On Meteorology. 435 
Monies from a variety of places in this empire, and in foreign 
countries, relative to the barometer, thermometer, wind, and 
weather, at particular periods. If it be also in contemplation 
to specify agreeably to the excellent classification of Luke Ho= 
ward, Esq. the various clouds, preceding or coincident with the 
-changes of the weather, I shall not dispute the utility of such. re- 
cords ; but since the effeets produced in our glasses, the fluctua 
tions of the wind, the varying figures of the clouds, and the 
changes.of the weather, are subsequent to some prior causes in 
the operations of Nature, meteerological records so dimited will 
serve only to register what has occurred; without affording any. 
presage of what may occur. 
If the philosophers will enlarge the table, and note at the same 
time the sitnations of the planets, they will probably find in side- 
real operations on the atmosphere aot only causes prior to the 
above effects, but from the revolutions in the planetary system 
they may by calculation anticipate the probable variations in the 
atmosphere at subsequent periods. 
Pliny speaks of those who could predict ehiuetd ebsstondas toa 
day. li we are not competent to speak with the same positive= 
hess, it must be ascribed to the fashionable neglect of the sub- 
ject. If philosophers wiil cease to disregard a branch of scienee 
almost exploded, they. may in time acquire the Boeneany of 
judgement to which Pliny alludes. 
I consider it unquestionable, that at certain positions of the 
planets snow or rain never fails to occur. 
From the want of a greater number of modern testimonies 
founded on observation, ‘the incertitude at the period of other 
positions is great. There is, perhaps, less reason for confidence 
in an island than on a continent, and the variety of weather may 
be greater near the sea coast than-in an inland county: but if 
the gentlemen think proper to prosecute their plan with such 
additional remarks, they may be expected to relumine the lamp 
of the ancients, and probably cbtain for us some new light on 
the subject. 
A respectable philosopher of the present day has given an 
opinion on this subject, and 1 beg leave to question that opinion, 
and to note an apparent inconsistency combined with it. 
‘I presume the gentleman as a philosopher has no object buf 
the development of truth. He will not find in me a disrespectful 
opponent ; but, as the work to which [ allude may be supposed 
by sone readers to. militate against the hypothesis I am at- 
tempting to maintain, he will excuse my quoting a passage in 
his publication ‘* Researches about Atmospheric Phenomena.” 
* The old notions of astrologers about the conjunctions of the 
ganas involve too many ha meine alsurdities to allow is; te 
collect 
