y other person is entitled to a like latitude of reply. And
further," said he, with some emphasis, "no important observation, in
relation to a subject of such interest, should be lost; and, if you have
observed one new fact, or drawn one new and just inference from those
which have been observed by others; and especially if, from observation
and reading, you can deduce from the phenomena an intelligible,
_observable, general system_, it is not only your right, but duty, to make
it known. Such a knowledge of the true system is greatly desired by every
considerate man."

To my friend's last argument I was compelled to yield. I could make no
reply consistent with the great principles of fraternity, which I shall
ever recognize. The promise was given. My friend went on his way, and I
went to the daguerreotypist to procure a copy of the then appearance of
the sky, as the first step toward its fulfillment. The fulfillment of that
promise, reader, you will find in the following work. It was commenced as
an article for a magazine, but it has grown on my hands to a volume.
Justice could not well be done to the subject in less space. It has been
written during occasional and distant intervals of relaxation from
professional avocations, or during convalescence from sickness, and it is,
for these reasons, somewhat imperfect in style and arrangement. But I have
no time to rewrite. There is much in it which will be old to those who
read journals of science, but new to those who do not. There is more which
will be new to all classes of readers, and may, perhaps, be deemed
heretical and revolutionary by conservative meteorologists; yet I feel
assured that the work is a step in the right direction--that it contains a
substantially accurate exposition of the Philosophy of the Weather, and
valuable suggestions for the practical observer.

I have inserted my name in the title-page, contrary to my original
intention, and at the suggestion of others; for I have no scientific
reputation which will aid the publisher to sell a copy. Nor do I desire to
acquire such reputation. It can never form any part of my "capital in
life." Nor has it influenced me at all in preparing the work. I have aimed
to fulfill a promise, too hastily given, perhaps--to put on record the
observations I have made, and the inferences I have drawn from those of
others--to induce and assist further observations, and, if possible, of a
_general_ and _connected character_--a