[ M4 ] 
y. If from the State of the Mercury Yefterday and 
this Morning, it be pronounced the next Day will be no 
Rain, and I look at the Glafs no more To-day 5 per- 
haps Winds may arife, and fo alter the Atmofpheres 
Weight, and the Glafs falls much, it will rain on the 
Morrow, contrary to what I at firft expeded : Here it 
is plain, had I feen the Glafs again in the Afternoon, 
I might have alfo forefeen the Rain. 
Hence it is evident from thefe Remarks, that Judg- 
ments are taken on the Weather from Barometers , 
which do not prove fo 5 and this begets Opinions in 
the Vulgar and Ignorant, that there is no Judgment at 
.all to be had from them. 
If they could confider, nothing in Nature is cer- 
tain, permanent and perfed, neither in ourfelves, or 
what we do or think 5 then why do we exped it in 
the Air? Is it not fubjed to as many Chances, Vari- 
ations and Mutations ? Or why fhould we exped a 
Foreknowledge of it abfolutely from the Barometer , 
and that it fhould force us to underftand its Meaning 
infallibly ? 
If the Barometer could only foretel very great and 
remarkable Changes of the Weather ; for Inftance, in 
Harveft-time, that a very great Rain, or perhaps Floods, 
were coming; the Husbandman would flop cutting 
down his Grain, and fave forne of it being fpoiled bj 
the Wet : Or on a Journey, if I know that if I do not 
get Home by fuch a Time, or pafs fuch Rivers 
the Floods will be fo great as not only to prevent m 
but endanger my Life : And may be here is a Man J 
Fortune faved, nay his Life, merely from the India 
tions of the Barometer j and who reckons this nt 
thing, deferves neither. 
D 
