98 MEMOIR OF ALFRED SMEE. [Chap. IX. 



Now, I recommend that tlie reasons for the hoisting of the drum be 

 always posted up in writing, as I am quite confident that these men are 

 thinking of the bearing of the question all day long, and gradually 

 they will use the drum in conjunction with the barometer, and obtain 

 for each place much closer results than can be obtained by any other 

 method. 



Practically my recommendation is to give the fishermen facts for 

 them to apply. I think then great results will ensue, and they will be 

 able to bring the foretelling of the weather for a few hours to as near a 

 certainty as possible. 



It was resolved by the Meteorological Committee of the Eoyal 

 Society that Mr. Scott be instructed to take steps to promote the 

 posting up of the weather telegrams at Whitby. The following 

 summer, on our second visit to Whitby, my father took much 

 interest in the working of the same. 



In 1868 there was another election at Eochester. His address 

 to the electors was issued from Whitby, where he was staying on 

 account of illness, and he was on that account obliged to postpone 

 appearing among his friends and supporters for several weeks. 

 He, however, wrote many addresses to them, and amused himself 

 with drawing up rules and regulations for the organization of the 

 Conservative party in that city ; and before he was quite recovered 

 from his indisposition he, against the advice of his medical adviser, 

 Dr. Jones, and of his friends, threw himself heart and soul into 

 the contest, quite regardless of his own health. He went to the 

 poll, but again met with unsuccess. That he had good grounds 

 for expecting success will be fully seen from the following letters 

 sent to his wife and others during the heat of the contest, and by 

 the speech he made at the complimentary dinner which was given 

 to him by his supporters in the city of Eochester on the 17th of 

 December, 1868. His family have heard since, from information 

 obtained from the Eadical side, that Mr. Smee was so beloved at 

 Eochester, that had he but paid a select number at the rate of a 

 day's wages he would have been elected. But bribery he would 

 not allow to be resorted to. Not very long after this election a 

 great many men emigrated from Eochester. Their last act on 

 leaving Chatham for their ships was to give three cheers for Mr. 

 Smee. " Had we returned him as our member for Eochester," they 

 exclaimed, " we should not have been obliged to leave Eochester 

 and emigrate." My father was not a little pleased when he heard 

 of this demonstration of affection and esteem for him. 



My dear Elizabeth, — We have had a most extraordinary meeting at 

 Rochester ; 20,000 people out, aU the road lined. The moment I arrived 



