308 WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. [1855- 



endeavored to exhibit our views of the theory of Professor 

 Espy and to show its applicability to the explanation and in 

 some cases to the prediction of the great commotions of the 

 atmosphere. We think this theory has not received the 

 attention from foreign meteorologists which its merits de- 

 mand, and this perhaps has arisen from the fact that it has 

 not been presented to the public in a form which would 

 commend it to the immediate attention of scientists. It has 

 been frequently coupled with propositions for the artificial 

 and economical production of rain, which — however well 

 based on scientific principles — would be too uncertain and too 

 expensive to render them of any value in a practical point 

 of view : and it must be confessed that the language of Mr. 

 Espy in regard to the proofs of the truth of his theory, and 

 of its great value as a scientific generalization, has occasion- 

 ally been such as to awaken opposition to it rather than to 

 secure its approval and final adoption.* 



[* Fifty-six pages of Meteorological Tables following this part are omitted 

 in the present re-print.] 



