'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎95] (124/524)

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rain, and the state of the weather. Extraordinary electrometer obser.
vations are also made during periods of electrical disturbance. In
connection with these observations it may he remarked in passing^
that it seems strange, notwithstanding the great progress that has been
made by men like Bravais, Rcgnault, Apjohn, and Glaislier in this
science during the last twenty years, the Superintendents should not
have felt it necessary to change their tables for the temperature of dew
point and the pressure of moisture, but, as stated in the present
volume, still use those prepared by Professor Orlebar.
To the magnetical and meteorological observations were added, in
1846, self-registered observations on the tides. A discussion of these for
the first two years by Mr. Orlebar was inserted at the end of the
second volume for 1847. Whether from the defects of the tide
gauge, however, or partially also from the want of sufficient care on the
part of the observers^ these observations have somehow failed to
give satisfaction.
Attention was directed to them last year in a paper read before the
Society by our indefatigable member Mr. Burgess, under the
title of “ Tidal Results for 1862.” This paper was based upon the
resultant obtained by its author from a laborious reduction of the
observations of the whole year, and here, in passing, I would take the
opportunity of offering that gentleman my cordial thanks for the as
sistance he has afforded me in drawung up these remarks.
We find a discussion of the observations for the last sixteen years
inserted at the end of the present volume, occupying its last 26 pages.
This has been made £< with the view, ” we are told, “ to ascertain if great
er accuracy could be obtained by the data now available.” To this
problem, however, no direct answer is supplied, and though a large
amount of time fand labour must have been bestowed on the work, we
seem no nearer a solution than we were before.
It will perhaps be asked by some who have not given much attention
to the subject, whether such observations are of practical value and
are worth the expense of making them ? Now, in reply, it ought at once
to be asserted, that what is called the ££ practical value” of the applica
tions obtainable from scientific observations, is not a fair criterion of
their importance, and ought to weigh as little as possible with those
who have to deal with them. Modern science may indeed justly lay
4s k/ 4*