■ml' 



Mountains in New York. 89 



compared with Whiteface is attributable in some degree to this 

 cause, it is most certainly not imreasonable to suppose. 



Again, a considerable discrepancy in barometric results may 

 arise from the difference in the different formulas used in making 

 the computations. Mr. Emmons makes the elevation of Mt. 

 Marcy above tide 5,594 feet. Mr. Redfield, by another formula, 

 makes it from the same observations 127 feet less, and by yet 

 another formula which has been found by comparison with the 

 known elevation of objects by levelling to give results quite near 

 the triuh, it is somewhat less than tlie elevation obtained by Mr. 

 Redlield. In the case of the Whiteface Mt. the elevation by this 

 latter formula, computing from Mr. Emmons's observations, is less 

 than that given by him by about 290 feet, or about 100 feet lower 

 than the elevation as derived from trigonometrical measurement. 



If these causes of error exist, and the tendency of all combined 

 is to affect the aUitnde in the same way, of which there is no ev- 

 idence to the contrary, it is not difficult to imagine, that Mr. Em- 

 mons's barometric measurement of Mt. Marcy may be farther from 

 the truth than he is willing to admit. 



The propriety of this conclusion^ independent of all other con- 

 siderations, is I conceive most fully warranted in the great dis- 

 crepancy of the relative barometric altitudes of the peaks in New 

 York and Vermont already described, as shown by the trigonom- 

 etrical measurement. 



The statement made by me in the report alluded to at the head 

 of this article, was, I believe, clearly warranted by the circum- 

 stances of the case, and as such was entitled to a degree of con- 

 sideration in no respect inferior to that which can be reasonably 

 claimed in behalf of Mr. Rmmons's measurement- It was most 

 certainly no wish or intention of mine, in making that statement, 

 to disparage, in the least, the labors of Mr. Emmons; and it was 

 not imaiarined that he could consider the statement as havino; that 



tendency ; but since, from the tenor of his remarks, he has 

 thought proper to construe it in that light and to pronounce so 

 unequivocally (to use a very mild term) in respect to the superi- 

 ority of his barometrical measurements, I am compelled, very re- 

 luctantly, I confess, to state the facts in detail which influenced 

 my judgment and which I believe fully justify me in all 1 have 

 advanced upon the subject. ^ ^ 



New York, May, 18:39. 

 Vol. xxivii, No. 1— Julj, 1839, bis. 12 



