Ip8 REMARKS ON METEOROLOGY. 



and occysioiially there are subjoined to these a few very 

 general remarks, as to the cloudiness or brightness of the 

 atmosphere, the presence of fogs, mists, &c.* It is no' 

 doubt necessary and desirable to ascertain these points; 

 but they are very far from being the most important objects 



^'9^'^ '"^P"'" of attention. Wjiat I have been in the habit of considerinj^ 

 lant obji-cts in , n t i i ,• i i i ■ . 



jnt'teorolugy. ^-^ ^"^'^ '^''^ "'"^^ t"*^ nature and sliape ot the clouds, and the 

 progressive changes which they are undergoing ; secondly, 

 the relative state of the barometer, whether rising or falling, 

 and with what degree of rapidity; and third)}', the relative 

 state of the wind, whether increasing or diminishing, whe- 

 ther it has lately changed its diiection, and from what point 

 it proceeded before its change. These are the objects to 

 wliich the attention should be uniformly directed, and which 

 may be considered as the basis of all meteorological pre- 

 dictions. There are also a number of accessary circum- 

 Other circum- Stances, that may be occasionally employed. Of these some 

 stances to be ^f tjjg most important are, any sudden or remarkable 

 changes m tbe temperature or humuiity ot the atmosphere ; 

 the aspect of mountains or other distant objects; the ap- 

 pearance of the horizon as contrasted with that of the higher 

 regions of the atmosphere ; the state of the air as to fogs, 

 mists, dew, haze, &c. ; the electric state of the air; the 

 n-.anner in which smoke is affected in passing from chimney- 

 tops; and the state of evaporation from the surface of the 

 earth- It will be evident, that to enter into a full descrip- 

 tion of all the modifications and varieties of these different 

 phenomena would require a long dissertation ; my present 

 object is however merely to offer a specimen of my diarj-, 

 and to accompany it with such explanations as may render 

 it intelligible, and at the same time illustrate its princi- 

 ples. 

 Spscimca of a I have selected as a specimen of my diary that part of it, 

 ^1*0' which contains an account of the v.eather in September last, 



Hsitwas marked by many striking changes, which will give 

 me aa opportunity of explaining several different parts of 



* See the Journal published by the Royal Society, that in the Journal 

 tie Physique, that in the Bihliotheque Britannique, Bent's Meteorolo- 

 gical Tables, the table published in this -work, in the Athenxum, aurl 

 in ihe Pialosopliical, Monthlyj and Geiitlemau's Magazines. 



my 



