294 Mr. Redfield’s Remarks on Tides. 
I proceed now to the remarks which were addressed to the 
gentlemen of the expedition. 
The preparation and departure of the Expedition fitted out by 
the goverment of the United States for the scientific examination 
of distant seas and countries, naturally awakens feelings of inter- 
est and expectation in the American public, as well as among 
the friends of science, in this and other countries. In such feel- 
ings the writer of these remarks fully participates, and the oppor- 
tunities for useful observation which the Expedition is likely to 
afford, on various natural phenomena which have engaged his 
attention, may perhaps justify the following statements and sug- 
gestions, addressed to those who are to conduct the movements 
and perform the scientific labors of the expedition. 
The instructions which have been drawn up by Sir J. F. W. 
Herschel, for observations in meteorology, and by M. Arago, for 
the discovery vessel, the Bonite, together with the valuable re- 
ports which have been made to the U. S. Naval Lyceum by its 
committee and other distinguished individuals, with direct refer- 
ence to this expedition, have presented many important topics of 
investigation.* There are still, however, some points of interest 
and importance which seem to deserve more particular notice. 
Indeed, the subjects of natural science which invite the inves- 
tigation of the Expedition, are too numerous and important to be 
easily exhausted. 
OF TIDES. 
The valuable labors of Prof. Whewell and Mr. Lubbock have 
greatly enlarged our knowledge of the tides; owing chiefly to. 
the fact that these gentlemen have followed the method of direct 
induction from actual observations, made at different localities. 
To the directions given by Prof. Whewell for obtaining the cor- 
rect establishment, or true time of high water at the full and 
change of the moon, nothing more need be added. 
It is a question of some importance, however, if it be not al- 
ready determined, whether the main tidal wave of the North 
Atlantic be derived directly from the great Southern Ocean, as 
Prof. Whewell supposes, or, whether it mainly follows a circuit 
of revolution, north of the equator, around an elongated axis or 
* See Naval Magazine for January, 1837, Vol Il, p. 64, et seq. 
