of barometers, I may remark, that if such weather-glasses
were put in charge of the Coast-guard, at the principal stations
round the coast, so placed as to allow any one passing by to look at
them, they might be the means, not only of preventing ships from
going to sea just before bad weather was coming on, but of
preventing the great losses of life which take place every year on
our coasts (particularly in the Orkney Islands and on the coasts of
Scotland and Ireland), owing to fishing vessels and boats going to
sea when bad weather is impending. No bad weather ever comes on our
coasts without timely warning being given by the barometer. The
oldest seaman are often deceived by the look of the weather, but
there is no instance on record of very bad weather, such as would
have involved loss of life to the extent we have heard of in several
years, having come on without the barometer having given timely
warning. By the very small expense of an establishment of
barometers, so placed as to be accessible to any fishermen, boatmen,
or others on the coasts, much loss of life, as well as loss of
boats, and even shipping, might be prevented.

"What state of the barometer indicates danger?--It varies in
different climates according to the range. The range is small
between the tropics, but very large in the higher latitudes. In our
climate the range is usually about two inches. The barometer falling
considerably below its average height is at once an indication that
some considerable change is going to take place, and when it falls
low, as for instance (in our climate) to near 29 inches, or below 29
inches, a gale is certain to follow.

"Are the Committee to understand that you are of opinion that every
ship ought to have a barometer on board?--I think that every ship
ought to have either a barometer or sympiesometer, which is an
efficient substitute for a barometer.

"Does the barometer show a sudden change of wind as well as the
coming on of bad weather? Supposing a gale of wind is blowing, and
you are sailing with a fair wind, does the barometer show any change
of wind?--Decidedly.

"Supposing the wind was at West-north-west and it shifted suddenly
to West-south-west, would the barometer indicate that?--It requires
some practice to be able to say _exactly what is likely to take
p