Volume 1

The climate of London, deduced from meteorological observations, made in the Metropolis, and at various places around it / by Luke Howard.

  • Howard, Luke, 1772-1864.
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The climate of London, deduced from meteorological observations, made in the Metropolis, and at various places around it / by Luke Howard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/458 (page 9)
    INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION, PRINTED IN 1818. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. Meteorology, though greatly advanced of late years, especially in what regards the perfection of its instruments, and the art of observing the changes of the Atmosphere, is yet far from having acquired the regular and consistent form of a science. Its facts lie for the most part scattered, or rather buried, in Volumes chiefly taken up with other more cultivated branches of Natural philosophy: and it is only where detached publications have been ventured on, by Individuals engaged in the study of particular classes of phenomena, that its principles have been developed s with the clearness and method of which they are susceptible. A pretty large number of observers have been long engaged in doing for this science the office which the Chaldean shepherds are thought to have performed for Astronomy. We may now pro¬ bably venture, with safety, to anticipate some of those conclusions which posterity will otherwise have to draw from our data—to lay the ground-work of the edifice, if not to proceed to build, with the present materials. Should it be inquired, for what end— the answer (without travelling to more remote consequences) may be, for the benefit of Agriculture and Navigation: two objects