,20 Annual Report of the S. A. Institution. 



»nd analysis, till he be able, as he has done in the more perfect 

 Icience of astronomy, to look over cycles of revolution., and 

 X entangle from their present complexity, the causes and 

 succession of phenomena, in which his power and wellbetng 

 are so deeply involved. 



This view tells us on what distant events the aspect of our 

 seasons may depend, and that the direction or force of the 

 ummer IrL*, which fan away from our so, the = accurnn- 

 latine intensity of an unveiled sunshine, or the hazy gales 

 inch roll in the ocean's mists upon „., ta our winter, may 

 have derived their direction and force, in different seasons 

 from the comparative power with which the •■j££^J 

 the central regions of our continent. And f observers, were 

 ttered clo.fl, over the regions of the worW each ^bserva- 

 lion would aid in establishing some important fact or tracing 

 ome in eres.ing modification of those atmospheric energies 

 whTchi in theif regularity and consequences, imitate the 

 beautiful functions of the living frame. 



There are, unfortunately, no meteorological instruments 

 accessible to the community, which can be considered as of 

 authority fitted to be resorted to as standards to regulate those 

 of more common structure. We are not aware that some, even 

 of "he commonest, have been at all regularly in use m he 

 colony. It were certainly an object worthy the attention of the 

 Institution, that the best and most approved ,n construction* 

 should be at its disposal, for purposes of reference and com- 

 parison, and that measures be taken to disperse the means oi ob- 

 serving, throughout the colony, and to secure attention to them 



We have now spoken of all the objects of practical utility 

 which have engaged the attention of the Institution during the 

 past year. But the sciences presented for our contemplation, 

 have a nobler aspect than when seen merely as adding a little 

 to the comforts of society. Science may be loved because it. 

 presents knowledge to gratify the mind's desire; they who so 

 pursue it disown and disregard its profit, and trample on the 

 commercial aspect it may wear, when it invites only by the 

 petty consequences of making men fare the better or live the 

 more sumptuously. When sought because they exercise and 

 enlighten, the abstruscst may then present an aspect as inviting 

 as the moit popular; and to trace the inventors skill in a 

 formula, or follow the careful and penetrating research, 

 wherewith his mind has combined and developed its com- 

 ponents, or to scan the symmetry of its form or the power given 

 by its application, may give an interest as intense as that 

 wherewith the idle devour the productions of the romancer s 

 genius The pursuit demands respect or sympathy, as tho 



