292 

 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR 1866. 



By E. J. ISBELL, Esq., and Mr. COOKE. 



In consequence of my absence from Hereford during the first half of 

 the past year, I have been compelled to leave the compilation of the annual 

 Meteorological Table almost entirely in the hands of my friend, Mr. Cooke, 

 This table now appears in the usual form. Had it not been for my departure 

 from Hereford several columns would have been added ; but some important 

 instruments, being my own, were carried away by me when I left this place, 

 and thus a series of interesting observations was, I am sorry to say, broken 

 through and not resumed until my return. 



In the construction of the table, Mr. Cooke has made use of the standard 

 barometer belonging to the Woolhope Club. This instrument, which was once 

 in my charge,has stood ever since it left my hands in Mr. Bezant's shop, and 

 it was agreed that Mr. Bez-xnt's brother should register the readings daily, and 

 that Mr. Cooke should correct them. Since the first day of August, however, 

 I have myself registered and corrected the barometer readings, using my own 

 standard, as it is very important to be certain that the instrument is read ofif 

 at the same hour every day. 



According to our observations the average height of the barometer at 

 Hereford during the year 18G6, was 29.083 inches, tt must be remembered, 

 however, that we do not reduce our observations to sea-level because we wish 

 to furnish the local height of the mercurial column ; and as Hereford is, 

 according to Mr. Curley, 158 feet above the sea, and the barometer cistern 

 about 170 feet, the difference in reading between this instrument and one 

 placed at sea-level would be equal to two-tenths of an inch. 



The average height of the barometer in England at the sea-level is 29.95 

 inches (Barometer Manual) ; it appears therefore that the mean of all the 

 barometer readings registered during the year 1866 by Mr. Bezant and myself 

 is nearly the same as the average determined by the highest authorities, allow- 

 ance being made for the height of this city above the sea. 



The thermometers used by Mr. Cooke in the construction of the table 

 are placed in the Blue School play-ground ; the temperature therefore given 

 as that of Hereford is really that of the Blue School play-ground. As this 

 place is pretty large and well exposed to the north and east winds, the walla 

 being low, I think the situation a good one for instruments intended to show 

 the temperature at Hereford. The thermemeter-stand is, however, attached 

 to the walls of the building, an arrangement contrary to rule, but necessary in 

 the present case, and therefore in order to check the indications afforded by 

 these instruments I have placed a set of tested thermometers in my garden, 

 the readings of which are registered every morning and published weekly in the 

 Hereford Times. 



