152 APPENDIX. 



T' at of making the daily observations is but trifling, but the carry- 

 ing of them out, and obtaining the various results, costs a good deal of 

 time and labor This, together with the purchasing of suitable philo- 

 sophical instruments, amounts to quite an item of expense ; but if one 

 could receive a moderate compensation for his trouble, he would be 

 induced to make other observations and experiments which might be 

 interesting and useful. As it is, I cannot well afford it. And for this 

 reason, I had discontinued my journal, as you know, but at your re- 

 quest commenced it again, and shall continue to keep it until I hear 

 from you upon the subject. 



I would suggest the idea, if any thing should be done by the Legis- 

 lature on the subject, of having such a journal kept one at Boston, one 

 at Worcester, or Northampton, and one at Lenox. A barometrical 

 table should be kept in the journal. 



Please excuse this long document. 



Yours sincerely, 



ALLEN C. METCALF. 



