IX. An Account of some Experiments made in order to 
determine the Velocity with which Sound is transmitted 
in the Atmosphere. 
By OLINTHUS GREGORY, LL.D. 
ASSOCIATE ACAD. DIJON, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL 
SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, &c. SECRE- 
TARY OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, AND PROFESSOR 
OF MATHEMATICS IN THE ROYAL MILITARY 
ACADEMY AT WOOLWICH, 
[Read Dec. 8, 1823.] 
Tue theoretical investigations of different philosophers, im 
order to ascertain the velocity with which Sound is transmitted 
through the atmosphere, however ingenious and elegant some of 
them may be, seem to rest too much upon gratuitous assumptions, 
to allow any cautious enquirer after physical truth, to receive 
them unhesitatingly, except so far as they may be confirmed by 
accurate experiment. Unfortunately, too, the results of experi- 
ment present irregularities both formidable and perplexing; since 
many of them cannot well be imputed to any want of skill, or 
caution, in the conductors of the enquiry. 
