20 Meteorological Observations made in 
at a knowledge of this principle, and the experiments by which 
he confirmed it. In the year 1801, during a scientific excursion 
in the neighborhood of Popayan, he happened to break his ther- 
mometer ; and in attempting to mend it he was led to observe 
the variability of the extremity of the scale corresponding to the 
heat of boiling water. His reflections on this subject led him, 
after various experiments, to the following conclusions: “ The 
heat of boiling water is in proportion to the atmospherical pres- 
sure: the atmospherical pressure is in proportion to the height 
above the level of the sea; the atmospherical pressure follows 
the same law as the risings of the barometer, or, properly speak- 
ing, the barometer shows nothing more than the atmospherical 
pressure. Boiling water therefore shows it in the same manner 
as the barometer. It can consequently show the elevation of 
places in the same manner, and as exactly as this instrument.” 
Ensayo de una memoria sobre un nuevo metodo de medir las 
_ montanas, etc. p. 10. His first experiment in Popayan gave b. 
w. 75°.7 of Reaumur, the height of the barometer being 22 in. 
111. To find then the variation corresponding to one inch of 
the barometer : 
28in, —22in, 111, =5°,1 or 61 lines. 
80° —75°.7==4°.3. "Then 
4°.3 x12 
61). ; 4°.3::12. 3 —gp = 
Then reversing the process 
j e) 
02.8 : 121::40.3:— or 6455 54d 
Difference betwixt this result and that of the barometer 34 lines. 
Satisfied with this commencement, or dawning of a new theory, 
he began a series of experiments in the mountains near Popayan, 
taking this city as the centre of his labors, and fixing the eleva- 
tion of the barometer at 22i, 11!. 2, and boiling water at 75°.65 
of Reaumur. 
At a spot named Las Juntas I made my first observation. The 
barometer stood at 21i 9!, or 14! lower than at Popayan; the heat 
of boiling water was 74°.5 Reaumur. Then 
Height of the barometer in Popayan 22: 11.2 B. W. 759.65 
at Las Juntas 21 9 74°.50 
0°.8. 
1 2.2 hs 
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