15 [120] 



of examining the meteorological instruments and the motliod of using 

 them employed at the observatory of Toronto. Capiuiii Lefroy, the di- 

 rector of this institution, aflbrded me every facility t'-r acquiring the de- 

 sired information. He also furnished me with a list of military posts in 

 Canada at which observations may be made, and gave assurance of the 

 hearty co-operation in our labors of the otficers attached to these posts. 

 We have aUo a prospect of procuring permanent observations from Ber- 

 muda, some of the West India islands, and from Central America. 



From all these statements it will be seen we are in a fair way of estab- 

 lishing a general system of meteorology, extending over a great portion of 

 North America, including many stations furnished with compared instru- 

 ments referred to the same standard. When fully organized, it will con- 

 stitute one of the most important systems ever instituted; but to bring 

 it fully into operation will require a judicious expenditure of all the funds 

 at our disposal for this purpose. At the last session of the board, ono 

 thousand dollars were appropriated for meteorological purposes, the greater 

 portion of wdiich has been expended for instruments, among which are 

 those to serve as standards; an equal sum, at least, will be required for 

 the next year. 



In connexion with the regular meteorological system, successful appli- 

 cations have been made to the presidents of a number of telegraph lines 

 to allow us, at a certain period of the day, the use of their wires for the 

 transmission of meteorological intelligence. We propose to furnish the 

 most important offices along the lines with sets of instruments, and to 

 give the operators special instructions for the observation of particular 

 phenomena. It is hoped by this means to obtain results not otherwise 

 accessible. Instruments for this purpose are now in process of construc- 

 tion, and as soon as they are completed the transmission of observations 



wnll commence. 



The establishment of the extended system of meteorology, which we 

 have just described, is a work of time and labor— the correspondence alone 

 being sufficient constantly to occupy the time of-one person, and the ad- 

 justment of the several parts of the plan has required more tunc than my 

 other engagements would permit me to devote to it. 



Magnetic Observations. 



A set of magnetic apparatus was ordered from London for the purpose of 

 determining the lines of magnetic iiitensity, decimation, and mchnation. 

 These are intrusted to Colonel Emory, of the bouiidary commission, and 

 in his possession they will probably be made to do good service m the 

 cause of science. As soon as the funds will admit of the appropriation, t 

 would be advisable to purchase several sets ot instruments of the same kind, 

 to be placed m the hands of the scientific explorers ot -"r new terrUo^^^^^^ 

 and for determining the principal magnetic lines across the United fetates. 



Physical Geograj)hy. 



Another subject of much interest connected ^f ;,tl>« I^^;>'J^^^^^ |::°f7'^ 

 of our country IS the collection of the statistics of a 1 '^^ ^^^^ 

 plorations which have been made in various P^^^ ,f j' ^^^^^ ^'^^^f^ ,^dT 

 and Canada. This information, at present m tiie possession ot inai 



