No. IV, 



Hints relative to the most Eligible Method of conducting Meteorolo- 

 gical Observations. By John Griscom, Member of the Medical 

 Faculty of Qfyieeri's College, New-Brunswick, (New-Jersey,} Professor 

 of Chemistry in Columbia College, SCc. 



[Read before the Society December 8th, 1814.] 



An accurate register of a careful and extensive series of observations 

 on atmospherical phenomena, under the direction of this society, might, 

 it is conceived, very usefully contribute to enlarge our knowledge of 

 the nature of those changes, so important to human welfare, and to 

 throw into the common stock of philosophy, facts conducive to its 

 advancement. 



Vicissitudes of weather are regarded, by the greater part of mankind, 

 as events altogether fortuitous in their nature, and subject to influences, 

 the precise order of which cannot be ascertained. 



Philosophers cannot, indeed, boast of much progress in this field ol 

 discovery. Governed, as those changes doubtless are, by chemical, 

 rather than by mechanical laws, it is not to be expected that mankind 

 will ever arrive at that perfection of knowledge, with respect to these 

 phenomena, which has crowned their labours in relation to the heavenly 

 bodies. But, although an acquaintance with the ultimate principles upon 

 which atmospheric changes depend, may never be attained, it is 

 scarcely to be doubted, that a diligent course of observation and ex- 

 periment, performed by men of science, in various parts of the globe, 



