454 Admiral Fitz-Roy [March 28, 



often derive useful cautionary notices from these published expecta' 

 tions of weather — although (from the nature of such subjects) they 

 can be but scanty, and imperfect, under present circumstances. 



Objection has been taken to such forecasts, because they cannot be 

 always exactly correct, — for all places in one district. It is, however, 

 considered by most persons that general, comprehensive expressions, in 

 aid of local observers, who can form independent judgments from the 

 tables and their own instruments, respecting their immediate vicinity, 

 though not so ivell for distant places, may be very useful, as well as 

 interesting : while to an unprovided or otherwise uninformed person, 

 an idea of the kind of weather thought probable cannot be otherwise 

 than acceptable, provided that he is in no way bound to act in accord- 

 ance with any such views, against his own judgment. 



Like the storm signals, such notices should be merely cautionary 

 — to denote anticipated disturbance someivhere over these islands, — 

 without being in the least degree compulsory, or interfering arbi- 

 trarily with the movements of vessels or individuals. 



Certain it is, that although our conclusions may be incorrect — our 

 judgment erroneous — the laws of nature, and the signs afforded to man, 

 are invariably true. Accurate interpretation is the real deficiency. 



Seamen know well the marked characteristics of the two great 

 divisions of wind, In all parts of the world, and do not care to calcu- 

 late the intermediate changes, or combinations, to two or three points. 

 They want to know the quarter whence a gale may be expected — 

 whether northerly or southerly. 



Every seaman will admit, that however useful, and therefore 

 desirable, it would be to know exactly the hour of a storm's commence- 

 ment — as our acquaintance with meteorology does not enable such times 

 to be fixed — the next best thing is to have limits assigned for extra 

 vigilance and due precaution, which limits are clearly stated, in all the 

 printed popular instructions, to be from the time of hoisting the signal 

 until two or three days afterwards. 



But, say some, and justly— are ships to remain waiting to avoid a 

 gale that, after all, may not happen ? Are fishermen and coasters to 

 wait idle and miss their opportunities ? By no means. All that the 

 cautionary signals imply is — "Look out." "Be on your guard." 

 " Notice your glasses and the signs of the weather." " The atmo- 

 sphere is much disturbed." 



Many remarkable cases have occurred, which show the value of 

 such warnings, or cautionary notices. Some have been published in 

 newspapers, and need not be repeated ; others have been communicated 

 only by private letters ; and one or two of them may be mentioned 

 now as instances. 



Admiral Evans wrote that on one evening, after a warning had 

 been given at Liverpool, such a sudden (though brief) storm swept 

 over the Mersey as would have done much harm, had not the harbour- 

 master made due preparations, because of the signal. 



A gentleman intending to cross the Irish Channel with an invalid 



