'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎2] (103/496)

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whom the duty of giving practical effect to their suggestions must ever
devolve. However, the first principles of Governments are supposed
to be the preservation of the lives of their subj ects, the diminution of
human suffering, and conservation of property. If the means of ef
fecting these objects are unknown, the sooner they are sought for the
better : if only doubtful, there is still stronger reason for ascertaining
the truth. Public money could hardly be appropriated to a more useful
purpose. None who read and reason can deny that fully developed hur
ricanes obey regular laws, although these are not perfectly known and
defined—as might be expected in a science as yet in its infancy. It
is also well known that while one vessel rushes into all the perils of a
vertical gale—perhaps to certain distraction,—another, whether from
accident or foresight, may, by lying to, or running in a particular direc
tion, escape without even the loss of a spar. The details of the Ma
labar Gale contain proofs of this too palpable to be overlooked.
Had a general system of Meteorological observation been establish
ed over India and its neighbouring appendages, a complete knowledge
of those devastating storms which sweep the Bay of Bengal, and late
ly ravaged the West Coast and Arabian Sea, would have been obtain
ed, far more satisfactory than anything dependent on the casual and
isolate exertions of individuals. A line of littoral posts of observation
established at every one or two hundred miles distance, extending from
Calcutta round Ceylon or Cape Comorin to Kurrachee m Scmde, and
others traversing the Peninsula from east to west, if placed under
some system organized by one of the Scientific Societies, would tend
to throw important light on the relative force, moisture, and direction,
of the two great periodical winds at different parts of the country,
on the true nature of their stormy commotions, and the apparent
connection of these with their changes. Even medical knowledge
might thereby be greatly advanced.
What would this cost? is the question of the economist. We
think little more than the price of the necessary instruments,—per
haps a sum of £1000 or £1500, —scarcely that which the masts and
spars of one ship, the Buckinghamshire, cost, to say nothing of the
loss of the Cleopatra, Mermaid, &c. Among its servants the H. E. I.
Company has many officers surpassingly distinguished for intelligence,
scientific acquirements, and their almost invariable concomitant-zeal;
who, as amateurs, would no doubt willingly volunteer their spare time
to the carrying out the objects proposed.