8 



accuracy, the mean temperature of the State. The Annual Reports of the Regents contain a vast 

 amoimt of important Meteorological statistics, and they are often quoted with high commendation in 

 Europe. The Empire State has thus reared to herself a monument, to which all her citizens may 

 point with honest pride. 



It is but recently that Meteorology has begun to claim the character of a science. The 

 observations which have been made in this country and in Em'ope, have been analysed, and have 

 led to important general conclusions. We can now distinctly see the foundations of a beautiful 

 science ; and it is one more intimately connected with the comfort and convenience of society at 

 large, than almost any other. The discoveries already made indicate to us the kind of observation 

 which is called for, to iusiure further progress. The system adopted at the Militaiy Posts, and at the 

 Academies of New- York is behind the present demands of science. Observations of the barometer 

 are equally important with those of the thermometer, and a greater degree of minuteness and 

 precision is called for in the observations generally. 



More recently, the State of Pennsylvania has set a noble example to her sister States. In 1837, 

 the Legislature of that State appropriated fom- thousand dollars for the advancement of Meteorology ; 

 and out of this sum, which Avas placed at the disposal of a Joint Committee of the American 

 Philosophical Society and Franklin Institute, a barometer, two common thermometers, a self- 

 registering thermometer and a raiu-guage were purchased for each comity in the Slate, to be placed 

 in the hands of some skillful observer, who should volunteer to keep a journal of the weather, 

 according to a common form prescribed by the Committee. The obsei-vations were commenced with 

 little delay, and have been regularly continued. Here are made observations of the barometer and 

 thermometer three times a day ; of the self-registering thermometer, the winds estimated for sixteen 

 points of the compass ; depth of rain ; and at some stations, obsei"vations of the dew point. 



Within tlie past two years the observations at the Military Posts have been re-organised upon a 

 system more in accordance with the claims of science. They now comprise observations of the 

 barometer, attached thermometer, external thermometer, and wet bulb thermometer ; direction and 

 force of the wind ; direction, velocity and amount of clouds, each at four hours of the day, viz — 

 sunrise, 9 a. m., 3 p. m. and 9 p. m. ; together with the amount of rain, and the times of its beginning 

 and ending. 



A similar system in the State of New- York would give a fresh impulse to the science of 

 Meteorology. That branch of the science which is at present exciting the deepest interest, is the 

 subject of storms. We have learned enough of their phenomena to see clearly tlie proper path 

 to be pursued if we would discover their laws. Violent storms extend over a large area. Hence 

 we need a very extensive and concerted system of observation. It is to be hoped that the exam- 



