THE CANADIAN JOURNAL. 



NEW SERIES. 



No. XVI.— JULY, 1858. 



THE OBSERVATOET AT ST. MARTIN", ISLE JESUS, 

 CANADA EAST. 



TEOM NOTES BY PEOFESSOE CHAELES SMALLWOOD, M. D., Lli. D. 



Read before the Canadian Institute, 20th Felruary, 1858.* 



The following sketch of the general appearance of the building and 

 instruments, from the pen of Dr. Hall, of Montreal, furnishes a very 

 suitable introduction to Dr. Smallwood's account of the Observatory 

 established by him at St. Martin, Isle Jesus. 



A small wooden building, distant about twenty yards from the 

 dwelling house of Dr. Smallwood, contains the whole of the apparatus 

 which has for many years furnished such valuable results. A short 

 distance from it, and on a level with the ground, is the snow gauge. 

 Immediately in front of the entrance to the small building is a dial, 

 with an index to point out the course of the clouds. Contiguous to 

 the building again may be seen four erect staffs. The highest of 

 which— 80 feet — is intended for the elevation of a lighted lantern, to 

 collect the electricity of the atmosphere, the copper wires from which 

 lead through openings in the roof of the building to a table inside, on 

 which a four-armed insulated conductor is placed. The lantern is 

 made to ascend and descend on a species of railway, in order to ob- 

 viate all jarring. On another pole is placed the wind vane, which, by 

 ■ , 



* For the wood-cuts which illustrate this paper, the Council of the Canadian Ins- 

 titute are indebted to the liberality of Professor Henry, LL. D. of Washington, U. S. 

 VOL. III. T 



