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Table of Heights ascertained barometrically in the Department 

 of the Hautes- Pyrenees. By M. LE COMTE DE RAFFETOT. 

 Communicated by Professor FOEBES in a Letter to the 

 Editor. 



MY DEAR SIH, The accompanying Table of Heights I 

 think you will consider worthy of publication on two accounts : 

 First, as enlarging our knowledge of the figure of the earth's 

 surface ; and, secondly, as affording an excellent example of a 

 method by which many individuals without scientific preten- 

 sions, may usefully employ and dignify their leisure, and in- 

 crease the stock of human knowledge. 



The annexed results were obtained by a French gentleman 

 of fortune, the Count de Raffetot, whose acquaintance I had 

 the good fortune to make last year amongst the Pyrenees. 

 Both residing at the same inn in the village of Luz, the accident 

 of our both possessing barometers by Bunten of Paris, was the 

 origin of our acquaintance ; and it is a fair testimony to the 

 character of that excellent artist to add, that we were equally 

 surprized and pleased, on comparing our instruments, to find 

 them agree within one-tenth of a millemetre. M. de Raffetot em- 

 ployed his leisure in ascertaining the elevation of the chief sur- 

 rounding points of the valley in which we resided : and if we 

 reflect upon the additional knowledge in physical geography 

 which such well-directed and pleasant labour would produce, if 

 undertaken by the frequenters of every watering-place in 

 Europe, we cannot but consider the lesson as a valuable one. 

 Some remoter and more elevated points were determined from 

 iny observations, M. de Raffetot making the corresponding ones 

 at Luz. Such observations are marked with an asterisk, amongst 

 which I have added one or two wholly my own. 



When I add that these observations have been chiefly re- 

 duced by the tables in the French Annuaire, and that they 

 have been converted into English measure by my friend and 

 pupil, Mr Thomas Anderson, I believe that I have stated all 

 that needs to be known respecting this little contribution. 



Believe me most sincerely yours, 



Wth December 1836. JAMES D. FORBES. 



VOL. XXII. NO. XLI1I. JANUARY 1837. M 



