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

Resd before April meeting Of the National Institute is44
The convention now in session in this metropolis
must be hailed with delight by every friend Of
science. To the American scholar and patriot, 1t
presents more than common cause Of congratulauon,
since it establishes new era in our history, from
which we may reasonably hope to date many a
brilliant discovery in every department of knowl-
edge. Its influence, too on the youth of the ma
ton will be greatly salutary, urging them on to
high attainments in every kind OF learning that may
contribute to the exaltaion Of their countrys glory
What do we here behold In the very place where
the council-fres Of the nation have long blazed, we
the mild and serener lights Of science enkindled
and large number Of the high fInctonaries OF the
government, and men renowned in political life, are
here to cheer and sustain the ministerng spirl's
who bring their stores Of knowledge TO pile upon
these national affairs. Republican America mas
arisen from her slumbers, and now proea'ms 70 the
world that she, too, will henceforth we WIN the
proudest European monarches in the promouon OF
learning and Of learned men. The call mas issued
from her lips to the savans not only wihh ner own
realms, but in distant lands, and they are here to
contribute of their hard-earned intellectual wealth,
to advance her glory. Beauty and youth have
also come 10 adorn and grace the assembly and, by
their approving smiles, add exhilaration and
thusiasrn 10 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
vitatlon to present my mite on this occasion, pro-
pose to communicate few facts deduced from mo-
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
my choice of subject for this meeting, which should
srsy in data fha Endo f fact w re-
quired at this time, and for the frtherance of the
object lust 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 10000 inhabitants, is built 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. 49 min 0.3 see. The position
Of the thermometer and barometer was "a feet above
the ground, 1913 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 In. easter.
" direction; there are FIVE or six high knobs at the
distance of about six miles. So undulating is the
surface, that in almost every direction one or two
hills of this description may re found in the space
of mile. This variety Of inclination in surface,
thinly covering limestone rocks, gives rise to FREE
quent changes in the direction of surface winds, and
to the production of ascending currents. The pre-
vaing winds above are the southwest, west, and
northeast.
The proportion of the winds from eight principal
points, as deduced from more than 4 200 ohserva-
lions in the year 184l 1912, and lS43. expressing
the whole by unity, gives the following result
N. 0546O; N. E. .l42s7; E. .O6573; s. f. .ll137;
s. 02lO7; s. w. 3sSO7; w. 1868; and N. w.
.O495 ; or nearly as 5, IA. Z, II, 2, 50, u, and s.
The proportion during the several seasons within
the same period of years, regarding each set as
Winter.-N. O5444; N. E. .l05OO; E. .O5O63; S
E. 1868; s. .02453, 8. w. 1904; w. .l96sO; N.
spring. IN. .OSss5; N. E. 1855; E. .Os6Os; s. E,
0e4Os; 5. .OI925; s. w. 1886; w. 1912; N. w.
Symmetry. .o2asa; N. E. 1880; E. 1884; s.
E. .lO497; S. .0l543; 8. w. .47323; w. 0s923; N.
w. .ol247.
E. .0s997; s. .02497; s. w. .36506; w. .l7343; N.
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
ly half the summer
In estimating the velocity of the winds, the usu-
al mode of designation by the figures, from 0 to
TO- has been adopted. This is not, however, very
accurate method, yet for my present purpose, 1t
will suffice. The greatest velocity that has been
observed was Il but it has seldom been high as S.
The times of observation were sunrise, 8 a. M,
noon, p. M, and 8 p. m. The mean at these
hours for the last three years, was found respective
ly, O. SO, I.31, 1853, 1853, and 087. OF these the
ox,,,, att and tha min m Mt
p m. The monthly mean, during the same period,
varied from l.5O to l.92-the former being in
June, the latter in March The winter mean was
1.65; that of spring, L76; summer, l.56; and au-
tumn, 163. The velocity, at a. m, is the mean
between the velocities at sunrise ard 8. m. The
sum of the veocities in spring and autumn, equals
the sum of the summer and winter velocties
The character Of the weather, 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-
vded the general aspect and tendency to clear
ness The term cloudy, in like manner, has refer
ence to the general appearance. Some four or five
thousand observations, extending through the last
three years, have led to the following PROPOSE
lions:
The mean of cearness for the whole period, .54s0;
cloudiness .3641 rain, .0907; and snow, .0074, or
nearly as IA, 40, IL, and l..
The proportion for the several seasons of the
year may be noted thus, preserving the same order
of arrangement:
Winter, .5O2s, 1864, 1893, .O227.
Spring, 1913, 1897, .0577, .O084
Summer, .57l3, .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 becloaded; the autumn least; and winter has
the greatest number Of rainy and snowy days. A
similar comparison of the several months exhibits
81, ,,fc lo in nj.
mum in January, the proportions being as So to
40. There more rainy days in December, and
less in June, than in any other month, while snow
falls moat frequently in January. The quantity Of
rain, however, is distributed in very different
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, 6 25; May, $50; June, 495; July, 437
August, s 90; September, SCI; October, Log; No
vember, 1858; and December, 2.96-of all which thu
average is 48475. The greatest amounts observed
4, any ainele mnnfha Mere II inchea in january