The information contained in the foregoing tables is extracted from the results of very extensive Meteorological observations collected from all parts of the country. One series has been collected by Josiah Meigs, Esq. Commissioner of the Land Office, from the Land Offices of the U. States and other places. The extracts made from this series comprehend Detroit, Zanesville, Marietta, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Jeffersonville, Gallatin, Huntsville, Augusta, Milledgeville, Savannah, and Monroe. The other series has been collected by Jos. Lovell, Esq. Surgeon General of the Army of the United States, principally from the Military Posts. To these excellent officers much praise is due for the indefatigable industry with which they have collected the important facts which shed so much light on a subject hitherto very imperfectly known. As the observations are still going on, and extending, there is no doubt but that in a short time the materials will be abundant for publishing an ample account of the climate of this extensive country. In the mean time it will be observed, that some of the tables are in different years, and some of them are incomplete, so that only partial comparisons can be made, and partial conclusions drawn; but it is respectfully presumed that this is, upon the whole, the most satisfactory account of the climate of the United States that has ever yet been published. The observations were generally made at 7 A. M. and 2 and 9 P. M. From the result of all the observations communicated to the Surgeon General in 1820, that officer made up a very curious Table, with an abstract from which we shall close this account. General abstract from all the observations made at the Military Posts of the United States for 1820; 37 Posts extending from 30° to 45° 55′ N. lat. and 6o 46' east, to 19° 45′ W. long. The observations were made at 7 A. M. and at 2 and 9 P. M. H. is the highest mean of the whole observations; L. the lowest; and M. the average of the mean heat. General 52 62 56 57 *105 Sunday, 13th of †-30 Sunday, 135 Mean. August. 30th of January. Along with the mass of information collected by the snow, and cloudy and fair weather, from which we are Surgeon General, was an account of the winds, rain, enabled to make up the following Table: From the foregoing Table the following general facts appear: 1. The N. W. wind is the most prevalent at Fortsmouth, New-York, Philadelphia, and Washington, east of the mountains; and at St. Peters, west of them. 2. The south-west wind prevails at Boston, and is frequent at New-York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Norfolk, east of the mountains. West of the mountains it prevails at Sackett's Harbour, Prairie des Chiens, Pittsburg, Baton Rouge, and Camp Ripley; and is frequent at St. Peters. 3. At Mackinaw, south-east and west winds are prevalent. 4. At Council Bluffs, south-east winds are prevalent. 5. At Detroit, south winds are prevalent. 6. At Norfolk, north-east winds are prevalent. 7. At Fort Johnson, south winds are prevalent. 8. At Fernandina, south-east winds are prevalent. 9. At Fort Scott, east winds are prevalent. 10. It appears that the greatest quantity of snow falls at Mackinaw and Sackett's harbour. This naturally arises from the proximity of these places to the lakes. 11. It appears that the greatest quantity of rain falls at Fort Scott, Baton Rouge, and Camp Ripley, west of the mountains. This is accounted for by the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. 12. Norfolk seems to be near the southern limit of snow on the sea coast, but in the interior, snow falls much farther south. 13. Pittsburg is the only position in the district denominated temperate, to which these meteorological observations have extended; but the circumstance of southerly winds prevailing to the westward, from Baton Rouge to Pittsburg, Detroit, and Sackett's Harbour, leaves room for no doubt but that it prevails, according to Volney's statement, all over the western country, so far as it has been described as the temperate region. It may be satisfactory to contrast the meteorological observations in the United States with those made in two positions in Great Britain, one in Cornwall, in the south of England, lat. 50° 30', and the other at Kinfawns, near Perth, in Scotland, lat. 56° 24'; both in 1821. HLM January 54 28 45 Mean. 40.3 March 53 44 48 41.3 April 65 37 50 47.4 May 60 43,52 47.8 June 72 47 59 54.8 July 78 53 63 58.4 August Sept. October 63 43 56 49. Remarks. It will be observed that the general temperature of Cornwall agrees nearly with Philadelphia; and that of Kinfawns, in Scotland, with Boston; but the different months vary very much. In Philadelphia the average of January was only 26°, but in July 780, while in Cornwall, during these months it was 450 and 63o. In Boston January was 230, and July 67o. In Scotland, January was 53° 5 47° 9′ 37°, and July 58°. HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT AND PROGRESS OF SOCIETY.-The United States territory was originally settled by various tribes of Indians; but they seem to have made little or no progress in the arts of civilized life. The first settlement by white people was made in Virginia in 1607; and the settlements extended through the other states as follows: 1609 Hudson's River was discovered, and the settlements commenced in New-York next year. 1620 The settlements commenced in Massachusetts, and in 1652 that province became connected with Maine. 1623 The settlements commenced in New-Hampshire. 1627 Delaware was first settled by the Swedes. |