396 British Association for the Advancement of Science. 
to us from time to time by our members. On the present occasion, a dis 
tinguished Belgian philosopher, one of our corresponding members, (M. 
Quetelet,) comes to us to invite us to take a part in determining, by ex- 
tensive observations, the changes which atmospheric conditions produce 
in periodical phenomena,—such as the times of the leafing and flowering 
of plants, of the arrival of birds, and the like. He has obtained exten- 
sive co-operation in his own country, and no doubt will find fellow-labor- 
ers in ours. Meteorology, in its largest sense, is a subject, which, 
although great collections of observations have been made, is hardly-yet 
a science: yet the interpreters of this part of the book of nature have 
already begun to spell out some phrases, which show that the language is 
not st Selaclly mitinsehigiicie and hone, therefore, we may go on hopefully, 
lways that tion of facts isa matter of compara- 
tively small value, except we ci can also trace in them some rule or order. 
The mere gathering of raw facts may be compared to the gathering of 
the cotton from the tree. The separate filaments must be drawn into a 
connected thread, and the threads woven into an ample web, before it can 
form the drapery of science. 
-. “ We ought to have meteorological Obwermatioite sand observers divtrb- 
uted over the face of the globe: and even this would not be enough ; for 
we wish to know not only what passes on the earth’s surface, but through 
the whole depth of the atmosphere ; hence it would be desirable to have 
observations made at elevated points free from the action of the ground ; 
such as can be attained only by the aid of balloons. Such an undertak- 
ing has been under consideration of a committee during the past year, 
and a report on the subject has come before the Physical Section. 1! 
trust that on this subject you will soon hear more. As other subjects 
on which we still want facts—that is, numerous and systematical collec- 
tions of facts, and laws deduced from facts—I may mention the tides 
of the Pacific, the velocity of sea waves, and subterraneous tempera- 
ture.. Another class of inquiries well fitted for our labors, is the deter- 
mination of the fundamental elements, or constants, of operations of en- 
gineering, as the constants of railroads, steam-engines, and other works 
of art, which form — the wealth and resources:of this ee 
