172 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



system of simultaneous observations, extending over the 

 whole of the United States, including the Bermudas, and a 

 few of the West India Islands. 



Knowing the immense importance of a wider extended 

 correspondence, the committee, from their first establish- 

 ment, have endeavored, by every means in their power, to 

 procure journals of the weather from every part of the 

 United States. And I have myself written to more than 

 two hundred and fifty individuals, in the different parts of 

 the United States, requesting them at least to send an ac- 

 count of the beginnings and ends of rains, and the force and 

 direction of the winds during the time of the passage of a 

 storm, monthly, to William Hamilton, Actuary of the 

 Franklin Institute. How far these requests will be com- 

 plied with, yet remains to be seen. 



To aid the reader in understanding the investigations of 

 the committee, skeleton maps are procured, on which are 

 traced the shape and size of all important storms, and their 

 progress from hour to hour. 



The direction, also, and force of the wind, are indicated 

 by arrows of different lengths, so that the reader, by a 

 glance of the eye over these Meteorological Maps, may learn 

 all the most important phenomena attending a storm, from 

 the time it enters, till the time it leaves the boundary of our 

 simultaneous observations. 



The magnitude of this undertaking, -and the great proba- 

 bility that it will result in a knowledge highly useful to 

 mankind, are calculated to stimulate all who believe in the 

 probability of success, to use their utmost exertions to crown 

 the work, which has been so happily begun, with complete 

 success. Even in case of failure, we will have this to con- 

 sole us : We failed in a great undertaking. 



J. P. ESPY, 

 In his individual capacity. 



