The daily republic., 1853-08-23
improvements in Navigation at Liver
pOOl-Lieutenant Maury.
From, the Liverpool Mail.

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On the 4th crowded meeting of merchants
and others interested in ocean navigation, which
had been called by the Mayor, was held in the
council chamber, for the purpose of meeting Lieu
tenant Maury, of the United States Navy, and
Superintendent of the National Observatory at
Washington, who is anxious to explain his Wind
and Current Charts during his stay in this town,
semble at Brussels on the 29th instant. Z
After few words of introduction from his
worship the Mayor, Mr. s. Holme, who presided
Lieutenant Manry said that the plan upon
which he was engaged was announced many years
ago in the United States, and the object of it was
to get from log-books such observations as navi-
gators, the usual routine of their duties at sea,
were accustomed to make; such as facts relative
to the direction of winds and currents, which
were collected together, and published in the form
of charts, so that each navigator might benefit by
the experience of oil. In 1851 the British Gov
ernment instructed it's Minister at Washington of
call the attention of the Government of the Uni
ted States to n plan of meteorological observa-
tions, devised by Captain James, of the Royal
Navy, under the direction Of General Bur-
goyne, at nineteen foreign stations, and asking
the assistance of the United States in carry
ing out the same system upon the land. Even
tually, however, the British government re-
ceded from its original proposition, as to its obser-
vations on land, and agreed to that OF the United
to the Congress at Brussels, Lieutenant Maury
explained that the system of observations ar
ranged there were to be made only on board O
vessels of war. In the meantime, however, he hat
been authorized by the Government of the Unitet
States to put foreign ship-masters upon the san
footing as American with regard to those charts
This is system of mutual benefit; for the mer
chant-captain at sea made his observations blank
charts and logs given to him gratuitously by the
United States Government. These were taken to
Washington and minutely examined, and after
their results had been properly calculated and
marked down, each captain who co-operated was
furnished with charts illustrative of the navigation
of those portions of the sea, with respect to which
they had contributed information. These observa-
tions required no more time than was usually given
to the proper management of a vessel at sea. The
latitude and longitude must be daily stated, must
the duration and character of the wind for three
parts of day. Thermometrcal and barometrical
observations were also required, and such remarks
as the navigator considered would be of any util-
ity. His object in meeting the merchants of Liv-
erpool was to acquaint them with these facts, and
to request their cooperation. With regard to the
charts, COPIES of which were suspended round
the room and placed on the table,) Lieutenant
Maury explained that one set represented the
routes which vessels were accustomed to pursue
across the ocean in the various months of the
year, the direction and force of the wind for each
day being designated by colors and symbols, so
that the navigator might find at any time of the
wear the track of some vessel which had been be-
fore him. Another set of charts, smaller and
more enigmatical, were made upon system of
circles The ocean was divided into spaces, five
degrees square, FIVE of latitude by five of longi-
tude and through whatever square vessel pass
ed, and reported the wind to blow in certain di-
rection, it was assumed to- be blowing from that
quarter, at the same instant, all the square.
When the observations for each square were OBJ
tanned, they were cassed according to the months;
and after they had got three or four, or perhaps,
in some instances, as many as one thousand cight
hundred observations on the month of differ
ent years. but on the same square, they could cal
culate the average and the prevailing direction OF
the winds in that square for that month. Thus
the whole ocean was comprehended, and, having
the advantage of tho experience of others, cap
tain could sometimes judciously turn out of his
way and make a shorter passage-because by those
charts he could ut once sec where he might OK
pect certain winds. Having enumerated some OF
the great advantages in regard to the shortening
of voyages, which captains had already gained by
following out those plans, Lieutenant Maury
stated that he was preparing storm, fog
and rain chart which he expected would contain
much curious and valuable information. He hat
no doubt but that, by proper advantage being
taken of the winds and currents, firstclass ships
would make the passage from the United States
or England to Australia and back in one hundred
and thirty or one hundred and thirty-fivo days