232 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



" Dr. Holyoke's Journal, from January 1st, 1754, to February 28th, 

 1829, except only the year 1759. A period of 75 years and 2 months, 

 of which the observations are complete for 74 years and 2 months ! 



" Dr. Hale's Journal, from January 1st, 1818, to November 30th, 

 1848. 



" Making a continued series for 106 years and 7 months, of which 

 there are duplicate observations for 46 years and 3 months. Of these 

 observations, 65 years of Dr. Holyoke^s and Dr. Hale's have been re- 

 duced to tables, and various means of years and seasons computed 

 and published in the Academy's Memoirs, by Dr. Hale. The original 

 journals have been bound in volumes, and are now in a good state of 

 preservation. As these papers were confided to the Academy, in most 

 cases, by the heirs of the observers, it is manifestly the duty of the 

 Academy to adopt every means for their preservation, that the object 

 of the patient and persevering labor of their authors may be attained. 

 The committee find that they contain a record of many phenomena 

 not noticed in the printed abstracts, and which may hereafter be found 

 highly useful in explaining the laws of meteorology, if science should 

 ever be able to discover the order and relations of those laws, and re- 

 duce them to a rational and connected system. With a view, there- 

 fore, to the preservation of these journals from fire and other hazards 

 to which they are now exposed, the committee have subjoined a vote 

 for the purchase of a fire-proof safe, in which they may be deposited. 



" Since the lamented death of Dr. Hale, no observations have been 

 made under the direction of the Academy. It will be recollected that 

 that gentleman several years since extended his original private obser- 

 vations, at the request of the Academy, for which he received a small 

 compensation from the Rumford fund. The committee deem it highly 

 important that these observations should be resumed as soon as a com- 

 petent observer can be found who will undertake the trust. The com- 

 mittee think it desirable, moreover, that the instruments used by Dr. 

 Hale, which were his private property, should be in the possession of 

 the Academy, that they may be referred to and compared with such 

 other instruments as may be used hereafter. 



" Under these views of the whole subject, the committee recommend 

 the following votes : — 



" Voted, That the Librarian be authorized and requested to purchase 

 an iron safe, in which shall be kept the various manuscript meteorolog- 

 ical journals in possession of the Academy ; and that the same officer 



