1835.] 



41 



II, — Description of Meteorological Instruments, and In- 

 structions for making Meteorological Observations. By 

 the late Dr. Alex. Turnbull Christie. 

 Meteorology is the science which treats of the phenomena 

 of the atmosphere, and the theory of climate. It inves- 

 tigates the constantly varying conditions of the medium, in 

 which we live and breathe, the causes of the great varieties 

 of climate from the poles to the equator — ^from the level of 

 the sea to the summits of the loftiest mountains.— It enables 

 the physician to detect the causes of many of the diseases 

 with which we are afflicted, and thereby to guard against 

 them. It points out to the botanist and zoologist the 

 theory of the distribution of vegetable and animal species ; 

 iind it teaches the horticulturist to raise the vegetable pro- 

 ductions of distant countries, by means of an artificial cli- 

 mate, or gradually to acclimatize them under his own sky. 



Independent of these applications to useful purposes, this 

 dielightful department of science possesses sufficient attrac- 

 tions, to be studied on its own account. It contemplates 

 some of the sublimest phenomena in nature, and it will be 

 found to display the same harmony, and the same proofs of 

 divine wisdom, that pervade all the works of the creator. 

 It has accordingly excited much interest in all ages and 

 countries ; but it is only since the end of the last century 

 that it has been treated of in a philosophical and exact 

 manner. Much has already been done by Saussure, De Lus, 

 Humboldt, Leslie, Daniel, Dalton, and Anderson, yet^ 

 notwithstanding the labours of these distinguished meny 

 the science may be said to be still in its infancy. Like 

 other branches of natural history, it cannot be successfully 

 cultivated by a single person ; but requires the united ex- 

 ertions of numerous individuals, in distant and different 

 climates, to make observations upon the same plan, and 

 ^ith nice Meteorological Instruments. To promote so de- 

 sirable an object, I have drawn up the following instructions, 

 which I trust may be the means of exciting an interest in 

 the subject, and of inducing many to prosecute these 

 Studies. 



The phenomena of the atmosphere are very numerous, 

 ind may be arranged under the following heads, viz. tem- 

 perature, pressure, radiation of heat from the earth, light. 



