48 



territory than my observation embraced, to verify, or, if necessary, modify 

 these generalizations, and also to investigate the laws of summer storms, 

 which 1 fear cannot be done without much more numerous observers than 

 i was able to procure.* 



^JP ^ 'P ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 



The elements of the theory I have given you are the same as those pre- 

 sented in my work on storms; and tbough I have demonstrated them ap- 

 proximately, and have no doubt of their general accuracy, yet I am con- 

 vinced that nothing will establish the truth on this subject in such a man- 

 ner as to cany conviction to every mind but a series of wide extended 

 simultaneous obsei'vations, continued for a long time, by numerous observ- 

 €rs. Such a series I hope is now about to be made. 



It would be inappropriate to extend this communication to a greater 

 length; but I will explain to you at another time some experiments con- 

 nected with meteorology, which I wish to see performed, on the electricity 

 of steam, and on the specific caloric o^ xospheric air and other gases, 

 with the aid of my nephelescope, and on the law of cooling of air in great 

 expansions of air by diminished pressure. 



I remain, very respectfully, yours, (fcc, 



JAMES P. ESPY. 



Prof. J. Henry, 



Secretary SmitJisonian Institution. 



'The generalizations and theory of Mr. Espy are given in the preceding report of Professor 

 Loomie, pa^ 33. 



' <l 



