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observers in Japan, who perhaps would like to know them. These rules are: 1st Conformity of instruments and proved accuracy of the same; 2nd Directions of wind to register with English initials N. NNE. NE. etc ; 3rd averages of clouds with the numbers 0-10 (0=a perfect bright sky; 10=a thick cloudy heaven); 4th, The year commences with 1st January; the days commence at midnight; the hours are marked 0-12 A.M. and 0-12 P.M. 5th, it is recommended to calculate the five days averages of temperature adopted by Dove. 6th, after each Lustrum, commencing with the year 5n+1 the results of observations of each station are published by the Congress in the sane manner. 7th, The centigrade degrees are to be used, at least in mentioning the results of the barometer, (inches of Paris to be wholly abandoned).
I deem it unnecessary to prove the utility of adopting these rules, because it must be evident that by unity in registering and observing only we can satisfactorily add to our knowledge of the great atmospheric movements which take place over the whole globe.
In June, 1873 the Superintendent of the Danish Telegraph Company made an arrangement with me and other gentlemen in Hongkong, Shanghai and Amoy to transmit daily by cable the following observations, viz.: reading of the barometer and the thermometer attached, direction of wind, force of wind, dry and wet thermometer, state of the weather, hours of rain, quantity of rain. These telegraphic records have been published at the telegraph station at each of the places every day at noon since July, 1873. We have adopted English inches and Fahrenheit degrees in their publication, because they are designed for the use of navigators in these waters, and these are chiefly English and Americans, who are seldom acquainted with the metrical system. It is much to be desired that Yokohama or Yedo should take a part in forming the telegraphic meteorological returns, and that the Meteorological Congress should find some means of financial aid towards the recording and transmission of these observations.
