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Stations for the exhibition of Storm Signals might be established at 

 numerous prominent points along the coasts, so as to command sea views 

 as extensive as possible. The notifications issued from the central 

 station might be transmitted to these signal stations by electric telegraph, 

 so far as practicable, and the station-keepers would immediately exhibit 

 the proper signals, which would be observed from vessels at sea, as well 

 as from other stations not in direct communication by telegraph with 

 the central station. By a proper an-angement of this description, the 

 masters of all vessels within a certain distance of land, all round our 

 coasts, could be apprised with certainty of the approach of dangerous 

 storms, in some instances many hours before any alarming symptoms of 

 atmospheric disturbance appeared in their respective localities. 



The duty of organizing a system, such as that which I have briefly 

 indicated, ought certainly to be undertaken by Government. The end 

 proposed to be attained, is of vast national importance — the protection of 

 an immense amount of life and property; and the means by which this 

 end is to be accomplished, appear to be unobjectionable in regard either 

 to practicability or expense. A great part of the machinery required is 

 already in operation. The system could also be very readily made 

 applicable as an important element in our " national defences," in the 

 case (rather an unlikely one I would hope,) of a foreign invasion ; for 

 were it completely carried out, no sooner would a hostile fleet come with- 

 in sight of any part of our coasts, than the whole country would be in 

 arms ready to repel the foe. Governments are, however, in general re- 

 markably tardy in their operations, though certainly something may be 

 looked for from such men as compose the present Government. In the 

 meantime, something might be done by some of our great commercial 

 cities. I need not tell the men of Liverpool of the dangers of the Chan- 

 nel, and even of the Mersey. How many hundreds of human beings 

 have perished, and how many hundreds of thousands of pounds in value 

 of property, have been lost through storms within the last few years, and 

 within sight of their spires, or even of their commodious and magnificent 

 docks ! Could not a great proportion of this loss have been prevented, 

 had a system, such as I have endeavoured roughly to sketch out, been in 

 operation during these years ? The Mersey is very much exposed to west- 

 erly gales, but, by way of compensation for this great disadvantage, Liver- 

 pool, even at present, possesses better means of obtaining timely warning 

 of the approach of storms from any quarter, tlian are enjoyed by any other 

 locality. The truth of this will be at once obvious, by observing the 

 position of Liverpool upon the map, and noting the long lines of telegraph 

 of which it may be considered the point of convergence, keeping at the 

 same time in view the general characters of our storms, as stated in the 



