Meteorological Observations at Sea* 83 



ing a conference on the subject of establishing a uniform 

 system of meteorological observations at sea, and of con- 

 curring in a general plan of observation on the winds and 

 currents of the ocean, with a view to the improvement of 

 navigation, and to the acquirement of a more correct know- 

 ledge of the laws which govern those elements. 



" The meeting was convened at the instigation of the Ame- 

 rican government, consequent upon a proposition which it 

 had made to the British government, in reply to a desire 

 which had been conveyed to the United States, that it would 

 join in a uniform system of meteorological observations on 

 land, after a plan which had been prepared by Captain 

 James, of the Royal Engineers, and submitted to the Govern- 

 ment by Sir J. Burgoyne, Inspector-General of Fortifications. 



" The papers connected with this correspondence were pre- 

 sented to the House of Lords on the 21st of February last,* 

 and have been further explained in the minutes of the con- 

 ference. And it is here merely necessary to observe, that 

 some difficulties having presented themselves to the imme- 

 diate execution of the plan proposed by the British govern- 

 ment, the United States availed themselves of the opportu- 

 nity afforded by this correspondence, of bringing under the 

 notice of the British government a plan which had been sub- 

 mitted by Lieutenant Maury, of the United States Navy, 

 for a more widely extended field of research than that which 

 had been proposed, a plan which, while it would forward the 

 object entertained by Great Britain, would, at the same time, 

 materially contribute to the improvement of navigation and 

 to the benefit of commerce. 



" An improvement of the ordinary sea route between dis- 

 tant countries had long engaged the attention of commercial 

 men, and both individuals and nations had profited by the 

 advances which this science had made through a more cor- 

 rect knowledge of the prevailing winds and currents of the 

 ocean. But experience had shewn that this science, if it did 

 not now stand fast, was at least greatly impeded by the want 

 of a more extended co-operation in the acquirement of those 

 facts which were necessary to lead to a more correct know- 

 ledge of the laws which govern the circulation of the atmo- 



* See Parliamentary Papers, No. 115, 



