38 



BULLETIN OP THE 



Washington, Dec. 16, 1871. 



Gentlemen : In the pursuit of professional duties as an aero- 

 naut I have constantly endeavored to elevate my calling, and to 

 utilize any knowledge I may have acquired in my voyages through 

 the air. Possibly it may interest you to receive even a simple 

 table of the directions of the aerial currents that have prevailed 

 during my excursions. I have therefore attempted to compile 

 such a table from some of the most interesting of the 162 voy- 

 ages that I have made ; and have the honor herewith to present 

 it for your acceptance. The labor of compiling this table [pp. 

 36, 37,] has been considerable, owing to the desultory nature of 

 the accounts that have been published, and to their being, as you 

 well understand, scattered through hundreds of newspapers. The 

 present table comprises but about fifty ascensions : if the Society' 

 deem it desirable, however, I should be pleased to complete this 

 work, by adding, at some future time, similar tables for the re- 

 mainder of my voyages. 



It would aiford me great satisfaction to learn that you deem 

 this humble, and as I believe novel contribution to meteorology 

 worthy of your acceptance. 



Respectfully, 



Saml. a. King, Aeronaut, of Boston. 



The following remarks were made by Mr. Abbe : — 

 In laying this communication before you I may state that I 

 have examined Mr. King's Table of Fifty Balloon Voyages, and 

 have formed the following synopsis, showing how many times 

 each current has been recorded : — 



