1839.] on the 3d, 4th, and 5th of June, 1839, 649 



noting the strength of the wind now in use at Greenwich Observatory, 

 and about to be introduced at the lighthouses under the Trinity Board. 

 In the cases of St. Helena and Ascension, it is desirable that more pre- 

 cise information should be obtained by observation, respecting the 

 ' Rollers' at those islands. As the object of H. M's. Government in 

 instituting these inquiries is the advancement of knowledge in science 

 generally, the Governors of the several British Colonies will consider 

 how far it may be in their power to obtain useful information bearing 

 on the subject, from countries adjoining to their Governments in the 

 possession of foreign powers, or how far it may be useful to the study 

 of meteorology, to exchange the observations made within their Go- 

 vernments, for those of other countries in the neighbourhood. If at 

 any time desired, there would be no objection to the publication in 

 the Colonial newspapers of extracts from the journals. 



(Signed) GLENELG. 



There is little to be added to these ample directions, but I may be 

 allowed here to repeat what has been said in another place,* — that every 

 European in India, may be said to have a direct personal interest in 

 this matter ; for, though unconnected with commercial speculations, he 

 probably looks one day to cross the ocean himself on his return home ; 

 or has those who are dear to him doing so; or he may be sent to sea 

 for his health. It is superfluous to allude here to that general interest 

 which the feelings of humanity must awaken in every man's mind 

 when he hears of a new branch of knowledge, which may so much con- 

 tribute to disarm the tempest of its terrors ; and which careful, common- 

 sense accounts of storms may so very essentially assist us in perfecting. 



In closing this first memoir, which, in the absence of abler labourers 

 in the field, I propose to follow by others as I can find materials, I ought 

 to apologize for its imperfections. I have mentioned in Part I. 

 some of the difficulties I experienced in collecting information, and that, 

 by the advice of a friend, I published earlier than I originally intended, 

 to attract attention to the October Gales. When I add to this, that I 

 am far from being master of my own time, I trust due allowance 

 will be made for its defects, by those who are not aware of these cir- 

 cumstances. To solicit information on any question of natural his- 

 tory is often fruitless enough in all countries, but upon meteorolo- 

 gical questions, and in India, where the public mind has not yet been 

 roused to attention on this head, and where observers are so few, is 

 absolutely at times, to use a Gallicism, desesperant. I trust however 

 this little essay will shew how much every trifle, insignificant as it 



* Englishman, 17th September, 1839. 



