W PREFACE. 



those philosophers, to whom society has been 

 indebted for the most important improvements 

 in the sciences, have cultivated them originally 

 for the sole pleasure which the pursuit itself 

 afforded. There have been in all ages, persons 

 who have taken delight in observing and com- 

 paring natural facts, and for whose philosopliic 

 minds the infinite variety exhibited by all na- 

 tural objects, and the investigation of the respec- 

 tive causes of different phaenomena, are of them- 

 selves sufficient to engage them in the pursuit 

 of science, and the knowledge obtained thereby 

 an adequate reward for their labours. 



In the earliest ages, as far back as history en- 

 ables us to trace the operation of the human in- 

 tellect, we find mankind interested about me- 

 teorological phaenomena. A circumstance by 

 no means astonishing, when we consider the 

 vast importance of this science to the shepherd 

 and agriculturist, and the interest the study of 

 it engaged, as a means of enabling men by an- 

 ticipating the event of terrible atmospheric com- 

 motions, to provide in some measure against 

 their effects. The beauty, also, of many atmo- 

 speric phaenomena, and the interesting variety 

 of scenery which they produce for the specta- 

 tor: together with the natural curiosity excited 



