The progress of the development of the law of storms, and of the variable winds, with the practical application of the subject to navigation. / by Lieut-Colonel William Reid.

  • Reid, William, 1791-1858.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The progress of the development of the law of storms, and of the variable winds, with the practical application of the subject to navigation. / by Lieut-Colonel William Reid. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Foreign Office, April 30, 1851. Sir, I transmit to you copies of a Letter with its inclosures which I have received from Colonel Reid of the Royal Engineers, who for many years has devoted his attention to the theory of Storms, and whose object has been to investigate, with a view to practical use in Naviga- tion, the Laws by which Storms and Variable Winds are governed. In order that an investigation of this nature may be practically useful, it is essential that facts connected with the atmospherical pheno- mena in question should be carefully observed and accurately recorded over as large a portion as possible of the surface of the Globe by persons of education, and whose scientific attainments or professional avocations qualify them for making such observations. Colonel Reid has suggested that such observations could be most easily made and recorded by Captains of Ports, Masters of Light- houses, Harbour Masters, and others, whose professional pursuits naturally lead them to be constant observers of atmospherical phe- nomena. The inclosures in Colonel Reid’s Letter will more fully point out the manner in which information on the subject of Storms may be collected. I have accordingly to instruct you to use your best endeavours to procure such information on this important subject; and you will transmit to me half-yearly, an abstract of the information you may have obtained, with such remarks as may suggest themselves to you. If you can add Diagrams to show the tracks of any remarkable Storms, it would greatly add to the value of your reports. As it is of importance to circulate as widely as possible information as to Storm Tracks, you should encourage the publication of such information in newspapers and periodical works. I am. Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant, (Signed) PALMERSTON.