On the Temperature of (he Atmosphere in Barbadoes. 57 



of about 04.50^ Fahrenheit. But vve are informed by the 

 tables of the Army Meteorological Register, that the annual 

 mean for that place is G8.07", making a difference of 3.57°. 

 Now, we cannot mistrust the accuracy with which the obser- 

 vations were noted in this case, nor the correctness with which 

 the calculations were made ; but there can be no doubt that too 

 high a temperature has been obtained for want of attention to 

 things generally considered as of minor importance, and in 

 consequence of the too general adoption of methods which 

 have been found to give correct results in other climates. — 

 American Journal of Science and Arts^ vol. xliv., No. 1, p. 50. 



Observations on the Temperature and Hygrometric State of the 

 Atmosphere of the Island of Barbadoes. By Robert Law- 

 son, Esq., Assistant- Surgeon 47th Regiment.* Communi- 

 cated by the Author. 



Having in the course of service proceeded to the West Indies in the 

 beginning of 1841, I gladly availed myself of the opportunity to make 

 a series of observations on some branches of meteorology, which were 

 more immediately within my reach, and which seemed likely to be of 

 use in elucidating the action of climate on the constitution, believing 

 that the results, limited although they be, have an important bearing ou 

 6ome of the atmospheric phenomena within the tropics, I am induced to 

 lay them before the public. My attention was chiefly directed to the 

 temperature of the atmosphere, the dew point, direction of the winds, 

 and portion of the sky obscured by clouds. The observations were 

 made three times daily, at 9 a.m., 13 p.m., and 9 p.m., with as much regu- 

 larity as the nature of my duties would permit. They were commenced 

 in May 1841, and continued until my return to England in February 

 1842. 



Having no data wherewith to reduce the temperatures at the above- 

 mentioned hours to tlie mean of the day, I commenced^ in June, a series 

 of observations of the thermometer every hour between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

 (both inclusive), and which I was enabled, with but little interruption, 

 to continue to the end of August. From this date, the pressure of duty 



* Abstract of a Paper laid before the Royal Society of Edinburgh, March 7, 

 1843. 



