Matthew Fontaine Maury, Lieutenant, U.S.N.

“ By the recommendations of the BRUSSELS CONFERENCE [1853] , every one who uses the sea is commanded or invited to make certain observations; or, in other words, to propound certain queries to Nature, and to give us a faithful statement of the replies she may make. Now, unless we have accurate instruments, instruments that will themselves tell the truth, it is evident that we can not get at the real meaning of the answers that Nature may give us. An incorrect observation is not only useless of itself, but, when it passes undetected among others that are correct, it becomes worse than useless ”

“ The principal maritime nations, therefore, have done well by agreeing to unite upon one plan of observation, and to co-operate with their ships upon the high seas with the view of finding out all that patient research, systematic, laborious investigation, may reveal to us concerning the winds and the waves; and philosophical travelers, and every sailor that has a ship under his foot, may do even better by joining in this system. ”

“ The health of the invalid is often dependent upon a dry or a damp atmosphere, a cold blast or a warm wind. The atmosphere pumps up our rivers from the sea, and transports them through the clouds to their sources among the hills ”