bu 1. SYNCHRONOUS WEATHER-CHART OF EUROPE, FOR 2D NOVEM BER 1863, AT 8 A.M., 140 ; SYNCHRONOUS WEATHER-CHART OF THE WEST INDIES, FOR ME TE OR O L O G Y. SITE AL CHAPTER I. HISTORY AND SCOPE OF METEOROLOGY. 151 1. METEOROLOGY was originally applied to the consideration of all appearances in the sky, astronomical as well as atmospherical; but the term is now restricted to that department of natural philosophy which treats of the multifarious phenomena of the atmosphere that relate to weather and climate, their relations to each other, and the laws to which they are subservient. 2. The objects which astronomy takes cognisance of being few in number, and the laws by which their motions are regulated being also few, it is comparatively easy to account for the phenomena, and, from a few data, to assign to the heavenly bodies their past, present, and future positions. But it is quite different with meteorology. Owing to the complexity and intricacy of the phenoinena, and the manifold influences by which they are modified and determined, it would be a task, even supposing the data before us, beyond the compass of the human intellect to give a rational and perfectly satisfactory explanation of them. Viewed in this light, meteorology is the most difficult and involved of the sciences; hence the only procedure admissible in the first place is long and patient observation, and a faithful recording of the facts observed. 3. From the nature of the subjects which make up the science of meteorology, we may infer that they occupied men's minds from a remote antiquity. The splendid and ever-varying pano А c! tie iks, and the variations of temperature through the the brass, getter with becher atospheric changes natin, the waiter with a st in so powerful a manner the des and comfort of Lan, are of a Latare well fitted to Lis attention. From the time spent in the open air during rly ames, and from the imperfect protection then enjoyed t the inclemency of the seasons, the appearances which Gund by experience to precede changes of weather were y recorded and handed down in the sententious form of er proverbs. In this way Ihany valuable facts were ascer and passed current from hand to hand, so that there is ps no science of which more of the leading facts and inferhave been so long incorporated into popular language. Aristotle was the first who collected, in his work On ors,' the popular prognostics of the weather. A number of were derived from the Egyptians, who had long studied the e as a branch of astronomy, while a large number were the of his own observation, and bear the mark of his singularly and reflective mind. Theophrastus, one of Aristotle's s, next took up the subject, classifying the commonly re1 opinions of the weather under four heads-viz., the prog. s of rain, wind, storms, and fine weather. He contented lf with discussing the subject purely in its popular and cal bearings, making no attempt to explain phenomena occurrence appeared so irregular and capricious. Cicero, 1, and a few other writers, also wrote on the weather, but no substantial additions to our knowledge ; indeed, the te of Theophrastus contains nearly all that was known down mparatively recent times. Partial explanations were ated by Aristotle and Lucretius, but as they had not the ents necessary for such an inquiry, owing to the general ince which prevailed on matters of physical research, their nations were necessarily vague, and abounded with reference verstitious beliefs, often ridiculous and absurd. Meteorology remained in this dormant condition for ages, o progress was made till proper instruments were invented laking real observations with regard to the pressure, the rature, the humidity, and the electricity of the atmosphere. atmo The Barometer. The discovery of the weight of the atmoby Torricelli in 1613, was undoubtedly the first step in the progress of meteorology to the rank of a science. This memorable 7. The Thermometer.—The invention of the air-thermometer 8. But the great improver of the thermometer was FAHRENHEIT. He made use of two fixed points in graduating the instrument—one indicated by the melting-point of ice, and the other by the boiling-point of water at the mean pressure of the atmosphere. The former point he called 32°, the latter 212o. Any improvements that have since been made in constructing thermometers, such as self-registration, are merely matters of convenience or detail. In so far as concerns the principle, the thermometer may be regarded as having come perfect from the hands of Fahrenheit, for the instrument he invented could be reproduced by any one at pleasure, the indications being in all cases absolutely the same. This great invention soon bore excellent fruit. Small portable thermometers were constructed by Fahrenheit, which, being carried by medical men and travellers over every part of the world, furnished observations of the most valuable description. The comparative temperature of different countries became known, and the exaggerated accounts of travellers with regard to excessive heat and cold prevailing in foreign countries, were reduced to their proper meaning. Thermometers were further turned to excellent account in the arts of brewing and horticulture, and to subjects affecting public health, and thus substantial additions were made to our comforts and luxuries. 9. The Hygrometer.—The expansion and contraction of vegetable and animal substances, according as the moisture of the atmosphere is increased or diminished, would appear to have suggested the idea of the hygrometer, an instrument of great value in meteorology, as indicating the quantity of vapour in the air, inferentially the changes of weather depending thereon. se substances were used as hygrometers by the earlier meteorists, especially by De Saussure, whose ingenious and extenresearches, conducted with the simple hair hygrometer , tle him to be considered the founder of this department of eorology. . From the period of the invention of these instruments, the ber of meteorological observers was greatly increased, and a e body of well-authenticated facts of the utmost value began e collected. The climates of particular parts of the earth inquired into and compared together; and the science made t and rapid advances by the investigations undertaken by mguished philosophers into the laws which regulate atmoric phenomena. in Bu ing The theory of the Trade-Winds was first propounded by Hadley in the ‘Philosophical Transactions' for 1735 ; and y be mentioned as a curious fact that it remained altogether ticed for half a century, when it was independently arrived - Dalton, and published in his essays. The publication of Dalton's "Meteorological Essays' in marks an epoch in meteorology. It was the first instance of rinciples of philosophy being brought to bear on the explan of the complex and varied phenomena of the atmosphere. idea that vapour is an independent elastic fluid, and that all c fluids, whether alone or mixed, exist independently; the motive forces of the atmosphere; the theory of winds, with effect on the barometer, and their relations to temperaand rain ; observations on the height of clouds, on thunder, on meteors; and the relations of magnetism and the aurora lis--are some of the important questions discussed in these kable essays, with an acuteness, a fulness, and a breadth of which leave nothing to be desired. One of the most interesting and fruitful subjects of inquiry ong engaged the attention of meteorologists was Dew. Pictet neva, Le Roy of Montpellier, Six of Canterbury, and Patrick in of Glasgow, contributed valuable observations and experi; which tended to elucidate the subject. Of these, the first is unquestionably due to Patrick Wilson, whose "Memoirs •tain Great Frosts at Glasgow,' about 1780, show a fidelity of ration, and a skill of interrogating nature, which have rarely zurpassed. When it is considered that he missed the point of |