[ 120 ] 14 • 



cost, and, after considerable inquiry and comparison of different instrti- 

 ments, we have at length decided upon one, with an adjustable cistern 

 and enclosed in a brass case, which may be transported to a distance, and 

 will serve as well for a mountain barometer as for indicating meteorologi- 

 cal changes. For the construction of these instruments, we have em- 

 ployed Mr. James Green, formerly of Baltimore, now of New York; and 

 in order that tlie instruments furnished bj^ him to ourselves, or sold to our 

 observers, may be comparable with each other, we have procured a 

 standard barometer from London, with which each instrument, previously 

 numbered , is accurately compared , and the record carefully preserved . We 

 have also decided upon the forms of rain and snow gauges and wind vanes, 

 and have ordered a number of these to be constructed by Benjamin Pike 

 ct Son, Broadway, New York. 



It is the policy of the institution to do as much with its funds as possi- 

 ble, and to call in aid from every quarter whence it may be obtained. 

 With reference to the system of meteorology, I am happy to inform the 

 board that we have received assistance from a number of sources from 

 which it could scarcely have been expected at the commencement of the 

 scheme. The last Congress appropriated two thousand dollars for 

 meteorology, to be expended under the direction of the Navy Depart- 

 ment. It was understood that Professor Espy was to be engaged in the 

 investigations to be made in accordance with this appropriation, and, in 

 order that his labors might co operate with those of the institution, the 

 late Secretary of the Navy directed him to apply to me for instructions. 

 During the past year he has been engaged in directing observations and 

 making preparation for a series of experiments having an important bear- 

 ing on the explanation of meteorological phenomena. It is understood 

 that the remainder of this appropriation, after paying the salary of Mr. 

 Espy, will be expended in defraying incidental expenses, such as print- 

 ing, engraving, &c. 



The Regents of the University of the State of New York, in 1S25, or- 

 ganized a system of meteorology, which has continued ever since, and 

 which has added many interesting facts to the stock of scientific knowl- 

 edge. In order to extend the usefulness of this system, the Regents of 

 the University have lately resolved to reorganize the whole, and to supply 

 the observers with accurate and well-compared instruments. This work 

 has been intrusted to Dr. T. Romeyn Beck and one of our Regents, 

 Gideon Hawley, esq., both of Albany. They have adopted the same 

 system and instruments as those of the Smithsonian Institution, and have 

 agreed to co-operate fully with us in the observation of the general and 

 particular phenomena of meteorology. A similar movement has been 

 made in the legislature of Massachusetts for the establishment of a system 

 of observations, and it is hoped that the other States of the Union will 

 follow these examples. We are also happy to state that the medical depart- 

 ment of the army, under the direction of Surgeon General Lawson, has 

 signified its willingness to unite with us in the same system, and to fur- 

 nish the new military posts with instruments constructed on the same 

 plan, and compared with the Smithsonian standard. We hope, there- 

 fore, within the coming year, that there will be established at least fifty 

 stations in different parts of North America, furnished with accurate in- 

 struments of this kind. 



During the past summer I visited Canada;, principally for the purpose 



