Star.
London, England, 1831-04-18 00:00:00

THE COMMON WEATHER GLASSES.

The barometer has been called a weather glass. Rules are attempted
to be established, by which, from the height of the mercury, the com-
ing state of the weather may be predicted, and we accordingly find the
words " Rain.," " Fair," " Changeable," " Frost," &c. engraved on
the scale attached to the common domestic barometers, as if, whet. the
mercury stands at the height marked by these words, the weather is al-
ways subject to the vicissitudes expressed by them. These marks arc,
however, entitled to no attention : and it is only surprising to find their
use continued in the present times, when knowledge is so widely dif-
fused. They are, in fact, to be ranked scarcely above the nor sklki.
runs, or astrological almanack.
Two barometers, one near the level of the river Thames, and the
other on the heights of Hatnpstead, will differ by half an inch ; the
latter being always half an inch lower than the former. if the words,
therefore, engraved upon the plates are to be relied on, similar changes
of Weather could never happen at these two situations. But what is
even more absurd, such a scale would inform us that the weather at the
foot of a high building, such as St. Paul's, must always be different
front the weather at the top of it.
It is observed that the changes of weather are indicated, not by the
actual height of the mercury, but by its change of height. One of the
most general, though not absolutely invariable, rules is, that when the
mercury is very low, and therefore the atmosphere very light, high
winds and storms may be expected.
The following rules may generally be retied upon, at least to a cer-
tain extent :

1. Generally the rising of the mercury indicates the approach
of fair weather ; the falling of it indicates the approach of foul
weather.

2. In sultry weather the fall of the mercury indicates coming thun-
der. In winter, the rise of the mercury indicates frost. In frost, its
fall indicates thaw • and its rise indicates snow.
3. Whatever change of weather suddenly follows a change in the
barometer, may be expected to last but a short time.—Thus, if fair
weather follow immediately the rise of the mercury, there will be very
little of it ; and, in the same way, if foul weather follow the fall of the
mercury, it will last but a short time.

4. If fair weather continue for several days, during which the mer-
cury continually faUs, a long continuance of foul weather will probably
ensue : and again, if foul weather continue for several days, while the
mercury continually rises, a long succession of fair weather will pro-
bably ensue.
5. A fitictuattng and unsettled state In the mercurial column indi-
cates changeable weather.
The domestic barometer would become a much more useful iostru-
ntent, if, instead of the words usually engraved en the plate, a short
list of the best established rules, such as the above, accompanied it,
which might be either engraved on the plate, or printed ea a card.
It would be right, however, to express the rules only with that degree
of probability which observation of past phenomena has justified.—
There is no rule respecting these effects which will hold good with
perfect certainty in every caw.

It appears that, from the number of erroneous reports re-
ceived of the deaths of naval officers, which in some cases
have occasioned inconvenience to the service, and consi-
derable anxiety to the families of individuals, it has been
found absolutely necessary to discontinue the publishing of
that information. It is, therefore, intended in future not
to omit the names of officers in the list, until their deaths
shall have been officially reported.

FROM FRIDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.
DIVIDENDS.

Mg JO, J. Holmes and F. R. Edwards, Derby bookstellere, at
Tine,'llit the Court of Comustashawsew—Msty 6, C. Baglehole and J.
Redgrave, of Mark-lane. merchants, at twelve, at the Court of Com.
missionen—May 6. 3. Phillips and W. Oray, of Platt-terrace, Somers.
town plasterers, at three, at the Court of Commissioners--May 9,
C. Osborne and J. Osborne, of St. James's-street, tailor. tit one, at
the Court of Commissioners—Alay 6. C. A. Pettit, of Golden-square,
carpenter, at three, at the Court of C.ommiasioners—May 6, J. Mar.,
shall, of Norwich, silk merchant, at two, at the Court of Commis.
&loners— May 6, R. Triphook, of Golden.square, bookseller, at eleven,
at the Goon of Commissioners—May 6, J. Buckley, of :Manchester,
and C. Nunn, of Oil Change, Cheapside, gingham-manufacterers, at
ten, at the Court of Commissioners.—May 6. C Bell, of Billiter-street,
London, wine-merchant, at ten, at the Court of Commissioners. May
6. J. Drake, of Southgate, victualler, at eleven, at the Court of Com-
missionen.—May 6. S. Mumfoed, of Stanstead.sueet, Essex, corn-
dealer, at one, at the Court of Commissioners--May 10. R. Butbery
and G. J. Wigley, Coventry, ribbon-manufacturers, at ten, at the
Court of Commissioners.—Alay 12 W. Marsh, J. A. Stracey and 0,
Graham, Berners-street, !bankers, at eleven, at the Court of eommis-
sioners.—May 18. R. Cocher, W. Godfrce, and W. P. Musgrave,
Cheapside, laceman, at twelve, at the Court of Commissioners.—
Aprll 6. R. B. Cooper, Princes-street, Lambeth, distiller, at ten, at
the Court of Commissioners— May 6, W. Patkman, Jewry-street,
Aldgate, tavern-keeper, at eleven, at the Court of Commissioners—
J. G. Bonney, Cooper's-row, Tower-hill, wine-merchant, at twelve,
at the Court of Commissioners—. May 8, 3. Ogilvy, Fleece-yard, Tot.
hill-street, Westminster, cabriolet-proprietor, at eleven, at the Court of
Commissioners—May 6, T. Wood, Birchin-lane, merchant, at eleven,
at the Court of Commissioners— May 9, S. Hacker, Canterbury,
builder, at twelve, at the Guildhall, Canterbury—flay d, J. W. Po-
cock, Huntingdon, builder, at two, at the George Hotel, Huntingdon
—May 9, R. R. Buchanan, Stowmarket, Suffolk, maltster, at eleven,
at the Suffolk Hotel, Ipswich.
CE R T 1 FICA Th:S-11.tv 6.
J. Hodgson, jun. Bradford-moor, Yorkshire, soolstapler—H. A. H.
Lock, Lower Thames street, Custom-house agent—H. Wyatt, Acton.
hill, Staffordshire, farmer—J. Rogers, Sloane-street, victualler—J.
Clarkson, Kingston-upon-Hull, general agent—J. Lane, Rochdale,
Lancashire, woollen-numufacturer—J. Farrell, Liverpool, flour-dealer
Russell, Brown) nv-street, Drury-lane, coach-smith...
PARTNERSHIPS

R. Pinson and R. Hammer, Bow Church.yard,carpatt.warsilonse.
men—J. Barr and W. Barker, Stokesley, Yo-luthire 41. Al-
len and T. Utuding, attorneys—B. Holbrooke anti •,1
A ." Atiall'
cheater, fustian manufacturers—J. Cawkwell / , Aku, ; , eg am,
Belton, Lincolnshire, millers—J. and B. Robin ...4.4" year /fed-
dersfield, dyers—G. and J. Baker, • Lower Phi .Jre-pi....i' lensing.
ton, procers--G. B. Child and E. C. Tayk., 01' ''" •„bone-
dtalers—E. Rostock, acn. and E. Bitstock. jun. 1.,
.. Vatting.
hatushir,i, Lic.tchers-0. A. Pocock and J 11.
.. 't.car,
printers—A. Burton and A. Stephen, Geest P
.. .....auabary,
furnishing-ironmongers—W. Andrew at,' . At. .stacta. Stockport,
striped cmton manufacturers-4. Smartt, an. and J. Stennett, jun.
Swaton, Liacoinshire, farmers—U. Price and Co. West Smithfield,
coffin furniture-manufacturers—J. W. Fisher and T. B. ll'eeton, Chor-
ley, Lancashire, attorneys.