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XXXVI. On Comparative Barometric Observations. 

 By W. Burney, LL.D. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 

 Gentlemen, 



1 HEREWITH inclose you the simple results of the Me- 

 teorological Table at the end of the Numbers of your Ma- 

 gazine and Journal, from the 25th of August 1823 to the 

 25th of August 1824, which are as follow : — 



I have taken the trouble to re-calculate these 12 months' 

 observations, in order to ascertain the comparative results 

 since the table was so far completed in August 1823, with 

 the addition of rain caught in London and at Boston. Hav- 

 ing devised the table in its present form, with a hope that it 

 would be filled up at the other places with observations from 

 a similar set of meteorological instruments to my own, I could 

 wish to see it still more complete ; and if it were possible for 

 Messrs. Cary and Veall to register the state of the wind and 

 the hygrometer at half-past 8 a.m., and the evaporation about 

 every third morning at that time, it would add valuable infor- 

 mation towards its completion. I shall have no objection to 

 withdraw the daily state or names of the clouds, when they 

 may think proper to make such additions, so that the whole 

 may be comprised in the last page. Were the rain caught in 

 Mr. Cary's pluviameter to be measured every day when it is 

 measurable, it would certainly be more convenient for com- 

 parison. I shall not now make any remarks on the compara- 

 tive results, but reserve the monthly averages till the end of 

 the year. 



With respect to the great difference in the amount of rain 

 and the state of the barometers at Gosport and Boston in the 

 Meteorological Table in the middle of last May, as pointed 

 out by Mr. Squire in your last Number, page 155, the cir- 

 cumstance did not escape my notice at the time. But I was 

 not surprised to find that the altitude of the mercury in 

 Mr. VealPs barometer in the morning of the 14th of May, 

 was -Jj- of an inch more than in mine, or about -^ of an inch 

 higher than its annual comparative level with my barometer, 

 having seen a still greater difference in his on the 1st of Oc- 

 tober, 



