The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-23 00:00:00

"Captain Moulac wrote on the 20th January last :

Bien que les previsions du tamps faites par l'Amiral
Fitzroy ne soient qua des probabilites, et nullement des pro-
pheties, ii serait facile d'opposer a l'exemple cite, qua l'on
pretend avoir ete prix entre mille, un tres-grand nombre de
circonstances dans lesquelles l'evenement a justifie les pre.
visions.

" ' Depuis le peu de temps, moins de deux mois, que ces
avertissements parviennent en France, les trois coups de
vent qui se sont fait sentir sur nos cotes ont gal annonces
la veille.'

And Captain Mouchez, now officiating at Paris, said on
tho 19th ult. :

" Je n'ai pas besoin, sans donte, de vous dire que pen-
dant tout le mois ecoule vos telegrammes se sont verifies
d'une maniere tres-remarqable. Les journanx de divers ports
de nos cotes du Nord signalent tres frequemment l'accord
parfait de previsions et des tems observes. Aussi nous aeons
grande impatience de voir notre service bien etabli. J'espere
que cela ne tardera pas.'
" And on the 26th the same officer wrote—

" Je regoeis continuellement de nouvelles demander des
ports qui reclament la communication de vos teleg,rammes.'
" He also requested additional information from a few
other British ports.
"7. Last autumn several cautionary notices of impend-
ing bad weather were sent through Heligoland to Hamburg,
and even to Rostock, at the special request of Professor
Dove ; and lately inquiries about ice and probable cold
weather telegraphed from Hamburg were answered so satis -
factorily that a cargo of 800 tons was countermanded.
" 8. During 1862 many foreigners examined the arrange-
ments at this office, and four of those gentlemen (who were
accredited to high positions at the Exhibition) expressed in-
tentions of establishing similar arrangements (on a smaller
scale) in their respective countries—namely, France, Italy,
Hanover, and Russia.
" 9. In the last autumn France commenced arrangements
for a system of coast telegraphy for ordinary weather as well
as for storms, and within the last few weeks I have heard
from the officer at Paris appointed to conduct this service
that he has organised 18 stations on the French coasts, and
will soon ask for the further reports from hence which are
desired by them. His immediate superior is the Minister of
Marine, who takes much personal interest in the subject.

" 10. Commissioners from the Hanoverian Government
have just obtained authority from the Foreign-office and
Board of Trade to inspect our meteorologic arrangements,
having in view an organisation of a similar kind.
" 11. It is unnecessary to say how willingly any desired
information has been invariably given, not only to foreigners,
but to :all persons entitled to time and attention in a public
office; but it may be right to repeat here that the meteoro-
logic publications of the Board of Trade have been exten-
sively though carefully circulated, and that a large scientific
as well as ordinary correspondence has grown out of their
disseminations.

" 12. These facts seem to show so conclusively, not only
the opinions of foreigners and those by whom they have
been gradually informed, chiefly concerned in maritime in-
terests, but of a large number of other persons, that many
words here in allusion to different views may seem hardly
necessary ; and yet for enabling a fair conclusion to be drawn
by high authorities some degree
of further explaßation
may seem to be desirable besides what has been already
published.

13. Many may ask—' Is this system of weather tele-
graphy sound and advantageous ? If so, why is it opposed ?
" There are no less than four distinct classes of interested
opponents, and they should be known,
First :—Certain
persons who were opposed to the system theoretically at its
origin, and having openly expressed, if not published, their
converted.
objections are naturally reluctant to adopt other ideas until

time and
opportunity
A numerousk
fully t ody who cannot have had
into the rationale, but
do not realise any want of special information, undervalue
the subject, assert it to be a burlesque,' and misquote
really great authorities.
" Thirdly.—A small but active party which failed in
pyo—rtty to 100
establishing a daily weather newspaper indirectly opposed
to the Board of Trade reports, and have since endeavoured,
by conversation, by letters, and by elaborate criticisms in
newspapers or periodicals, to exaggerate deficiencies, while
ignoring merit in the works of this office, however beneficial
their intended objects.
"And fourthly, these pecuniarily interested individuals
or bodies who would leave the coasters and the fishermen
to pursue their precarious occupation heedlessly—without
regard to risk—lest occasionally a day's demurrage should
be caused unnecessarily, or a catch of fish missed for the
London market.

` have
14
the. Especiallyrnin referring now to persons who would
ha
,bgut not the forecasts' (results
wagsir signals,
of considerations on which the signals may depend), may I
quote from my ' Weather Book' the following words P--
' Frequently remarks in favour of the cautionary signals,
but in depreciation of the forecasts, have been made. Their
author now begs to say that it is only by closely forecasting
the coming weather, and by keeping atmospheric condition
continuously present to mind, that judicious storm warnings
can be given. Forecasts grow out of statical facts, and
signals are their fruit.' Weather Book, page 193. Second
edition.

" 15. To show some of the concordant opinions of such
forecasts entertained in France and Scotland, in Ireland
and England, I might quote numerous printed or written
passages. In this report, however, I will only observe that
the views and expressions of seafaring men, of the maritime
population in general, of the Coast Guard, and of her
Majesty's officers in command are remarkably favourable.
" 16. Perhaps it may be asked on what met orologic
conditions or changes are the forecasts based ?' They de-
pend (may be briefly replied) on considering the atmosphere
as a lighter ocean, having currents, elastic expansibility,
equilibrium, m, mentum or inertia, chemical alterations,
and extreme sensibility to heat or cold, its chief
motors ; and on knowing the statical conditions of air in
this oceanic envelope at many places simultaneously, like-
wise again similarly after certain intervals of time by which
means intercomparisons are made, showing the relative
conditions and causations whence dynamic effects originate.
These dynamic motions are proportional to disturbances of
level, like those caused by a head of water, to inequalities Of
temperature and consequent chymical changes, with more
or less electric action. They are our winds and may be softly
gentle, —or as heavily boisterous as in a tempest, of which
differences, through all degrees, instrumental means and
telegraphy now give available information. To utilise their
indications adequately a central office should know the
natural and general atmospheric movements, with their dis-
turbing causes, even as a pilot knows the varieties of r•ti earns
and eddies in a wide estuary.
" The whole map of a regi ma (say the British Islands)
should be outlined in the mind, as the estuary with its
shoals is mentally v'sible to the pilot. The normal tendency
of the whole atmosphere (in our latitudes) to move east-
ward while crossed or variously interfered with by polar or
tropical currents, that in course of seasons cause every
variety of wind and weather, should be always considered,
and then, with due allowances made for gradual advances
from westware, for effects of land and differences of tempera-
ture, good forecasts may be generally drawn.
" 17. Reverting to fishery barometers, I would ask for
perusal of the replies sent in from places on our coasts to
which instruments have been lent by the Board of Trade,
gradually increasing in number since :857. By these instru-
ments, and by the directions (Manuals) that have been so
liberally circulated by Government, an extensive amount of
good has been done in a manner little known to the public,
but not eventually to be the less appreciated. The example
thus set has been largely followed, not only on our own
seacoasts, but on those of the French, where their Govern-
ment has placed similar barometers at all coast stations, and

his supplied them with translations of the Board of Trade
_Manual.

" 18. While thus endeavouring to realise a few practical
results from some of the voluminous accumulations of facts
hitherto usually remaining bound up on the shelves of
many a library, or stored in observatories, it may be that
some insight has been obtained of the manner in which
atmospheric changes are occasioned, and air-currents or
winds set in motion, around our world, chiefly by the sun
and moon. The luni-solar theory to which I refer appears
to be so much in accordance with observed facts that each
month adds to my own impression of its truth; but it would
be wrong not to say here, distinctly, that it is not yet ad-
mitted by the highest scientific judges.

" 19. In order to estimate fairly the nature and practical
value of these latter results arising out of the Meteorologic-
office, it may be stated summarily that, as the objects are
to save life and property, to enable small vessels and boats
to avoid or prepare for dangerous winds, and to take full
advantage of favourable weather, to inform ships about to
leave port, or approaching land, and generally to inform, if
not to caution, the maritime community—their importance
is self-evident.

" 20. Tho daily forecasts so extensively, yet without
public cost, sent :everywhere by the newspapers (whether
the full tables are published by them or not), together with
the regular tabulation of facts observed in numerous and
widely-separated places, afford general information now
highly appreciated by a very large and increasing majority,
although they are at present only tentative, and liable to
errors of judgment, in drawing conclusions, however reliable
the facts.

" 21. Lastly, sir, I would request that you will notice a
few other papers appended to this report, with a view of
showing that while a new and extensive utilisation of me-
teorology has been pressed forward, for the advantage of all
classes, a continuous advance has been made in carrying on
the original purposes for which this office was established.
—I have, &c., " R. FITZROY, Rear-Admiral.
" To the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, M.P.,
President of the Board of Trade."