The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-11
NATIONAL INSTITUTE.


The convention now in session in this metropolis.
must be hailed with delight by every friend OF
science. To the American scholar and patriot, It
presents more than common cause Of congratulauon,
since IL establishes a new in our history, from
which we may reasonably hope TO date many
brilliant discovery in every department OF knowi-
edge. lts influence, too, on the youth OF the ma
ton will be greatly salutary, urging them on to
high attainmen,s in every kind of learning that may
contribute to the exataton Of their countrys glory
What do we here behold In the very place where
the counci-fres of the nation have long bazed, we
see the mild and serener lights Of science enkindied,
and large number Of the high functionares OF the
government, and men renowned IN political me, are
here to cheer and sustain the ministering splri's
who bring their stores of knowledge to PIE upon
these national affairs. Republican America mas
arisen from her sumbers, and now prociams 70 .,'e
world that she, too, will henceforth we WIN 'he
proudest European monarchies in the promotion OF
learning and OF learned men. The call has issued
from her lips to the savans not only within her own
realms but in distant lands, and they are here to
contribute of their hardearned intellectual wealth,
to advance her glory. Beauty and youth have
their approving smiles, to add exhilaraton and en-
thusiasrn to the scene. Under such suspicious cir
cumstances, and before SO august an assembly, no
offering from my pen can lay claim to unqualified
acceptance. In compliance, however, with the
wishes of those who have honored me with an In
pose to communicate few facts deduced from me-
neurological observations made the city of Nash
vile, in the State Of Tennessee.
The science of meteorology, at all times interest
ing and important, has within few years excited
more than usual attention in the United States, and
the seat Of government has become the depository
of the results Of observations in almost every sec
ton of the country This consideration influenced
nv choice of subject for this meeting, which should
give in detail the very kind Of facts that were re-
guired at this time and for the furtherance of the
object just named. The principal value of the state
ments in this paper arises from the fact, that very
few meteorological phenomena have been given to
the public from this place, from any other in the
vicinity.
The city of Nashville, containing population of
about 10 900 inhabitants, is built on the south side
of the Cumberland river, 200 miles above its con-
fuence with the Ohio. Its elevation above the
low-water mark Of the Cumberland varies from 20
to I65 feet. The university, whence the observa
tons were made, is on the southern limits of the
town. in north latitude SO deg. min. 80 sec. and in
west longitude Sc deg 40 min. 0.3 see. The position
Of the thermometer and barometer "a feet above
the ground, 1873 feet above the river when lowest,
and about 600 feet above the level Of the ocean, as
determined by the late J. N. Nicollect esq, from
our Joint observations. On the S.W. w. and N.
W. are hills Of small extent in BASE but rising to
heights which vary from $50 to 800 feet. These
are in the Immediate vicinity and in MN. easter
ly directions there are five six high knobs at the
distance Of about six miles. So unduating is the
surface, that in almost every direction one or two
hills of this description may tie found in the space
of mile. This variety Of inclination in a surface,
thinly covering limestone rocks, gives rise to fire.
quent changes in the direction of surface winds, and
to the production of ascending currents The pre-
vailing winds above are the southwest, west, and
northeast.
The proportion of the winds from eight principal
points, as deduced from more than 900 observa-
lions in the year l84l, 1642, and ls43. expressing
the whole by unity, gives the following result:
N. .05460; N. E. .l42s7; E. .06573; s. f. .ll137;
S. 02lO7; s. w. .388O7; w. 1868; and N. w
O495 or nearly as S, a. 7, IL, 2, 80, II, and 5.
The proportion during the several seasons within
the same period of years, regarding each set as
Winter-N. .O5444; N. E. .le5OO; E. .o5oss; S
E. 1865 8. .O2453, s. w. 1904; w. 1880; N
spring.~N. .OSass; N. E. 1855; E. OssOs; s. E,
.0s406; s. .0l925; s. w. 1885, w. .ls742; N. w
.O6O62.
E. .l0497; S. Ol543; 8. w. .47323; w. .09923; N
Autumn.-N 07soo; N. E. 1888; E. .o6277; s.
E, .Osss7; s. .o24s7; 8. w. .s65o6; w. -l734s; N
w. .O5367.
The wind rarely blows from the north, and still
more rarely from the south; while southwest al
ways, more frequent than any other prevails near
~ half the summer.
In estimating the velocity of the winds, the usu-
al mode of designation by the figures, from to
10, has been adopted This is not, however, a very
accurate method, yet, for my present purpose, II
will suffice. The greatest velocity that has been
observed was 7; but it has seldom been as high as s.
The times of observation were sunrise, a. m,
noon, 3 p. m, and 3 p. m. The mean at these
hours for the last three years. was found respective
ly, Q SO, 1.31, l.5S, 1853, and 0.s7 Of these the
maximum was at 3 p. M, and the minimum at 8
p. m. The monthly mean, during the same period,
varied from 1:5O to l92.the former being in
l.s5; that Of spring, Lie; summer, l.56; and au-
tumn, 1853. The velocity, at a. M, is the mean
between the velocities at sunrise ard 3. m. The
sum of the velocties in spring and autumn, equals
the sum of the summer and winter velocities.
The character of the weather, as to clearness,
cloudiness, rain, and snow, has been estimated on
the supposition that the whole time in each com.
parison was unity. The sky was considered clear,
although cloud might occasionally be seen, pro-
vided the general aspect and tendency were to clear
ness. The term cloudy, in like manner, has refer
ence to the general appearance. Some four or hve
thousand observations, extending through the last
three years, have led to the following PROPOSE
lions:
The mean of clearness for the whole period, $3.50;
cloudiness, .3641; rain .08O7; and snow .0074, or
nearly as "a, 40, IL, and 1.
The proportion for the several seasons of the
year may pc noted mus, preserving the same order
Of arrangement:
Winter, 5O29, 1864, 1903, .O227.
Spring, .537s, 1897, .0577, .0084
Summer, -5713, .3747, .0540, 10000.
Autumn, $3.50, 1851, .l0l9, .00l2
The summer, therefore, has more clear and fewer
rainy days than any other season; the spring is
most becouded the autumn least; and winter has
the greatest number Of rainy and snowy days A
similar comparison Of tho several months exhibits
the maximum of clearness in October, and the mini
mum in January, the proportions being as So tc
45. There more rainy days in December, ant
less in June, than in any other month, while snow
falls most frequently in January. The quantity o
rain, however, is distributed in very differen
manner among the several months. The maxi
mum is in April, and the minimum in December
The monthly mean during the last four years is
for January, 5 81 inches; February, Aba; March
All; April, 625; May, $50; June, IS; July, 4.37
August, %; September, SCI; October, 4.G6; No
yeniber 3.5S; and December, ASCOT all which tn
average is 4.S475. The greatest amounts observe'