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A
V A P K K A X J ) J{ E S L IJ T I N S
IN Al)\ <>''A<>' <>1' rilK K.STAI!M,-.ll.\lKNr <>l' .V
UNIFORM SYSTEM
(J F
METEOROJ.OGICAL OBSERVATIONS,
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE AMERICAN CTiNTlNENT.
m:
.IvKAii iii;i'i:i{io nil'; .Metkoi!i)lo(;u al 8e(T1<»n of tiif: Amkuuan Asfioi iaiiu.s,
ON TllK 80TU of Al'KIJ,, \H^H.
BY MAJOR R. LACIILAN,
Oi' ihc British Army, now residjnp; at Cincinnati, Ohio.
CINCINNATI, O.:
PRINTED AT THE OEFl<M:; OF TI'K " CINCINNATUS, COLLEGE HILL;
O.NtlLtV A SUAIX, STKKKOTYI'KUS A.Mi rillNTLllS.
18 5 9.
rilEFATOllY NOTICE.
It having been found, on referring to the recently-published volume of
last year's Transactions of the American Association at Baltimore— lately
received— that the Standing Committee of that Institution have adhered
to their hastily-formed resolution of limiting all notice of a Paper and
Ilesolutions, read by Major Laciilan, "in advocacy of the extension of
Meteorological Observations," to being only what is termed "printed
by Title,'' instead of, as hoped by him, being published in extemo, with
a view to the widest possible circulation, the writer has deemed it duo
to the universal importance of the object aimed at, as well as to his own
zealous though humble exertions in its behalf, to appeal against so mor-
tifying a decision to the impartial tribunal of Public opinion ; and in
that pardonable, independent spirit, he is herewith led to submit his sug-
gestions in pamphlet form, " with all their imperfr.ctions on their head,"
to the unbiased consideration of men of science at large ; not, however,
as claiming for his writings any literary or scientific merit, but simply
as giving expression to long- formed and well weighed, yet unpretend-
ing opinions, on the best means of agitatlnrj and forwarding one of the
most widely-diffused and valuable branches of Physical Investigations
that could possibly engage the attention of the leading Philosophical
Association on the American Continent.
Resting content with these few introductory words, the writer humbly,
yet confidently, commits the following pages to the indulgent perusal of
the philosophical reader.
Mount ArBiiRN, Cincix\at(, Junp, 1S50.
ON A
UNIFORxM SYSTExM
OP
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
The following paper, in advocacy of the Araencan Association, as the leading
PliiloHopliical Institution in the Western Ileniispliere, tiiliiug tlie very desirable
and important step of being tlio iustruuient of a sn'onuous endeavor to set on
foot a great systematic cliaiu of simultaneous Meteorological Observationa
throughout the whole of the American Continent, was read before the Associa-
tion, at Baltimore, April 30, 1858:
Circumstances having, last year, prevented my laying before the
American Association some desultory remarks in behalf of the uni-
versal spread of simultaneous Meteorological Observations — as alike
of value to the philosopher, the agriculturist, the merchant, and the
mariner — I am now irresistibly led to lend my humble aid in bring-
ing so importajit a desideratum to its particular notice, as a natural
sequence of what had, on a minor scale, engaged my attention for a
number of years, in Canada. I allude to unavailing efforts made by
me in /avor of the institution of a systematic chain of simultaneous
Meteorological Observations throughout British Amei'ica, to be con-
nected with the meritorious system of similar records in successful
operation in the United States. And I am the more encouraged to
take this step, from having recently become aware that I shall thereby
be only reviving a course of action aimed at by this Association^
some seven years ago.-l^ I am, therefore, led to entertain a san-
* By referring to the records of the American Association, it will be found
that at the meeting of 1851, "A report was made and. a series of resolutions
adopted, for extending the system of Meteorological Observations to other parts
of this continent" among which was one " to memorialize the Canadian Govern-
ment to co-operate in the same enterprise; " but with what result does not appear.
I !
mm
<;uiiie hope, of not (itily iii(liiciii;j; the Ashiiciiitioii tu lio tlio ijistru-
ineiit of iurwurdin^ llmt j/ortidii ui' sd viTy (Icsirablo and important a
jdiilosopliical nri'anj!,onient, Imt of c.\toii(lin^ the sphere of its opera-
tions far beyond what was ut first conteniplatcd by nie.
Altlioiij^h I may pt'rliaps be adopting a Hdiueirfiat inverse course of
proceeding, in lirst, liriefly describing what T at first wished to ac-
complish, and then, exjilaining the grounds on whicdi 1 now pre-
sume to chiim your attention, I am disposed to risk doing so, as
the readiest way of at once leaving the whole matter to be decided
on, from its own intrinsic merits, and, at the same time, allowing any
explanation of my own progressive views to have only such weight
as they may justly deserve. I rest satisfied that the incalculable
value of the establishment of a great chain of co-operative Meteoro-
logical Observations throughout the civilized world, is so self-evident
that it would be e(iually a waste of time to attempt even to enumer-
ate tiie many beneficial, philosophical, scientific, and economic objects
which i( would either illustrate or subserve, or to demonstrate that
no more appropriate time could be chosen for advancing so desirable
an object than the present, when, to the recent rapid, general,
exteiisiun of physico-gcographical knowledge is now — I trust without
iail — about to be added, the completion of that marvelous electric
chain which — as it were — annihilating both time and distance — is to
bind the two hemispheres in instantaneous mental communication with
each other. Atnoiig other recent imlticements, however, I might point
to the great general excitement prevalent during the last two years
from an unusual combination of atmosj)herie disturbances, connected
with the philosophy of storms; in the former instance, supposed by
many to have been more or less influenced by tlio passing comet, and
in the latter, as being characterized by remarkably conflicting accounts
of the past winter season in almost every part of the world.
With these few introductory words, I now proceed to observe that
having, as already hinted, unfortunately failed in my endeavors to
accomplish, through a Canadian medium, the establishment through-
out the Britixk Americfui I'rovhm'n of a system of simultaneous ob-
servations, to be connected with that already in successful operation
in the American States, in hope of so far aiding in the completion
of a uniform universal chain of such records, I am now induced to
place so important a philosophical object, in its most extended sense
under the powerful auspices of this leading Trans-Atlantic Associa-
tion, as, though American by name, being, like its great British
prototype and its own noble coadjutor, the Smithsonian Institution,
of so tliorou<^lily i'lmtiojuilltmi a cliaracter iis to cmljraoe witlilii its
liberal ^-T'l^Pi ^' nm'i'irsdl Man and Xti/iirr," or — to borrow Htill fur-
ther tho huguago of the onlightoued foumlor of uJi cuHtorii philos^ophical
association, of vhlfli 1 had the honor to be a nieniher* — ''whatever is
performed by the one or jiroduced by the other;" and I wouhl,
therefore, at once, respectfully suggest that, instead of leaving de-
tached parts of a measure of such vast pliihtsojdiical and jihysical
importance, at the mercy of uncertain fitful movements by any i)ar-
ticular State or scientific body, this undeniably pre-eminent American
Association should, without delay, take into mature consideration the
most prompt and effective nu»de of ])laciiig itself in direct com-
munication with not only the difl'erent Jiritish Colonial (jiovernments,
and philosoj)hlcal societies, of Canada, New lirunswick, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward's Island, and New-Foundland, but also with those
of the l^ermuda and West India Islands, as well as with the various
independent governments in Central and South America, — with the
view of inviting and soliciting their individual and collective liberal
co-operation, //( ichafurcr tniij rach iiiai/ (driii most r,r/)''(linit, toward
the completion of one grand harmonious chain of observations
throughout tlie whole of the American continent, as not only a
measure of deep j)hilosophical interest, but fraught with direct bene-
fits to every country in the world.
Having thus briefly adverted to the very important object aimed
at by me, my wisest course would, perhaps, be to leave the rest
to tlie Association ; but considering the warm interest I have so
long taken in it elsewhere, I trust I may be permitted to add, that
though for many yeans impressed with the great value of syate-
matio meteorological obscrvul'ou.s/i' I had no good opportunity
for drawing particular attention to my views on the subject, till about
six years ago, when, happening to occupy the rather influential
position of President of the Natural History Society of Montreal, 1
at hist felt myself favorably situated for enlisting in so congenial a
caus3 the valuable co operation of Colonel Lefroy, then President
of the Canadian Institute, as well as able director of the Mairnetic
Observatory, at Toronto; but before the necessary preliminaries could
* The Asiatic Society of Calcutta.
t Systematic observations wore first advocated by lue in an Address to tlie
members of an Agricultural Association in tlie Western District of Upper (, 'ana-
da — of whch I WHS President, so far back as 1837; and again in a discourse be-
fore a local Philosophical Society— of which al-o t was Prciidt-nt — in i^Jl.
I \
be niJiturc'il for hriiiLtin^ the matter forward inider the joint aus-
pices of tlu) two BocietioH, ('ol. Lofroy wiih, iinritrfunately, culled to
Kntiland, and discoura^infjj circiuiistances KmI to my witlidrawin<;
from tlio Natural History Society. llaviiiLT, liowtu'cr, in tlio mean-
time, become connected with tbo Canadian Institute, I resolved to
prosectito tbo (d)ject F liad ho lone; at bciirt, Ibrouub tbat AHSociation ;
and I accordiiijily did ho in IMarch, 1S")1, in a paper Htrcnuously
advocatini; tbo estaldisbment of Hiniultiiiieous M((tcorolot;ical ()l)ser-
vations tbrouj^botit tbo Hritisb 7\mcrican Provinces, combined with
n metbodical record of tbo periodical rise and fall of the f^reat lakoB.
On tbis latter subject, also, I submitted a ratber elaborate essay
in the followini; month ; and both of bese papers bcintr favorably
received, and a ctunmittce ajijiointcd to rcpoit tlusrcon, I naturally
looked forward to sonu! decisive action beintj speedily taken otj tho
subject. ]Jut, unfortunately, the only protrress made up to the close
of that year, consisted of a reforeiico to flu; Smithsonian Enstitution
"for information rei^ardiiiir the workiuL' of a similar system in the
United States;" and, the I'ollowiniij year thrcatcnini; to be equally
unproductive, I was, toward its close, led to I'orward a rai)er of sup-
plementary remarks, uivini^ additional information and explanations,
in the hope of thereby rcmovini; any ])ossible obstacle in the way of
n tinudy appeal to the Provincial Jjct:i-<luturo for a suitable appropria-
tion for so luLibly iiseful and crodilable a i)urposo. Aijjain, unfor-
tunately, no further movenuMit was deemed advisable; the Institute,
apparently, uot feelinu; itself at liberty to extend its sphere of
action beyond tbo limits of Upper (.';iii:ula; wbereas uiy object had
all alonuj expressly embraced not only Jiower C'anada, bnt the whole
of the remaiuinu; l^ritisb North Anieric:;:i i'rovinces. And such, as
far as I know, is si ill the unsettled state of the matter, with tho ex-
ception of the eiilitjrbtoned Superintendent of Education of Upper
Canada, having:; taken steps for ere long filling up, through its gram-
mar schools, so much of tho proposed chain of observations as lay
within his jurisdiction.^-
* It may be advisable to explain hore, in reference to the opinions of friends
who tliink T oujiht to liavo jriven in this paiier a sketch of the menus and
practical rules dcoinod necessary by mo for carrying out what 1 proposed, that
as 1 had, from first to last, insisted upon whatever was done in Canada, being
in strict accordance with the system and forms adopted by tiie Smithsonian
Institution, so I inferred tliat a similar line of coniliict would be adopted by the
American Association, and therefore imagined that any such addition would
be unnecessary. But, as my paper now comes before the public in a detached
form, it may be proper to add liero the following quotation from the supple-
mentary remarks above alluded to: "Deeming it unnecessary to enter again
9
Tn comicctioii witli tlicsn uncxpoctcd results, T trust I may, as u
liritoii, l»o hero permitted to j;ivo vent to ft few wordH ol' patriotic!
rcpret, that, duriiif]^ the eventful years wliich have in the interim
ehipsed, ('anachi has h)st tlio opportunity of liavin^^ tlio credit of,
next to tlio IJnite<l States, taking the lead in the estahlishnjont of a
xiniform national system of Mcteorolo<,'ical Observations, as I learn
that an arranjieniont, very similar to that wliich I contemplated, has
been rocoutly introduced in France, in which, as lonj^ hoped for by
1110, the services u\' the I'^lectric! TidoL^raph, are to bo made uvuiluble
in the dissemination of iMefcorolotrical intellii^ence.*
The allusion just made to the valuable Hcrviocs derivable from ♦v.q
into tlio (Ictails of (lio virw all nlnni.' tnUon ))y ine of flic prciit philnsnphiral as well
as jiuldic IxMicCus to 1k^ (Icrivcil IVoiii tlie adojitioii of my iirupoMilioii, I urn con-
tent to rclVr yoii to my rnrmi'i" iniiclcM oti llie HiilijcL't, ami to htiitc liorc in few
words, lliivt I look forward to the Canadiiin InslitiUc's meaaures hein^ in co.ioert
witli tlio SmilliNoiiiaii I'lKliUitioii; in fact aiio|)iiiifi tlio Haino systeni and embrac-
ing tlio same objects as uro now .turcms/iiUi/ cai'ricMl otit in the United States,
under tiic* direction of that Association, with the addition of a xyxtcmatic regiHlri/ of
tho periodical rineaiitl /all a/ thu yrmt laktK; and that it appears to mo that both
brunches of tho nM'lortal;in;j;, th()U};li resting mainly on a philo.snphicid fonnila-
tion, arc in a provincial jioiiil of view, po dccidodly and especially of a une/ul ami
bmrfidal public character, that, if ajipeiilcil to, our Uovcrnment would not liepi-
tato to bear apart in its promotion; and t lie more so, as form in}!; important
links ill the great chain of valuable researches connecteil with physical geog-
raphy now in proj^ress all over tlir world. 1 consider, however, that the Par-
liamentary assistance mi):lit, in tlie lir.t insliuice, be limited to granting an
ajijiropriation Hiillicicnt to meet the expense of furnishing a si't of well-adjusted
instruments for each station, and authorizing such )iublic oificers as harbor-
masters, light-house keejters, and collectors of customs, to givo their valuable
assistane(,'; but that the ('ommander of the forces Hlionld, at the same time,
bo solicited to aid tho undertaking by reipiesting all medical oflicers in charge
of hospitals, to furnish to the Institute a copy of the .Meteorological llccord
transmitted by them periodically to the; Inspector General in iiondon; and that
the valuable co-operation of the Governor of tho Hudson IJay Territory, should
not be overlooked: and further, that overy University, College, and other educa-
tional institution, (ngcthi-r with every literary nml philosophic society, and
every mechanics' institute throughout the ]>rovincc, ^h"".!-! be invited to lend their
aid; and finally tiiat the co-operation of the (iovernments of !Nova .Scotia, New
Brunswick and Prince Kdwnrd's Island, should be invoked in the laudable
work." In short, I indulged the lio]io that the (^anadian Institute would be per-
mitted to Lave the honor of standing in the same relation to the British Amer-
ican proviucee, as the Smilhsuuiaii Jnstitulion did to the great American Union.
"■'■ I am happy to be able to add here, that since this paper was written, I have
learned that not only bus another 7i((/((jn«i! system of Meteorological Observations
been establist.ed in Russia, 1)ut tli:it a widely-extended scheme of observations
has been lately s(-t on foot in I'ui'ojie, which will include Petersburg, Algiers,
Dulilin, Lisbon, Gret^mvich, I'ordeaux, and other places, with the Electric Tele-
graph for an adjunct, and I'aris for the center of discussion and observation;
and further, that tho French (government has recently established not fewer than
twelve Meteorological Observatories in Algeria, in Africa — a part of the world
in which such observations have been completely neglected, and are therefore
likely to prove of great scientific importance.
li I
10
co-operation of the Telegraph in tlie prompt transmission of
Meteorological intelligence, uaturally and opportunely leads me back
to a very important part of the object in view, and I therefore trust
I may be permitted to dwell a little on that point, becauwe regarded
by some as unattainable, except at considerable expense ; at least
such would appear to have been the feeling of a late Committee of
the Canadi: n Institute, from its allotting in its Report, a special sum
for the services of a telegraph ojtcrator ; whereas I, as one of the
many inqxiid, humble gleaners, who cheerfully i'ollow the steps of a
host of more distinguished yet C(jually gmftdtoKs philosophical reap-
ers in the field of Science, am fully persuaded that there is not a
telegraph in the whole American Union, or in the British American
Provinces, whose directors would not be happy to assist in forward-
ing so praiseworthy a public o])ject without charge, provided arrange-
ments were made to give as little trouble as possible. Indeed, it will
be in the recollection of many now present, that daiJij, but, unfor-
tunately, far from regular, or uniform, Reports of the state of ihe
toeathcr, ((t least, have loig been voluntarily furnished by telegraph
to the public press, from a gre;i.t number of places, which, if recorded
at fixed hours and in uniform descriptive terms, however brief, would
be of infinitely more value, either as mere items of general meteoro-
logical intelligence, or connected with the philosophy of storms in
particular. Tuke^for instance, from among several slips, clipped from
newspiii.'rs, which I now hold in my hand, the Report for the 2d of
iMarch last, and it will bo seen that out of thirty-three entries, though
all give the state of the thermometer, only one mentions that of the
barometer, and only I'ourteen notice (he direction of the winds; and yet
tlie coutiicting record of that day involves both fine weather and foul,
clear and cloudy, winds X. E. and S. AV., gentle and stormy, rain and
snow, slight and hard, and a range of temperature from 4°. to o3°. I
I could have readily referred to other examples of even a less
explicit character, in whii.:li the range of the thermometer was still
greater, and involved stormy phenomena of much importance and
deep interest; yet the Report from some places was limited to the
indefinite terms "very cold," or "very fine," etc., without any refer-
ence whatever to either barometer, thermometer, or winds.
But, to draw toward a conclusion, although it is upward of forty
years since, in India, I first began to regard the barometer with a
philosophic eye ; and it is now more than twenty years since, as a
Canadian farmer, I turned my attention to it in connection with the
phases oJ' the moon, and felt a de.sire to court the co-operation of
11
mil
ler-
of
other similarly-situatod observers, in the hope of reapiii*^ therefrom
considerable direct benefit, as well as interesting philosophical in-
formation, all my hu'nble cflf'orts sink into insignificance compared
with the invaluable services of that eminent hydroQjraper and shrewd
observer, Captain ^Iaukv, of the United States Navy, to whom the
world is mainly indebted for a knowledtre of the existence of that
singular, uniform plateau at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, which
led to the achievement of a sub-marine telegraphic communication
between the old and new world. I will, therefore, instead of using
any language of my own, make free to bring to your recollection two
observations in point, made by that highly intelligent officer — the one
on the value of meteorological observations connected with agricul-
tural pursuits, in an Address to the J arm rm of the United States, and
the other, on the benefits to be derived from a fore-knowledge of the
approach of storms, through the agency of the magnetic telegraph,
contained in an official letter to the Secretary of the Navy, so late as
the month of February last. In the former of these, (.'apt. 3Iaury
justly observes that, "//■/'»/•/</.>//'''/ 2ci(h the necessary nisirnmoits and
ijniiled hy proper instructions for tlidr use, as regards systematic con-
formity of observation, there would be no difficulty in embodying,
vitliout cost, a voluntary corps of observers, who would soon furnish
all the data requisite for a complete study of both agricultural and
sanitary meteorology;" and he then proceeds to iSay — to use again
his own words — "could not at least ohh farmer be found in the aver-
age for each county in every state? I do not think there would be
much difficulty on that score. ]Jut, on an average, ten observers for
a state would be sufficient," "Now," he pertinently continues, "if we
could get the English Government, and the French Government, and
the Russian Government, and the other Christian States, both of the
old world and the new, to do the same by their farmers, we shall have
the whole surface of our planet covered with meteorological observers,
and eliciting from nature, under all varieties of climate and circum-
stances, answers to the same questions ; and that, too, at no other cx-
jnnse than ivhat eac]i (Jocirnmmit chose to Incur for the (/Iscnssion a)id
2)uhlication of the observations made hi) its own citixrns or suhjeets.^^
In the other communication alluded to. Captain Maury first justly
observes that with a well-conducted system of co-operative meteoro-
logical observations, and the use of the magnetic telegraph as an ap-
pliance, "warning of an approaching storm might be given to the
shipping in port and the laborer in the field, at least several hours
in advance, and quite in time to save annually to the farmer, the
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merchant, and the niarijier, much valuable lite luid property." And
he then adds that " he is happy to state that such an extension of
the system has been iiuule in Holland, and that the results promised
justify the opinion he had expressed — M. Ballot, the Superintendent
of the noble Meteo" 'j<;\ca\ Institution at Utrecht, having, from five
years' observation^, at five co-operative stations, made the important
discovery of there being a numerical relation between the force of the
winds and the changes of barometrical pressure, which, if f'onfirmed,
will prove of the highest practical importance to the industrial pur-
suits of every country, by land as well as by sea."
Much more of an encouraging character might be added, expressive
of the favorable opinions of other distinguished American meteorolo-
gists ; but, as I trust, the whole merits of the subject will be discussed
by a competent preliminary tribunal, of which some of those talented
individuals will doubtless form a part, I forbear from trespassing
longer on the patience of the meeting, and shall, ther'^fore, respect-
fully proceed to move the following resolutions :
1. That tlie establishment of a grand co-operative system of Meteorological
Observations among the civil izcd nations of the world, being, independent of
mere philosophical purposes, certain of proving in many ways beneficial to
mankind generally, but especially in connection with the advancement of in-
dustrial pursuits, the accumulation of valuable sanitary information, and the
timely foreknowledge of the approach of storms ; and many of the most dihtin-
guished philosophers in Europe having turned tlieir attention t'; the subject, it
behooves the enlightened people of the American Continent to lend their aid in
the achievement of so important an object.
2. That such being the case, it naturally I ;comes the duty of this Association,
as the acknowledged leading Philosophical Institution in America, to evince its
readiness to co-operate in so laudable a cosmopoUUm undertaking.
3. That it is therefore respectfully moved that a Special Committee be nomi-
nated to take the jvhole subject into immediate consideratioii, with the view of
devising such plan of preliminary arrangements, in harmony with the Smithsonian
Institution, as will enable it to enter, without delay, into direct communication
with not only the beads of every State in the Union, but with surroimding For-
eign States, and more especially with the difleront Governments of the neighbor-
ing British American Provinces, as well as of those of the West India Islands;
and also with the various independent States in Central and South America;
calling their particular attention to the uuivei'sally-beneficial objects of the pro-
posal, and inviting their cordial cc operation in so enlightened a combination.
And, further, that to insure every possible publicity being given to whatever
course of proceeding may bo adopted, the Permanent Secretary be authorized to
notify the same to all and every literary or philosophical Institution in Europe
ftnd elsewhere, with which this Association is in communication, in the hope of
thereby giving un additional impetus to the exertions of the friends of Science
throughout the world.
13
roSTSClUPT.
An extremely meager and incorrcef notice of tlie foregoing paper
appearing next Diorning in the Baltimore American, Major Laculan
felt it his duty to counteract any probably injurious consequences to
t'le object in view, that might result therefrom, by making the follow-
ing observations at the next general meeting :
As it would appear, from the meager notice in the American of
Saturday, of my paper and resolutions or. the extension of Meteoro-
logical Observations, that instead of my reading a written paper occu-
pying at least half an hour, I only urged tne Association, in a few
introductory word.), to increase its efforts to procure simultaneous ob-
servations, hij mcdiix of (he wajvetic telegraph, for the jmrpose of (jiving
ira ruing of the approach <f alorms, ard that Prof IIenry, though
kindly complimentary to nic personally, ohjectcd to the passage of
the resolutions, I trust I am not out of order in taking this public
opportunity of endeavoring to prevent incorrect impressions going
abroad, that, if not noticed, might prove injurious, if not fatal, to a
very important object, by now stating that as far as my imperfect
hearing enabled me to understand Prof. Henry, he did not object to
the resolutions, but merely observed that they could not well be
passed, as being too laudatory of the Association, and that body
having no funds to devote to such a work as that proposed; and that,
as nil advocate of caution, he therefore moved the resolutions being
roferred to fho standing committee. ^'=
Not being quite at ease on that head, I would now beg permission
to state, that, at any rate, my friend Prof. Henry seems to have been
* Tlie Report in the Baltimore American, of May 1st, 1858,^.18 as follows:
" MiiTKonoLOfiicAL Obskuvations. — IMdjov Lachliiii, of Cincinnati, urf^cd tlio
Associtition to incrcnse its efforts to procure simnltaneons Metcorologiciil Ob-
servations tliroufrhout tlie Anieric;in Continent, h\ nie.'ins of tlie Magnetic Tclc-
}:riip!i, exprepsinpr Ms belief tliiit the Directors of every Telegraphic Line would
ilieerfully, ami witho'it charge, lend their aid to this object, provided the sys-
tem coulil be ii,. vged so as to give ns little trouble as possible. Knowleilgo
of an approacliing storm would thus lie given to vessels in port, about to sail,
and vuluiihlc lives and property be saved that otherwise migjit be sacrificed.
lie concluded by moving the following resolutions:'' [wiiich appear in a preced-
ing page, after which the Aiitfrirrni continues as follows:]
" Professor Ilcnry highly jomplimented Mnjor L., on his devotion to Meteoro-
logical Science, but objected to the passage of the resolutions, both on account
of tlieir being too laudatory of the Association, and on account of the Association
having ni uu'.aus to undertake such a work. The Smithsonian Institution was
doing wiiat it could, and now had tliioe hundred and fifty observers, all of whom
at two o'clock made a recoid of the weather; and these observations cost no less
than ^?"),()i)!) per annum, independent of tlie cost of printing, etc., which can not.
lie undertaken without the aid of (lovernment. He concluded by moving that
the I'csoliitions lie referi'ed to the stan<ling conimittee. with instructions to take
such action as may be decnied advisable, wliich was a Inpted.''
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inadvcrt.'intly under a im.sapprehcnsion in both respects: tlio supposed
over-laudatory expression, at first existing in one of the resolutions,
having been easily modified, so as to state only the simple (uncompli-
mentary) fact, which can not be denied, of i's being the avknoide.dged
leading Philosophical Association in Araericr.. And, a.s to its having no
means to undertake such a work as that proposed, I beg it to be thor-
oughly understood that what I contcmplaced involved little extra ex-
pense, being, as stated in my paper, .simply that the Association should
undertake to communicate with every Government in America on the
subject, leaving to each to decide how f\ir and in what manner they
would co-operate, by — of course — carrying on and reducing whatever
observations were registered within their own limits; and therefore the
only extra expense likely to fall upon the Association, would be con-
nected with the ultimate incorporation of these Abstracts in one grand
Meteorological Register, for the whole Continent of America.
Once more, then, let me earnestly intreat, as in all likelihood my
last efi'ort in a great aud good cause, that this Association will not
shrink from undertaking an office of such world-wide interest and
importance. Should it happily prove successful, honor and credit to
it will be the result. Should its efforts prove in vain, it will, at all
events, have the satisfaction of having made the attempt, and feeling
that the discredit of failure can not justly be laid at its door.
?m