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XVII. Researches on the Tides. — Sixth Series. On the Results of an extensive system 
of Tide Observations made on the coasts of Europe and America in June 1835. By 
the Rev. William Whewell, M.A . , F.R.S., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. 
Received June 2,- — Read June 16, 1836. 
Sect. I. Introduction. 
1. I HAVE already, in communications to the Society, urged the importance which 
belongs to simultaneous tide observations made at distant places ; and I have also 
stated some of the steps which have been taken in consequence of representations to 
this effect. Observations were made and continued for a fortnight in June 1834, at 
the coast-guard stations in Great Britain and Ireland ; and I have given an account 
of some of the results of these observations in a paper already printed in the Trans- 
actions*. Being encouraged by the general interest taken in the subject, and by the 
desire to promote this branch of knowledge manifested by those who had officially 
the means of doing so, especially by Captain Beaufort, the Hydrographer of the 
Admiralty, I solicited a repetition of the coast-guard tide observations in June 1835, 
and also ventured to recommend that a request should be made to other maritime 
nations, to institute simultaneous tide observations on their coasts. The British ob- 
servations were undertaken with the same readiness as before by Captain Bowles, 
the Chief Commissioner of the Coast-Guard Service. The proposal for the foreign 
observations was entertained and promoted with great zeal by the Board of Admiralty ; 
and the Duke of Wellington, at that time Foreign Secretary of State, being applied 
to, to forward the scheme. His Grace fully acceded to the application, and made 
requests to foreign governments to join in the undertaking, in a manner which pro- 
cured from them the most cordial and effective cooperation. Through the ambassa- 
dors of the maritime powers of Europe, and through A. Vail, Esq., the Charge 
d’ Affaires of the United States, who entered into this design with great interest, ar- 
rangements were made, and directions circulated, for simultaneous tide observations 
from the 8th to the 28th of June. These observations were made, for the most part 
with great care, under the direction of intelligent officers and men of science. 
2. The chain of places of observation extended from the mouth of the Mississippi, 
round the Keys of Florida, along the coast of North America, as far as Nova Scotia; 
and from the Straits of Gibraltar, along the shores of Europe, to the North Cape 
of Norway. The number of places of observation was twenty-eight in America, 
seven in Spain, seven in Portugal, sixteen in France, five in Belgium, eighteen in the 
* Part I. for 1835, p. 83. 
2 p 
MDCCCXXXVI. 
