34 General Sabine — Note on Meteorological Correspondence. [Mar. 8, 



and furnished to ships proceeding on distant voyages, and had been returned 

 to the office ; and that some progress had been made in carrying into effect 

 the original programme of tabulating these in readiness for statistical 

 charts. 



It was further stated that ."in 1859 or 1860, the French Government 

 having adopted a system of telegraphing and publishing the actual state of 

 the weather from one place to another, in which Admiral FitzRoy's coopera- 

 tion had been sanctioned, a considerable part of the vote previously applied 

 to obtaining and digesting observations was devoted to these telegrams ; 

 and further, that in 1861, Admiral FitzRoy having grafted on this system 

 of telegraphic communication a system of forecasting the weather, and, on 

 occasions of anticipated storms, the giving of special warnings, communi- 

 cated by telegraph to the different ports and there made known by hoisting 

 certain signals, — the whole or almost the whole of the funds originally voted 

 for the purpose of observations had thus been diverted from their original 

 scientific purpose to an object deemed more immediately practical." 



The decease of Admiral FitzRoy afforded, in the judgment of the Board 

 of Trade, a fitting opportunity to review the past proceedings and present 

 state of the meteorological department, and rendered them desirous of again 

 consulting the Royal Society on the constitution and objects of the depart- 

 ment, and the mode in which those objects might be most effectually 

 attained. 



The points on which the opinion of the Royal Society was specially re- 

 quested were the following : — 



1. Are the points specified in the letter of the Royal Society of the 22nd 

 of February 1855 still deemed as important for the interests of science and 

 navigation as they were then considered? 



2. To what extent have any of these objects been answered by what has 

 already been done by the meteorological department ? 



3. What steps should be taken for making use of the observations 

 already collected ? 



4. Is it desirable to make any, and what, further observations on any of 

 the subjects mentioned in the Royal Society's letter of the 22nd of Febru- 

 ary 1855 ? 



5. What is the nature of the basis on which the system of daily forecasts 

 and storm-warnings established Jjy Admiral FitzRoy rests ? Are they 

 founded on scientific principles, so that they, or any part of them, may be 

 carried on satisfactorily notwithstanding Admiral FitzRoy' s decease ? 



6. Can the Royal Society suggest any improvement in the form and 

 manner of the process pursued in forecasts and storm-warnings ? 



7. Have the Royal Society any general suggestions to make as to the mode, 

 place, or establishment in, at, or by which the duties of the meteorological 

 department can best be performed ? it being understood that the Admi- 

 ralty are willing to undertake to place in the hands of the Hydrographer all 

 those observations which can properly be used in framing charts for the 



