545 



such facts as would aid further inquiry on that subject. None but 

 those who have attempted a like task can fully appreciate its diffi- 

 culties, observations which the investigator dare not reject, although 

 convinced that they are wrong, provoking silence where a word would 

 clear up a doubt, still more provoking record of useless details, to 

 the omission of those that are important ; nevertheless he persevered, 

 and, gaining confidence in the key he had obtained to the real nature 

 of these intricate phenomena, he ventured in 1 838 to lay down, for 

 the guidance of the seaman, those broad general rules of navigation 

 which are known as the law of storms. He showed that it is possible 

 to deduce from the facts, rules applicable to every emergency ; to tell 

 unerringly when ships must run before the hurricane, when they must 

 lie to, and on which tack, so as to avoid being taken aback by the 

 veering of the wind ; lastly, how to anticipate its coming changes, and 

 shape the course which best turns them to account. 



The announcement of this law, so important to the mariner, arid 

 to every naval and commercial nation, was received with the greatest 

 interest by the scientific world; and Lieut. -Colonel Keid's work, 

 entitled * An Attempt to develope the Laws of Storms,' has gone 

 through several editions, and has been translated even into Chinese. 



Lieut. -Colonel Reid was appointed Governor of Bermuda in 1839, 

 an opportunity which he did not fail to improve for pursuing his 

 inquiries : he was transferred to the Government of the West Indies 

 in 1847. Happening at the latter station to entertain the late 

 Dr. Fownes of University College, he induced that eminent chemist 

 to draw up a treatise on rudimentary chemistry for the use of his 

 newly-founded School of Practical Chemistry at Barbadoes : this 

 treatise, which the author presented to him, he first printed for local 

 use, then presented to Mr. Weale, in reference to a design for a series 

 of cheap popular treatises on scientific subjects which he had long 

 previously discussed with that gentleman. It was the parent of the 

 extensive and very valuable series of rudimentary works since brought 

 out by Mr. Weale ; but, with characteristic modesty, he requested 

 the suppression of a notice to that effect, which may be seen in the 

 first edition of Dr. Fownes' s treatise. Resigning the government of 

 the West Indies, on grounds highly honourable to his sense of inde- 

 pendence, Lieut. -Colonel Reid resumed his military duties, and was 

 serving as Commanding Engineer at Woolwich when he was selected 



