CHAP. 6. OF WINDS. 203 



turns round. I had a Vane of this sort con- 

 structed, which had a small bell suspended from 

 the point, so that at every change of the Wind 

 I was apprized of it by the ringing of this little 

 Tintinnabulum, as I sat under the trees of the 

 Elm Grove at Walthamstow ; and I could, in 

 some instances, hear the sound when in the 

 house at some distance. I contrived this 

 machine in order to ascertain the sort of gales 

 which might blow, as I found them at times 

 blowing straight and steady, but at others so 

 irregular and unsteady, as to produce a constant 

 horizontal vibration of the fan; the consequence 

 was, that the pointed side of the Weathercock 

 corresponding in its motion with it, the little 

 bell kept constantly ringing. I can safely 

 recommend the use of these sort of Vanes, as 

 they are very accurate indicators of the Wind, 

 when constantly lubricated with oil made to drip 

 into them, and they last a long while without 

 wanting repair. The one above alluded to at 

 Walthamstow, was put up in April, 1817, and 

 is still in good order. But they require good 

 workmen to adjust them. I have since tried 

 many times to get a good Weathercock put up 

 at Hartwell, by country mechanics, without 

 success. 



