446 Professor Elias Loomis. 



making such charts as these." These two expressions of Sir 

 George Airy and of LeVerrier mark the progress and the 

 direction of progress in meteorology developed by Professor 

 Loomis' s memoir. 



What was his own judgment of the method at the time 

 of its publication and its value in meteorology, can be seen 

 from his words at the close of the memoir, which I beg per- 

 mission to quote. 



" It appears to me that if the course of investigations adopted 

 with respect to the two storms of February, 1842, was systemati- 

 cally pursued we should soon have some settled principles in 

 meteorology. If we could be furnished with two meteorologi- 

 cal charts of the United States daily for one year, charts show- 

 ing the state of the barometer, thermometer, winds, sky, etc., 

 for every part of the country, it would settle forever the laws 

 of storms. ~No false theory could stand against such an array of 

 testimony. Such a set of maps would be worth more than all 

 which has been hitherto done in meteorology. Moreover, the 

 subject would be well nigh exhausted. But one year's observa- 

 tion would be needed. The storms of one year are probably 

 but a repetition of those of .the preceding. Instead then of the 

 guerilla warfare which has been maintained for centuries with 

 indifferent success, although at the expense of great self-devo- 

 tion on the part of individual chiefs, is it not time to embark in 

 a general meteorological crusade ? A well arranged system of 

 observations spread over the country, would accomplish more 

 in one year, than observations at a few insulated posts, however 

 accurate and complete, continued to the end of time. The 

 United States are favorably situated for such an enterprise. 

 Observations spread over a smaller territory would be inade- 

 quate, as they would not show the extent of any large storm. 

 If we take a survey of the entire globe, we shall search in vain 

 for more than one equal area which could be occupied by the 

 same number of trusty observers. In Europe there is oppor- 

 tunity for a like organization, but with this incumbrance, that 

 it must needs embrace several nations of different languages 

 and governments. The United States then afford decidedly 

 the most hopeful field for such an enterprise. Shall we 

 hesitate to embark in it; or shall we grope timidly along as 



