The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-17 00:00:00

METEOROLOGIC:AL OBSERVATIONS AT

SEA.

A conference wns recently held at Brussels, at
the invitation of •the Government of the United
States of America., the object of which was to con-
nect a systematical and uniform plan of meteoro-
logical observations at sea. At this conference the
report wltich follows was agreed to. In The Sun
of the 19th of August an account appeared of a lec-
ture on " Cotribined. Meteorological Observation,"
which was etelivered at Lloyd's by Lieutenant
Maury, a thstinguished officer of the United States.
It excited a great deal of interest in the maritime
world. Lieutenant Maury has devoted much at-
tention to the subject, and has prepared various
charts, from which may be ascertained what winds
and currents may be expected in a given month in
any part of the ocean. The Government of the
United. States has given every encouragement to
the ci.':culation of these charts, and we understand
that some negotiations have been entered into with
our Government upon the matter. The conference
at I.3russels was held with the view of attracting the
at'6ention of commercial nations to the subject,
a'ad the report which we now publish was the re-
, cult of it :

"In pursuance of instructions issued by the Govern-
ments respectively named below, the officers whose
names are hereunto annexed assembled at Brussels, for
the purpose of holding a conference on the subject of
establishing a uniform system of meteorological observa-
tions at sea, and of concurring in a general plan of ob-
servation on the winds and currents of the ocean, with a
view to the improvement of navigation, and to the ac-
quirement of a more correct knowledge of the laws
which govern those elements.
" The meeting was convened at the instigation of the
American Government, consequent upon a proposition
which it had made to the British Government, in reply
to a desire which had been conveyed to the United
States that it would join in a uniform system of meteoro-
logical observations on land, after a plan which had been
prepared by Captain James, of the Royal Engineers,
and submitted to the Government by Sir J. Burgoyne,
Inspector-General of Fortifications.
"The papers connected with this correspondence were
presented to the House of Lords on the 21st of February
last, and have been further explained in the minutes of
the conference. And it is here merely necessary to ob-
serve, that some difficulties having presented themselves
to the immediate execution of the plan proposed by the
British Government, the United States availed them-
selves of the opportunity afforded by this correspondence
of bringing under the notice of the British Government
' a plan which had been submitted by Lieutenant• Maury,
of the United States navy, for a more widely-extended
field of research than that which had been proposed, a
plan which, while it would forward the object entertained
by Great Britain, would, at the same time, materially
contribute to the improvement of navigation and to the
benefit of commerce.

taken with them at sea. The fact will, it is, believed,
afford a commentary upon the marine barometers now
in use which no reasoning or explanation can render

more striking.
" It was the opinion of the conference that it would
not be impossible, considering the spirit of invention
and improvement that is now abroad in the world, to
contrive a marine barometer, which might be sold at a
moderate price, that would fulfil all the conditions neces-
sary to make it a good and reliable instrument ; and a
resolution was passed to that effect, in order to call the
attention of the public to the importance of an inven-
tion which would furnish the navigator with a marine
barometer that at all times, and in all weathers at sea,
would afford the means of absolute and accurate deter-
minations. _ _

—,‘ The conference is also of opinion that an anemome-
ter, or an instrument that will enable the navigator to
measure the force, velocity, and direction of the wind
at sea, is another desideratum.

"An improvement of the ordinary sea route between
distant countries had long engaged the attention of com-
mercial men, and both individuals and nations had pro.
fited by the advances which this science had made
through a more correct knowledge of the prevailing
winds and currents of the ocean. But experience had
shown that this science, if it did not now stand fast, was
at least greatly impeded by the want of a more extended
co-operation in the acquirement of those facts which
were necessary to lead to a more correct knowledge of
the laws which govern the circulation of the atmosphere
and control the currents of the ocean ; and that the sub-
ject could not receive ample justice, nor even such a
measure of it as was commensurate with the importance
of its results, until all nations should concur in one
general effort for its perfection. But, could that happy
event be brought about—could the observations be as
extensive as desired, and receive that full discussion to
which they were entitled, the navigator would learn with
certainty how to count upon the winds and currents in
his track, and to turn to the best advantage the experi-
ence of his predecessors.
" Meteorological observations to a certain extent had
long been made at sea, and Lieutenant Maury had turned
to useful account such as had from time to time fallen
into his hands ; but these observations, although ninny
of them good in themselves, were but isolated facts,
which were deprived of much of their value from the ab-

sence of observations with which they could be com-
pared, and, above all, from the want of a constant and
uniform system of record, and from the rudeness of the
instruments with which they had been made.
"The moment then appeared to him to have arrived
when nations might be induced to co-operate in a general
system of meteorological research. To use his own words,
he was of opinion that the 'navies of all maritime nations
should co-operate, and make these observations in such a
manner and with such means and implements,
.that the
system might be uniform; and the observation made on
board one public ship be readily referred to, and com-
pared with the observations made on board all other pub-
lic ships, in whatever part of the world ; and, moreover,
as it is desirable to enlist the voluntary co-operation of
the commercial marine, as well as that of the military of
all nations, in this system of research, it becomes not
only proper, but politic, that the forms of the abstract
log to be used, the description of the instruments to be
employed, the things to be observed, with the manipula-
tion of the instruments, and the methods and modes of
observation, should be the joint work of the principal
parties concerned.'

"These sentiments being concurred in by the Govern-
ment of the United States, the correspondence between
the Governments was continued, and finally each nation
was invited to send an officer to hold a conference at
Brussels on a given day.
"And that the system of proposed observation and of
combined action might become immediately available,
and be extended to its widest possible field of operation,
it was determined to adapt the standard of the obaerva-
tions to be made to the capabilities of the instruments
now in general use in the respective naval services, but
with the precaution of having all these instruments
brought under the surveillance of parties duly appointed
to examine them and determine their errors; as this
alone would render the observations comparable with
each other through the medium of their respective
standards.

"The conference opened its proceedings at Brussels on
the 23d of August, 1853, in the residence of M. Piercot,
the Minister of the Interior, to whom the thanks of the
conference are especially due.
" M. Quetelet was unanimously elected president.
"Before entering upon any discussion, it was the de-
sire of all the members of the conference that it should
be clearly understood that in taking part in the proceed-
ings of the meeting they did not in any degree consider
themselves as committing their respective Governments
to any particular course of action, having no authority
whatever to pledge their country ill any way to these
proceedings.

" The conference was of opinion that the mercurial
barometer was the most proper to be used at sea for me-
teorological purpose, and that the aneroid should not be
substituted for it.

" With regard to thermometers, the conference does
not hesitate to say, that observations made with those
instruments the errors of which are not known 'are of
little value, and it is therefore recommended, as a matter
well worth the attention of co-operators in this system
of research, whether some plan may not be adopted in
different countries for supplying navigators, as well in
merchantmen as in men-of-war, with thermometers the
errors of which have been accurately determined.
" For the purposes of meteorology various adapta-
tions of the thermometer have been recommended, such
as those which refer to hygrometry and solar radiation ;
and, accordingly, a space will be found in the columns
for temperature by thermometers with dry, wet, and
coloured bulbs. With these exceptions, the only instru-
ment, in addition to those generally used at sea, for
which the conference has thought proper to recommend
a column, is that for specific gravity; the cost of this
instrument is too insignificant to be mentioned.
" The reasons for recommending the use at sea of the
wet, the white, and black bulb thermometers are ob-
vious • but with regard to the thermometer with a bulb
the colour of seawater, and the introduction on board
ship of a regular series of observations upon the specific
gravity of seawater, it may be proper to remark that,
as the whole system of ocean currents and of the circu-
lation of seawater depends in some degree upon the re-
lative specific gravities of the water in various parts of
the ocean, it was judged desirable to introduce columns
for this element, and to recommend that observatons
should be carefully made with regard to it, both at and
below the surface.

" With respect to the thermometer having a bulb of
the colour of seawater, it is unnecessary to say more in
favour of its use on board ship than that the object is
to ascertain whether or no such observations will throw
any light upon the psychrometry of the sea, or upon any
of the various interesting phenomena connected with the
radiation from the surface of the ocean.

" In bringing to a conclusion the remarks upon instru-
ments, the conference considered it desirable, in order
the better to establish uniformity and to secure compara-
bility among the observations, to suggest as a mere con-
ducive thereto, that a set of the standard instruments
used by each of the co-operating Governments, together
with the instructions which might be given by such go
vernments for their use, should be interchanged.
" The object of the conference being to secure as far
as possible uniformity of record and such a disposition
of the observations that they would admit of ready com-
parison, the amnexed form of register was concerted and
agreed upon. The first columns of this form will re-
ceive the data which the Government of the United
States requires merchant vessels to supply, in order to
entitle them to the privileges of co-operators in this sys-
tem of research, and may therefore be considered as the
minimum of what is expected of them. • This condition,
which it may be as well to state here, requires tbat at
least the position of the vessel and the set of the current,
the height of the barometer, the temperature of the air
and water, should each be determined once a day, the
force and direction of the wind three times a day, and
the observed variation of the needle occasionally.
'Every abstract log kept by a merchant vessel shonld
contain at least what is here recommended. Anything
more would enhance its value and make it more accept-
able,

"The remaining columns are intended principally for

men-of-war to fill up in addition to those abOve inen-
tioned, but it is believed that there are many officers in
the mercantile navy also who are competent to this un-
dertaking, and who will, it is hoped, be found willing
to distinguish themselves in this joint action for the mu-
tual benefit of the services.

" In the compilation of this form the conference has
had carefully in view the customs of the service and the
additional amount of attention which these duties will
require, and it is believed that the labour necessary for
the purpose, at least to the extent specified in the in-
structions for filling up the columns, is only such as can
be well performed under ordinary circumstances, and it
has considered it a minimum, and looks with zealous
confidence to occasional enlarged contributions from
zealous and intelligent labourers in the great cause of
science.

" The direction for filling up the columns, and for

making certain observation's' it will be seen by the
minutes, were limited to such only as seemed necessary
to the conference to insure uniformity of observation.
This subject received the benefit of much discussion be-
fore the meeting, and it was considered most advisable
to confine the matter to hints, which it is hoped will be
found sufficient, when embodied in the instructions which
each nation will probably issue with the forms, to insure
that most desirable end—uniformity.
" The•conference, having brought to a close its labours
with respect to the facts to be collected and the means
to be employed for that purpose, has now only to express
a hope that, whatever observations may be made, will be
turned to useful account when received, and not be suf-

fered to lie dormant for the want of a department to dis-
cuss them ; and that, should any Government, from its
limited means or from the paucity of the observations
transmitted, not feel itself justified in providing for their
separate discussion, it is hoped that it will transfer the
documents, or copies of them, to some neighbouring
power, which may be more abundantly provided, and
willing to receive them.
"It is with pleasure that the conference has learnt that
the Government of Sweden and Norway has notified its

intention of co-operating in the work, and that the King
has commanded that the logs kept by his Swedish sub-
jects to be transmitted to the Royal Academy of Science
at Stockholm, and that also in the Netherlands, Belgium,
and Portugal, measures have been taken to establish a
department for the same purpose, and that the Adrai-
ralty of Great Britain has expressed its intention of giv-
ing instructions for meteorological observations to be
made throughout the Royal Navy.
"The conference has avoided the expression of any
opinion as to the places or countries in which it would
be desirable to establish offices for the discussion of the
logs, but it is confidently hoped that, whatever may be
done in this respect, there will be always a full and free
interchange of materials, and a frequent and friendly in-
tercourse between the departments, for it is evident that
much of the success of the plan proposed will depend
upon this interchange, and upon the frankness of the
officers who in the several countries may conduct these
establishments.
"Lastly, the conference feel that it would but inade-
.

quately discharge its duties, did it close this report
with-
out endeavouring to procure for these observations a con-
sideration which would secure them from damage or loss
in time- of war, and invites that inviolate protection
which science claims at the hands of every enlightened
,nation ; and that, as vessels on 'discovery or scientific
research are by consent suffered to pass unmolested in
time of war, we may claim for these documents a like
exemption, and hope that observers, amid the excite-
ment of war, and perhaps enemies in other respects, may
in this continue their friendly assistance, and pursue their
occupation, until at length every part of the ocean shall
be brought within the domain of philosophic research,
and a system of investigation shall be spread as a net
over its surface, and it become rich in its benefit to com-
merce, navigation, and science, and productive of good
to mankind.

"The objects of the meeting having been explained
by Lieutenant Maury, the conference expressed its
thanks to that officer for the enlightened zeal and ear-
nestness he had displayed in the important and useful
work which forms the subject of the deliberations of the
conference.

" The members of the conference are unwilling to
separate without calling the attention of their respective
Governments to the important and valuable assistance
which it has received from the Belgian Government.
That the conference has been enabled to draw its labours
to so speedy and satisfactory a close is in a great mea-
sure owing to the facilities and conveniencies for meet-
ing and deliberating which have been afforded by his
Majesty's Government.
" Signed at Brussels, this Bth day of September, 1853.
"Belgium, 4 QUETELET, President.
LA HURE.
"Denmark, F. ROTHE.
"France, DELAMARCHE.
F. W. BEECHEY.
"Great Britain, H. JAMES.
"Netherland, JANSEN.
"Norway, IHLEN.
"Portugal, DE MATTOS CORREA.
"Russia, GOREOVENKO.
"Sweden, PETTERSSON.
"United States, MAURY."

"In concerting a plan of uniform observation, in which
all nations might be engaged, the most obvious difficulty
which arose from the variety of scales in use in different
countries. It is much to be desired that this inconve-
nience should be removed ; but it was a subject upon
which the conference, after mature deliberation, deter-
mined not to recommend any modification, but to leave
to each nation to continue its scales and standards as
heretofore, except with regard to thermometers, which
it was agreed should, in addition to the scale in use in
any particular service, have that of the centigrade placed
upon it, in order to accustom observers in all services to
its use, with a view to its final and general adoption.
"The advantages of concert of action between the
meteorologist on land and the navigator at sea were so
obvious that, looking forward to the establishment of a
universal system of meteorological observation upon both
elements, it was thought that the consideration of scales
could with greater propriety be left for that or some such
occasion.
"As to the instruments to be recommended, the con-
ference determined to add as few as possible to such as
were in common use in vessels of war, but, regardin g
accuracy of observation as of paramount importance, the
conference felt it to be a matter of duty to recommend
the adoption of accurate instruments, of barometers and
thermometers especially that have been carefully com-
pared with recognised standards, and have had their
errors accurately determined ; and that such instruments
only should be used on board every man-of-war co-ope- '
rating in this system, as well as on board any merchant-
! inan, as far as it may be practicable.
fluctuations,
imperfection of instruments in use at sea is noto-
rious. The barometer having hitherto been used prin -
cipa`ly
as a monitor to the mariner—to warn him, by its
mctuations, of the changes in prospect—its absolute
.indication of pressure has been little regarded ; and
n takers seldom, if ever, determined the real errors of
thtse instruments, or, if known, still more rarely ever
fu -nished the corrections with' the instruments them-
sely,es.
That
an instrument so rude and so abundant in i
err( tr as the marine barometer generally in use should, in I
this age of invention and improvement, be found on board
any .ship, will doubtless be regarded
so
ectiviens
prise ; and it will be wrgoenytodaerinedsoliodwuJ
eaeilirieliaftteornawviitghatsiuorn-
si
should
hnet
pteormmiettteedortoolo
tthruatmtso
meteo-
rologists, in their investigations concerning the laws of
atmosplaei ic pressure, are compelled in a great measure
to omit :alit reference to the observations Which havebeen

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THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY „EVENING, OCTOBER 17, 1858.

diate environs." The British commander-in-chief, Rear-
Admiral Dundas, had, we believe, previously employed
the officers of his squadron in making and completing
surveys of the neighbourhood of his long anchorage.
By the last accounts the fleet at Besika, is far healthier
than it was a month ago, but sickness still prevails.
On board the Vengeance two fatal cases had occurred,
and she had been sent to Tenedos to recruit the health
of her crew. Lord W. Russell, who had been seriously
ill, and on leave at Therapia, had rejoined, having fortu-
nately recovered. The launch of the French ship
Bayard, with a crew of 30 men on board, had foundered
on the let inst., when within a short distance of her
ship. She had been watering ; five men perished, 13
had been saved by the Rodney, and the remainder by
other boats. The crews of both fleets exerted them-
selves nobly on the painful occasion.
The Leander, 50, Captain King, on her way to Malta,
arrived at Lisbon, from Devonport, on the 9th, and re-
mained on the 10th, with the Odin, 16, steam-frigate,
Captain Scott.

The Vesuvius, 6, steam•sloop, Commander Powell,
was at Gibraltar on the Bth.

THE BRAZILS.

The following of her Majesty's ships were lying at
Rio Janeiro, Sept. 14 :—Centaur, 6, steam-frigate, flag
of Rear-Admiral Henderson, C.B. ; Bonetta, 3, Lieut.-
Commander Parish ; and Crescent. Sept. 10.—Sailed,
the Express and, 11, Trident, steam-vessel. Cruising
at Bahia, Sept. 19, the Star, 8.

The French frigate Galathea sailed from Rio Sept. 12
for River Plate, The French corvette Le President, at
Bahia Sept. 19, from the Pacific, bound to France. The
United States brig Perry was at St. Vincent Sept. 30.