The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-23 00:00:00

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT

SEA.

The following letter has been addressed to the Man-
chester Commercial Association from the Secretary of
the Marine Department of the Board of Trade
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade,
Marine Department, Sept. 21, 1854.
" Sir,—I am directed by the lords of the Committee
of Privy Council for Trade to invite the attention of the
Manchester Commercial Association to the accompanying
report of the conference which, on the suggestion of
Lieutenant Maury, of the United States navy, was held
at Brussels, on the subject of establishing an uniform
system of meteorological observations at sea, and con-
curring in a general plan of observations on the winds
and currents of the ocean, with a view to the acquire-
ment of a more correct knowledge of the laws which
govern the motion of those elements, and to the im-
provement of navigation.
" In consequence of the suggestions contained in that
report, her Majesty's Government has submitted, and
Parliament has sanctioned, a vote for instruments and
for the tabulation of logs and other meterological re-
cords ; and Captain Fitzroy, of the Royal Navy, has
been appointed to assist the board in the discussion of
the observations.
" The object of the arrangements will be to attain, if
possible, to such an improved knowledge of the currents
of the ocean, and of the direction of the prevailing winds,
as may materially diminish the risk and labour of navi-
gation, and shorten the duration of voyages.
"As an acknowledgment for the pains and attention
of such masters of foreign-going ships as are willing to
co-operate with her Majesty's Government in this under-
taking, and as are competent to fulfil the conditions
required of them, it is proposed to place a distinguishing
mark against their names in the Merchant Navy List,
and to give copies of the charts and books which will he
printed, from time to time, from their own and their
brother officers' observations, during the time they con-
tinue to contribute. These books and charts will con-
tain information as to the prevailing winds and currents
in the part of the ocean of which they treat, and of the
most desirable tracks to follow, in order to make the
surest and quickest passages, and how to avoid or miti-
gate the violence of hurricanes, &c.
"And further, to such masters as will undertake to fill
up the columns of the abstract logs headed in black,
and to make observations at the hours denoted by the
black figures for their successive voyages, the United
States Government have directed to be furnished gratis
a set of charts and sailing directions of Lieutenant
Maury of the United States Navy, for the part of the
ocean they are navigating.
" In order to facilitate the desired co-operation, stan-
dard instruments have been prepared, and may be ob-
tained at a diminished cost for the use of the merchant
navy.
" My lords are in hopes that the object of this under-
taking, and the inducements held out to those who are
willing to co-operate in it, will bo considered, by the
more wealthy shipping companies and private ship-
owners, of sufficient importance to induce them to en
courage the officers in command of their ships to 'ander-
take these observations, and to furnish some, at least,
of their masters with the requisite instruments ; but, in
other cases, in order to render the experiment as
extensive as possible, instruments will be furnished
by the marine department of this board to mas-
ters desiring to have them, and giving sufficient proof
of their attainments. The extent to which their lord-
ships may be able to do this will, however, be limited to
the means placed by Parliament at their lordships dis-
posal, and my lords are not prepared to pledge them-
selves to continue it in future years.
s
themselves
m selv foreign-goingeprivileges
am to add, that it is very desirable that any
masters
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should communicate with as little delay as possible with
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this department, either directly, or through the agents
appointed for this purpose at the outports.—l am, sir,
your obedient servant,

"Jews BOOTH
"Hugh Fleming, Esq., &c., Manchester."

SIR W. MOLESWORTH.--The Edinburgh Town Coun-
cil met on Thursday morning to consider a proposal by
the Lord Provost to confer the freedom of the Scottish
metropolis upon Sir W. Molesworth. His lordship, in
making the proposal, stated that the right hon, baronet
was an alumnus of Edinburgh University, and was con-
nected with the city by maternal Ilarentage. After
briefly referring to the distinguished Parliamentary ser-
vices of Sir 'W. Molesworth, especially iu connection with
colonial reform, the Lord Provost proposed that the
freedom of the city of Edinburgh should be offered to
Sir W. Molesworth, in testimony of his distinguished
abilities as a statesman, and in recognition of his con-
nection with the city and university of Edinburgh. The
proposal was unanimously agreed to. It is expected
that Siv William, who is at present residing at Keir-
house, Perthshire, the residence of Mr. Stirling, M.P.,
will return to Edinburgh in the course of next week, to
receive the presentation.