ON MAGNETICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 63 
and the aqueous vapour mingled therein, as has been proved to be just with 
respect to the periodical changes. 
These are the reasons for which it appears to me desirable that the direc- 
tions of the wind should be given in every instance in addition to the other 
observations. But this is the only wish which I can form after attentive ex- 
amination. It is excellent, that besides the quantitative determinations, a kind 
of commentary has been added to the journal. It is only thus that the phy- 
siognomy of the weather can be described, and it is deserving of acknowledge- 
ment, that in this commentary the approved nomenclature of Howard has 
been employed. 
I await the observations of the Van Diemen Island observations with the 
greatest earnestness. A meteorological journal of such completeness from 
the southern hemisphere supplies a want which has long been greatly felt. 
St. Helena also is very happily chosen, being in the trade zone without mon- 
soons; and the Cape being at the outer limit of the south-east trade will be 
valuable as a check. 
Excuse these passing remarks being written in German, not to delay the 
letter. I rejoice in the anticipation of being enabled to take part in the con- 
versations and discussions which will take place at Cambridge on the subjeet 
of this great undertaking, between men who are in the position to interrogate 
nature in such various regions of the earth. All that a German cultivator of 
science can bring is the promise to take part in the work which may be now | 
required, so far as may aid the furtherance of the cause. Meteorological in- 
vestigations may indeed in the most favourable cases be excited by one indi- 
vidual, but for their more extended prosecution they need the cooperation of 
many. ‘That meteorology should receive this advantage was always with me 
a hope, which I scarcely ventured to express; but that she should find it so 
soon, and on such a scale, has indeed surpassed my boldest expectations, . 
Believe me, sincerely yours, 
H, W. Dove, 
XVII.— Extract from a Letter from Dr. Lamont to Lieut.-Colonel Sabine. 
Munich, April 26, 1845, 
My pear Sir,—I have received a short time ago the volume which you 
had the kindness to send me, containing the observations of ‘loronto, 1840- 
1842, and can assure you that the results have greatly surpassed my expecta- 
tions. Indeed, I believe that very few European establishments have been 
conducted with so much skill and care and scrupulous attention to the various 
circumstances on which the accuracy of the observations depend. This is 
deserving of particular acknowledgement, because those entrusted with the 
care of the observatory might have contented themselves with simply exe- 
cuting the instructions of the Royal Society; in this way also a series of ob- 
servations would have been made, but the value of the results would have 
‘been yery different, The historical details prefixed to the Toronto observa- 
tions agree perfectly with what has been experienced at other observatories, 
_and particularly at ours: the same difficulties were met with and the same 
reforms gradually introduced. At present the Toronto observatory, by the 
"accounts given in the Introduction to the Observations, must be considered 
as being in the most efficient state; all the arrangements seem to me to be 
ery judiciously made. It must be considered as an immense advantage, that 
€ same observations can be made with different instruments: the agreement 
f the results obtained in different ways affords the best means of judging how 
‘ar confidence can be placed in the observations, I have been comparing the 
