General Physics. 145 
increased, and the observations made much more valuable by the addi- 
tion of barometers, &c. This system might very profitably be extend- 
ed still further, so as to include forts, light-houses, navy yards, arsenals, 
é&c.; and those stations are the more important, as many of them are 
upon the very outskirts of civilization, where it would be difficult to ob- 
tain observations from any other source. * 
Il. Two of the state governments, viz. New York and Pennsylvania, 
have set a most praiseworthy example in their encouragement of me- 
teorological observations. For twenty years the state of New York 
has required a register to be kept at each of the academies subject to 
the Board of Regents. These observations have furnished results of 
the greatest value. Nevertheless it is time that the system in that state 
was revised. The observations are incomplete without a barometer, 
and it is desirable that the stations be distributed more uniformly over 
the state. We sincerely hope that other states will emulate the noble 
examples of New York and Pennsylvania. Many of them might do it 
without the least inconvenience, and the results of the observations 
would be interesting to every member of the community. 
Ill. Our main reliance in every scientific enterprise must be on pri- 
vate zeal. This zeal in some parts of the country is still to be awaken- 
ed, and where zeal is already awakened, it needs to be directed. We 
want more observers from the north of New England, and every where 
throughout the South and West. Here is a great work which naturally 
devolves upon the philosophical societies. Let every philosophical so- 
ciety in the United States, within the sphere of its influence, strive to 
organize a company of observers occupying the whole country at ia- 
tervals of fifty miles; and after deciding upon the best plan of obser- 
vations, endeavor to persuade every observer to adopt the same system. 
IV. The British government have established a noble observatory at 
Toronto. Subordinate stations might be established at every military 
post in Canada, at a trifling expense, which would powerfully contribute 
to the promotion of meteorology. It is important to determine the im- 
its of our great storms, but they very frequently extend northward to 
an unknown distance beyond the limits of the United States. Hence 
we need the codperation of the British government, and we flatter our-_ 
selves that when the importance of the subject is fully presented to their — 
consideration, they will respond to the call with that discriminating lib- _ 
erality which has ever characterized their patronage of science. 
[Our magnetical and meteorological summary having extended to an 
unexpected length, has excluded some astronomical and other scientific 
notices which were intended for this number. They shall however ap- 
pear in our next.—Eds. | 
Secosp Series, Vol. I, No. 1.—Jan. 1846. 19 
