USE OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATrONS TO NAVIGATORS. ^y 



€qually surprised and grieved at the results they offered me: 

 and I gave an account of them to the captain in the follow- 

 ing words. 



*' A noisome smell, and excessive heat and moisture, con- Report to th« 

 spire to render the storeroom unwholesome. On attempting captain. 

 to make my usual experiments there, I found myself so ill 

 and faint, that I could not finish them. My thermometer 

 however had already risen to 27° [80'6° F.], and the hygro- 

 meter was beyond the point of saturation. The flame of 

 the candle was feeble and pale, indicating the presence of 

 a great quantity of gas unfit for respiration. It is true no 

 one lives in the storeroom : but is there not reason to fear, 

 that such of the men as are obliged to work there will soon 

 feel its fatal effects ? It appears to me, therefore, indispen- 

 sably necessary, to empty this place for a few days, and to 

 endeavour by fumigations, sprinkling with cold water, vent- 

 ilating, and repeated sweeping, to renew the air, and remore 

 its humidity. This precaution is as necessary for preserving 

 the provision, as for the health of the men : for there can be 

 no doubt, that many articles are already spoiling, and 

 others will soon be so, from the high temperature and ex- 

 treme moisture combined. At any rate, if the nature of the 

 service will not allow these means to be employed, it is to be 

 wished, 1, that the men were forbidden to go alone into the 

 storeroom ; not only to prevent suffocation, of which there are 

 but too many instances in similar cases; but to obviate the 

 more fatal effects that might follow, should such an accident 

 take place, from the person's being left, or from the candle: 

 2, that the men should have their allowance of wine in- 

 creased one fourth; for it is to be feared, that, coming out 

 of the storeroom in a profuse perspiration, some accident 

 might happen from their drinking a large quantity of water 

 to quench the thirst produced ; an effect I could not avoid 

 myself, notwithstanding the short time I staid, and my re- 

 maining almost perfectly still." 



The captain, alarmed at this report, immediately seiit for Neglected 

 the officer, under whose care it was, and communicated it ^'^°'" the as- 



, . TT 11- 1 1 sertion of a» 



to him. tie asserted, that it was altogether erroneous, that officer. 

 the observations were of no consequence, that the stores 

 were \rx good condition, &c. Accordingly nothing was done: 



but 



