Thiers' peasant Republic who prefer a Republic, which may be must be suspended for a time. The strug-modified, to a Monarchy which must be

use