84 On a Uniform System of 



sphere, ami control the currents of the ocean ; and that the 

 subject could not receive ample justice, nor even such a mea- 

 sure of it as was commensurate with the importance of its 

 results, until all nations should concur in one general effort 

 for its perfection. But, could that happy event be brought 

 about, could the observations be as extensive as desired, and 

 receive that full discussion to which they were entitled, the 

 navigator would learn with certainty how to count upon the 

 winds and currents in his track, and to turn to the best ad- 

 vantage the experience of his predecessors. 



" Meteorological observations, to a certain extent, had long 

 been made at sea, and Lieutenant Maury had turned to useful 

 account such as had from time to time fallen into his hands ;* 

 but these observations, although many of them good in them- 

 selves, were but isolated facts, which were deprived of much 

 of their value from the absence of observations with which 

 they could be compared, and, above all, from the want of a 

 constant and uniform system of record, and from the rude- 

 ness of the instruments with which they had been made. 



" The moment then appeared to him to have arrived when 

 nations might be induced to co-operate in a general system 

 of meteorological research. To use his own words, he was 

 of opinion that ' the navies of all maritime nations should 

 co-operate, and make these observations in such a manner, 

 and with such means and implements, that the system might 

 be uniform, and the observations made on board one public 

 ship be readily referred to, and compared with the observa- 

 tions made on board all other public ships, in whatever part 

 of the world ; and, moreover, as it is desirable to enlist the 

 voluntary co-operation of the commercial marine, as well as 

 that of the military of all nations, in this system of research, 

 it becomes not only proper, but politic, that the forms of the 

 abstract log to be used, the description of the instruments 

 to be employed, the things to be observed, with the manipu- 

 lation of the instruments, and the methods and modes of ob- 

 servation, should be the joint work of the principal parties 

 concerned.' 



w These sentiments being concurred in by the Government 



* See Sailing Directions by Maury. 



