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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by

JOHN BROCKLESBY,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut.

Stereotyped by C. Davison & Co., 33 Gold street, N. Y

PREFACE.

METEOROLOGY is a subject of interest to all. We live in the very midst of its phenomena, and are constantly subjected to their influence. Many of the singular processes of nature which this science unfolds, are intimately connected with our being and happiness, while others, on account of their beauty and sublimity, fill the mind with admiration and awe.

The subject being one of universal interest, we might naturally suppose it to be universally understood; but such is not the case. Meteorology, as a science, is of recent origin; for it is only within the space of a very few years that it has risen, through the efforts of many gifted minds, to the rank it deserves to hold amid the various departments of knowledge.

Meteorology is a portion of Natural Philosophy, and in the colleges of our land, lectures upon this subject form a part of the regular academical course; but no similar system prevails in our High Schools and Academies. Nor is it to be expected; since, with the present want of facilities for obtaining information, the teacher would be obliged to devote an undue share of his time to the acquisition of the knowledge requisite for this object. Neither can a text-book be procured; for the author is not aware that any distinct treatise on this science is extant in the English language, except the

translation from the German of Kaemtz's "Complete Course of Meteorology;" a work which, though exceedingly valuable to the advanced student, is not suitable for a text-book on account of its size, expense, and mode of execution.

The present little work has therefore been prepared, not with the view of adding one more to the long list of studies now pursued in our academical institutions; but for the purpose of bringing into general notice a rich but hitherto comparatively unknown field, within the domains of natural science.

The author has therefore endeavored, while retaining all the important principles of Meteorology, to condense the subject as much as possible, in order that this elementary treatise may be studied in connection with Natural Philosophy, without consuming too much time.

In regard to facts, they have been sought wherever it was supposed they could be found, and reference has been made in nearly all cases to the authorities whence they were taken.

Should it be required a more extended treatise may be expected, adapted to the wants of students in colleges. HARTFORD, July 7th, 1848.

REFERENCES.

(C. 957), for example, denotes Comstock's Philosophy, Article 957, (last

edition.

(Art. 132), for example, denotes Article 132 of this work.

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