THE SYMPIESOMETEK. 



401 



will supersede the Marine Barometer, when it is 

 better known." 



. Lieutenant Robertson, in a letter to the Hon- 

 nourable Captain Napier of Merchistoun, has 

 spoken of it in the following manner : 



" The Sympiesometer is a most excellent instru- 

 ment, and shews the weather far better than the 

 Marine Barometer. In short, the barometer is of 

 no use compared to it. If it has any fault, it is 

 that of being too sensible of small changes, which 

 might frighten a reef in when there was no occasion 

 for it ; but, take it altogether, in my opinion it sur- 

 passes the mercurial barometer as much as the ba- 

 rometer is superior to having none at all." 



I have also had it in my power to make trial of 

 the Sympiesometer on coasting voyages, through the 

 favour of my friend Mr Stevenson, engineer to the 

 Scots Lighthouse board, who placed one of them in 

 the cabin of the Lighthouse Yacht beside a good 

 marine barometer. Along with a register of both 

 instruments, extracted from the ship's log-book, he 

 has favoured me with a communication, which 

 states, that, " after an experience of two years, the 

 Sympiesometer affords the most delicate and correct 

 indications of the weather ;" and that " it is a great 

 favourite on board, being commodious even for the 

 smallest cabin, and at the same time easily read 

 off." 



" The master, mate, and steward of the Light- 

 house Yacht, (Mr Stevenson adds,) give such ac-> 



