( 395 ) 
provement of Natural Knowledge , rather than the 
Wafte of Paper. 
I (hall conclude thefe general Remarks, by obferving, 
that as the Hiftory of the Winds and Weather is capa- 
ble of a more fpeedy and expeditious Improvement from 
Marine Obfervations than from Diaries from the Land> 
fo alfo it is capable hereby of a more large and exten- 
five Improvement. Without Doubt it will require ma- 
ny Years before Obfervatories of the Weather, &c. 
will be ereded at all the ‘Cniverftties and Capital 
Towns of the *P r ovine es, Shires , die. in Europe , (if 
ever fuch fhould be,) not to mention Africa , Aft a, and 
America , from which little can be expeded in this 
Affair-, and yet upon that Suppofition, how few would 
the Diaries be, in Comparifon of the great Number of 
Journals that are annually kept at Sea ? belides many 
Thoufands that might perhaps be obtain’d, relating to 
the Courfe of the Winds and Weather, fucceflively for 
many Years laft paid. It is beyond my Abilities, in- 
deed, to calculate with any Exadnefs, how many Vef- 
fels there may be upon the Seas which I have named, 
in the Space of one Year, and confequently how many 
diftind Journals there are annually kept } however, if 
I may judge from the Trade of the little Town, where 
this Letter is dated, there mull be many Thoufands : For 
there are feldom lefs than eight or nine Hundred Voy- 
ages made to and from this Port in a Year. I fhall only 
add in this Place, that the Method here propos’d feems 
to have the Advantage of the common Method hereto- 
fore ufed in compoling the Natural Hiftory of Mete- 
ors ; inafmuch as that requires a particular Applica- 
tion and Attention without any other Views and Advan- 
tages ; whereas in our Cafe there is a Kind of Neceflity 
G g g a of 
