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CORRESPONDENCE.

GENTLEMEN,

TO THE EDITORS OF "THE ANALYST."

A few observations on a science, too little understood and too much neglected, may not be unacceptable to you, as the Editors of a Journal devoted to science and literature-I allude to the study of Meteorology, which has strong claims to the favourable consideration of the public, although it does not afford many opportunities to the student to display his knowledge, or to make discoveries. As the observations are made in private, and much time is occupied in establishing any theory that may be formed from given data, it is not surprising so few devote themselves to the science; yet all the phenomena which form the studies of the Meteorologist, are intimately connected with the health, happiness, and welfare of man. The changes in the state of the atmosphere, the humidity of one place, and the dryness of another-the genial warmth of the south, and the bracing air of the north-are of the utmost consequence to the invalid, and many of the ills which "flesh is heir to,” may be alleviated by attention to the place in which the patient may reside, a knowledge of the fitness or impropriety of which Meteorology can alone supply. The clearing of woods, and the planting of trees, alter the temperature of a country, and cause disease or impart health, almost at the will of man : these, though the work of other hands, produce effects which would have remained unknown but for the labours of the Meteorologist. The range of the thermometer prescribes the productions to be obtained from the earth, in this or that locality; even in England, the months in which the greatest or least quantity of rain falls, vary in different places, and those not far distant from each other: thus, at Wycombe and Epping, for instance, the excess of rain falls in September, at Edmonton in October, and at Cheltenham in July, while November produces the greatest quantity at Carlisle. From an acquaintance with facts of this description, the husbandman would be enabled to arrange his plans, and to the Meteorologist he would be indebted for this knowledge. The current and sound of winds, and the aspect of the clouds, afford to the student of Meteorology the means of fortelling changes in the weather, whose effect might involve the safety and comfort of many: and it is from an attention

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to these appearances, that "they that go down to the sea in ships," can make preparations to meet the dangers of the storm they cannot avert. How interesting, therefore, must be that study which may be made so beneficial to mankind. Having stated some of the advantages resulting from a knowledge of Meteorology, I will proceed to lay before your readers the attempts that have been made, and are now making, to cultivate its study, and to stimulate persons, with leisure and opportunity, to pursue it. It must have been matter for surprise that, while there is scarcely a science or art but receives encouragement and support from a society composed of persons professing the one or attracted to the other, Meteorology does not enjoy that patronage. True it is that, in 1823, a society was established in the metropolis, under the denomination of " the London Meteorological Society," admitting persons residing in the country as corresponding members. Of that society Dr. Birkbeck was the president; Dr. Clutterbuck the treasurer; and Mr. Wilford the secretary; with a council consisting of eight members: but it never came into active operation, and soon fell into decay. As this society never was, however, formally dissolved, it may be justly observed "it is not dead, but sleepeth." To awaken this association from its lethargy, is the endeavour of several persons, who have for years devoted themselves to the subject for which it was formed; and I am led to believe that the staff, if I may be allowed the expression, of the old society are anxious to enlist recruits into the service, and several of the old members are about to take their former places in the ranks.

Since 1823 the science of Meteorology has not only progressed, but has been more generally encouraged: the time has therefore arrived, when the efforts of a society desirous to promote the study, can be best directed in effecting so desirable an object. There cannot, surely, be a town in the kingdom but would produce more than one active member, and few villages but would find its representative. Men of the medical profession and scholastic teachers are particularly qualified, by their habits and avocations, to become exceedingly serviceable; and by using their influence, and by making exertions, a long time need not elapse ere Meteorology would be able to boast of having a society as extended and active as any of those which are advancing science in every direction, and conferring so much honour upon the country.

Wycombe, Oct. 9, 1836.

Yours, truly,

JAMES G. TATEM.

PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES.

COVENTRY MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

THE eighth anniversary meeting of the friends and members of the Coventry Mechanics' Institution, was held on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at St. Mary's Hall. The Mayor having taken the chair, the business of the evening commenced by Mr. Charles Bray reading the Report, which contained the gratifying announcement of a considerable increase in the funds of the Institution, and an accession of upwards of 160 volumes to the library, the donations of liberal individuals, exclusive of works purchased by the committee. The premises now occupied by the Institution being inadequate for the accommodation of the members, a building has been purchased admirably adapted for the purpose; consisting of a reading room, museum, library, class rooms, laboratory, and a lecture room capable of containing 600 persons. So great has been the zeal displayed to effect this object, that the sum required (£1300.) has been chiefly raised amongst the members.

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The resolution" that the Report be read and circulated" having been proposed and seconded, James Simpson, Esq., Advocate, of Edinburgh, after reading the second resolution, "That this meeting highly approve of the principles upon which this institution is founded, by which no party in religion or politics, is excluded from the advantages it holds out," observed-" If there be a favoured spot where the storm, yet raging without in an uneducated age, may be hushed to a calm, it is that where the students of nature congregate where meet the worshippers of divine philosophy, effusive source of evidence and truth,' to drink of the pure fountain at its source. Such is your noble Institution. Come you from the very tug of party strife-here you are, calm and kindly. The works and ways of a benevolent God are your contemplation. Can these be approached with violence on the lips, or rancour in the heart? Can the eye be cast on the soft green that mantles nature, fatigued with wastes of burning sands or boundless snow, without feeling in the heart its sweetest inmate, brotherly love ?-without opening the bosom to the dove of peace? It were morally, religi ously impossible to renew the unholy war after the truce: good feeling, even good taste, forbids the very thought. Thus will your Institution tend to abate the party spirit you deprecate: Advance, look not to the right or to the left, in your philosophical course. Listen to the ravings of party discord as to the storm without when all is safe, and calm, and warm within. You are labouring in a glorious spring-tide. This is your reward, although it may not be given to the youngest among you to see the harvest. Despond not -despair not. Yours is a high privilege, even to aid in sowing the

seed. Complain not that the sun which shall cheer the future reapers must shine upon your graves."-Mr. Charles Bray, in seconding the resolution, stated that "the principles upon which the Institution was founded were well known to the public; it was known to be neutral ground, upon which all parties in religion and politics might meet for the study of science and in the search of truth; where all sectarian feeling might be laid aside, and where that charity and benevolence might be cultivated which was the very essence of Christianity." After alluding to another institution, of a somewhat similar character, recently established in Coventry, which he considered more in the light of an auxiliary than an opponent, as its object was to advance the cultivation of useful knowledge, Mr. Bray very justly and eloquently remarked that "the knowledge a man might acquire at a Mechanics' Institution, (however much despised by those who did not advocate them) was sufficient to give a different face to the whole of nature, disclosing endless beauties of which the man who was deprived of it had no conception. What a different appearance did the spangled heavens, the starry night, present to him who was but acquainted with the very first truths in astronomy, knowing each bright point to be a sun, and justly conceiving, therefore, that it was the centre of a system as vast and splendid as the one we inhabit, and equally the mansion of life and intelligence: how different, he said, was this appearance to that which was presented to him who looked upon it but as shedding a feeble glimmering over this little world, or even, with the simplicity of the child, conceiving the stars to be 'little gimblet holes to let the glory through.' If we would teach religion, it was here that its foundation might best be laid-it was here that the reverence and love due to the Father of all might be taught; for it was here, as Dr. Chalmers beautifully expressed it, 'that the Divinity reigned in all the grandeur of His high attributes-where He peopled immensity with His wonders, and travelled, in the greatness of His strength, through the dominion of one vast and unlimited monarchy.' The same effect that even so little knowledge had upon the face of the heavens it had upon the whole of nature; every object became a source of pleasure and delight when we were acquainted with its properties and relations; and this knowledge was now so systematized and arranged that it was of easy acquirement. How beautiful the truths that lie upon the very surface of the fields of philosophy! We know that the power (called attraction) that draws the stone and feather to the earth is the same that wields the planets in their spheres; that, justly awful as the lightning may appear, yet Franklin dared to send his kite into the clouds, and bring it down to subject it to his analysis; that the ocean, slumbering and peaceful as a little infant, yet contains a power that, employed as Watt employed it, would be sufficient to rend in twain the universe. All departments of science revealed equal wonders and supplied equal pleasures-and pleasures, O! how much more pure and delightful than those proceeding from

mere animal gratification. Truly was knowledge a magic wand, unveiling the face of the universe, disclosing endless charms, of which the ignorant never dream: the mind of every mechanic was equal to the acquirement of this knowledge; and not the least important for him to know was that we had lately acquired of our own constitution ;* shewing the sources of our pleasures, and how admirably we were adapted to the circumstances in which we were placed, and to everything around us; shewing that the laws of the intellectual and moral world were as fixed and certain as those of the physical, and that they all tended to the gradual advancement of our race in the scale of improvement and happiness: but most important of all was the knowledge, derived from the same source, that God had so ordered things that we could only be happy ourselves in proportion as we promoted the happiness of others; that, as the first law of nature prompted us to take care of ourselves, this was best done by our adding all in our power to the enjoyment of every being possessing life and sensation. In conclusion, he would say, that he could not but regret that men could be found in the present enlightened age, who supposed such truths-the truths of natural science-which it was the object of Mechanics' Institutions to supply, could be in any way inimical to the cause of true religion, as if God's ever visible and magnificent revelation, as displayed in his works and in the structure of the universe, could be at variance with any other revelation:' that men could make a distinction between religious and useful knowledge, as if the knowledge of nature, the beauty of creation, the wisdom and benevolent design displayed in all its parts, were not the best foundation on which the enlightened minister, or those to whom the interests of religion were intrusted, could possibly build. No! we must all feel what Dr. Arnott so beautifully expresses, that it is not the abject terror of a slave which is inspired by contemplating the majesty and power of our God, as displayed in His works, but a sentiment a-kin to the tender regard which leads a favourite child to approach with confidence a wise and indulgent parent.'

The subsequent resolutions were proposed and seconded by Mr. Hands, Mr. Bannister, Mr. J. S. Whittem, Mr. White, Mr. Wreford, Mr. Hennell, the Rev. J. Sibree, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Nankivell, Mr. Szyleyko, and Mr. H. Merridew, in very apposite terms; but we regret our space will not permit our giving even an outline of their several addresses.

The resolutions were carried unanimously, and the assembly, which was a highly respectable and numerous one, manifested a warm interest in the proceedings of the meeting.

[Alluding to a highly interesting and instructive course of Lectures "On the Physical Peculiarities of Man," delivered by W. Watts, Esq., of Birmingham.-Eds.]

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