in Meteorological Observations. 147 



mena of the Great Gulf-stream have been more accurately defined, 

 and the existence of almost equally remarkable systems of currents 

 in the Indian Ocean, on the coast of China, and on the North-western 

 coast of America and elsewhere has been ascertained : there are, in 

 fact, very few departments of the science of meteorology and hydro- 

 graphy which have not received very valuable additions ; whilst the 

 more accurate determination of the parts of the Pacific Ocean, where 

 the sperm-whale is found (which are very limited in extent), as well 

 as the limits of the range of those of other species, has contributed 

 very materially to the success of the American whale fishery, one 

 of the most extensive and productive of all their fields of enterprise 

 and industry. 



The success of this system of co-operative observations has already 

 led to the establishment of societies at Bombay and Calcutta, for ob- 

 taining, by similar means, a better knowledge of the winds, currents, 

 and the course of the streams of the Indian seas. 



But it is to the government of this country that the demand for 

 co-operation, and for the interchange of observations, is most earnestly 

 addressed by the government of the United States ; and the Presi- 

 dent and Council of the Royal Society express their hope that it will 

 not be addressed in vain. We possess in our ships of war, in our 

 packet service, and in our vast commercial navy, better means of mak- 

 ing such observations, and a greater interest in the results to which 

 they lead, than any other nation. For this purpose, every ship which 

 is under the control of the Admiralty should be furnished with 

 instruments properly constructed and compared, and with proper in- 

 structions for using them : similar instructions for making and record- 

 ing observations, as far as their means will allow, should be sent to 

 every ship that sails, with a request that the results of them be trans- 

 mitted to the Hydrographer's Office of the Admiralty, where an 

 adequate staff of officers or others should be provided for their prompt 

 examination, and the publication of the improved charts and sailing 

 directions to which they would lead ; above all, it seems desirable to 

 establish a prompt communication with the Hydrographer's Office of 

 the United States, so that the united labours of the two greatest 

 naval and commercial nations of the world may be combined, with 

 the least practicable delay, in promoting the interests of navigation. 



The President and Council refer to the documents which have been 

 submitted to them, and more especially to the " Explanations and 

 Sailing Directions to accompany wind and current charts" prepared 

 by Lieutenant Maury, for a more detailed account of this system of 

 co-operative observations, and of the grounds upon which they have 

 ventured to make the preceding recommendations. 



S. Hunter Christie, Sec. R.S. 



H. U. Addington, Esq. 



K 2 



