386 Miscellanies. 



acknowledged by the Regents ; there are also in the state two theo- 

 • logical seminaries. The common school system of the state is also, on 

 an extensive plan ; one hundred thousand dollars are paid annually 

 from the treasury for this purpose, besides more than an equal sum 

 raised by taxes, and other modes, and half a million of children, be- 

 ing more than all, that there are between the ages of five and sixteen 

 and about one third of the entire population, are instructed in the pri- 

 mary schools. 



By a very wise provision of the Legislature of New York, passed in 

 1825, all the chartered institutions are required to keep meteorologi- 

 cal registers, of which an annual return is made and an abstract publish- 

 ed. This is a very interesting part of the public document on edu- 

 cation, and the information has been ably digestedby Messrs. T. R. 

 Beck, and J. Henry, under the direction of the chancellor, Simeon 

 DeWitt. The latitude, longitude, location, elevation above the 

 sea and topographical peculiarities for each place, are given. The 

 average temperature of the first and last half of each month is 

 stated in separate columns, and in other columns the highest and the 

 lowest degree of temperature, and the entire range for the month ; 

 also, the number of days in v^hich the wind prevailed for eight points 

 of the compass — quarters and half quarters ; and the prevailing weath- 

 er, stated in number of days under the heads of clear, cloudy, rain, 

 snow, and snow and rain. The last column gives the contents of the 

 rain gage. Five general recapitulatory tables are given, containing the 

 average results for the year ; No. 1 is for the temperature ; No. 2 is for 

 winds ; No. 3 is for weather including rain ; No. 4 is a comparison of 

 extreme heat and cold for each month ; No. 5 is a comparison of the 

 range in each month ; and there are two tables or catalogues of mis- 

 cellaneous observations, the first of which relates to remarkable oc- 

 currences in the weather, in the progress of vegetation, and of the 

 appearance and economy of birds and animals, as connected with 

 weather, and particularly with temperature. 



The last table contains notices of the aurora borealis, halos, mete- 

 ors, storms, rain and snow, winds, temperature of wells, the open- 

 ing of the spring navigation of the great river and other waters, &;c. 



We should be glad to see a table added for the barometer, and for 

 the range of variation of the magnetic needle. Where so much is done 

 and so ably done, it would seem eminently desirable, that those two 

 jm})ortant topics should not be forgotton. 



