193 [ 23 ] 



fibrary is a slow work, and much time must necessarily be consumed in 

 producing but small visible results. 



I am, my dear sir, very truly, your friend and servant, 



C, C. JEWETT. 

 Professor Henry, LL. D., 



Secretary ISniitlisonian Institution, 



APPENDIX No. 2. 



Report on the Meteorology of the United States : By Professor Loomis 

 Submitted to the Secretary of tlie Smithsonian Institution . 



My dkar sir: Believing that the science of meteorology has noM'- ar- 

 rived at that stage of advancement in which a more powerful combination 

 of observers is needed to secure any rapid progress, I fully concur iu the 

 importance of establishing an extended system of observations under the 

 direction of the Smithsonian Institution, and propose in this report briefly 

 to inquire, 



I. What advantages society may expect to derive from the study of me- 

 teorology, particularly that branch of it which relates to the phenomena of 

 storms. 



II. What has already been done in this country, 1st, towards making 

 the necessar}?" observations; and, 2d, towards deducing from the observa- 

 tions general laws. 



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

 a'esearciies; 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 litde argument is needed to prove that our comfort and coavenience, 

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

 'logical phenomena. This is proverbially true of the mariner. The 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 friglitful, and is far greater than is generally known. 

 In the gale of December 15, 1S39, 89 vessels were wrecked on the Massa-^ 

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

 17S0, I'S battle-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 lUry. 

 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 imnortance to our commerce. How far this object has been 

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