ALLISON ON THE PROGRESS OF WEATHER KNOWLEDGE. 319 



satisfactory reason for bis suspicion. Also the Barometer had 

 fallen somewhat from the greater height of the preceding day ; but 

 was still much above the normal, so that those trusting only to its 

 bare and uncompared reading could not reasonably expect bad 

 weather. But the telegraph told us of heavy rain and high N. E. 

 wind at New York, and of threatening clouds farther east and north 

 that morning ; of eastwardly rain and heavy clouds again down the 

 St. Lawrence Valley — all Barometers to our immediate west falling 

 fast. The limits of this paper would not suffice to set forth the 

 details of reasoning from proved scientific truths leading to the 

 belief of a N.- E. progression of this rain and wind, but recognizing 

 the almost sure consequences of the above facts, and convinced by 

 them of the usual cyclonic nature of the disturbance, I anticipated 

 the S. E, wdnd, and rain present in Halifax on Sunday, and doubt- 

 less fresh in the recollection of my hearers. 



Farther, regarding Telegraphic Meteorology, I am in hopes 

 that, taught by experience gained from European and American 

 systems, Canada may be able to improve on both of these. I must 

 consider the practical working of the British Meteorological office 

 superior to that of Washington ; but, happily for us, we are so 

 situated politically, geographically, and meteorologically, that we 

 may introduce much of their cautious system into our Country with 

 greater facilities for its successful use. Especially does it seem 

 prudent for us in the infancy of our organization to provide that 

 the drum (the best method of warning of probable storm) be hoist- 

 ed for a period of forty-eight hours as in Great Britain, rather than 

 follow the constantly changing bulletin of the United States. The 

 greatest difficulties that we have to contend with here, are the want 

 of more numerous ordinary and reporting stations — the want of 

 longer series of observations even at the best of our posts, and the 

 imperfect arrangements of the Telegraph Companies. The first 

 want I trust may be soon remedied, that more volunteers may be 

 encouraged to assist in advancing the public knowledge of all 

 branches of meteorology. With their assistance Barometrical 

 gradients can be established, and all the varying elements continu- 

 ally 6tudi<^.d, until a much more thorough knowledge of the compa- 



