20 



III. What encouragement there is to a further prosecution of the same 

 researches; and, 



IV. I shall offer a plan for securing these advantages in their fullest ex- 

 tent. 



I. Of what importance to society is the study of meteorology? 



Very little argument is needed to prove that our comfort and convenience ^ 

 and not unfrequently our lives and property., are dependent upon meteoro- 

 logical phenomena. This is proverbially true of the mariner. Tlie mo- 

 ment he embarks upon the treacherous sea, he finds himself at the mercy 

 of the winds. His life often depends upon the fidelity with which he 

 watches every change in the aspect of the sky. In a single hour he may 

 exchange the deceptive calm for the fatal tornado. The number of dis- 

 asters upon the sea is frightful 7 and is far greater than is generally known. 

 In the gale of December 15, 1839, 89 vessels were wrecked on the Massa- 

 chusetts coast; and of these, 61 on a single cape. In the great hurricane of 

 17S0, 13 batde-ships were lost, and 16 more dismasted. England and 

 America alone suffer an annual loss from wrecks of more than 1,000 ves- 

 sels, and nearly one-half of this is on the American coast. 



But how can the study of meteorology benefit the sailor? Will it en- 

 able him to calm the tempest — to subdue the raging of the sea ? This we 

 do not expect; yet, if he can anticipate the approach of a storm even by a 

 few hours, he may generally place himself beyond the reach of its fury. 

 Is it in the power of science to enable the navigator to anticipate the 

 coming tempest? If so, then it would be difficult to name a subject 

 of more vital importance to our commerce. How far this object has been 

 already attained, and what encouragement there is to expect further dis- 

 coveries, I shall consider hereafter. 



The sailor is not the only person who has an interest in the study of 

 meteorology. Although but a small part of the population of the United 

 States are directly engaged in foreign commerce, yet so important has this 

 department of industry become, and so interwoven with all the business 

 of the country, that there is not a trade or profession which does not feel 

 the shock of any great disaster at sea. Aside from this indirect interest^ 

 tlie farmer is directly dependent upon the weather for the consummation of 

 his plans, almost equally with the sailor. Severe drought or excessive 

 rains, untimely frost or a scorching sun, may blast all the hopes of the 

 husbandman. Here it may be asked, do you expect to produce rain or 

 sunshine at pleasure ? Probably not. But if we can anticipate the gene- 

 ral character of a season, the farmer may regulate his time of planting or the 

 nature of his crops, so as to be least injuriously affected by unpropitious 

 weather; so that, if we cannot strip the lightning of its power, we may at 

 least direct it harmlessly to the earth. 



