'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎71] (92/458)

WIND AND CURRENT CHARTS.
Ixxi
yourself, present another set to the Bombay Geographical Society, and dispose of the others “ as
itseemeth good unto you.
I also send you, for like use and disposal, a number of pamphlets, six copies, on the relation
betwen Magnetism and the Circulation of the Atmosphere. This paper is from the forth
coming volume of Observations : a limited circulation only has been given to it, and I should be
pleased, if the same be in conformity with your rules, to have it read before your Geographical
Society.
I did not feel myself capable of offering you any advice worth having as to the publication of
the very valuable Charts which you have in process of construction. I am very much in want
of materials for my Charts relating to your seas,—and this occurs to me. If you can gain access
to any number of old log books, which contain the direction of the wind once for every eight
hours, and which give daily the temperature of air and water, though this last shall not be a sine
qua non, I will pay for abstracts therefrom at the rate of two cents the day,—i. e. suppose the
copyist makes the abstract from the log of a vessel that has been 100 days at sea, he will receive
therefore $ 2.
The tracks which I want on these terms, relate to the Indian Ocean only,—calling that the
Indian Ocean which extends South from Asia between Africa and New Holland and which is to
the Westward of aline drawn from New Guiana to China. This is the region as to which I am
most lame of materials, and for abstracts of which I will agree to pay as above. If you deem it
expedient to employ one or more copyists on these terms, you are at liberty to retain copies of
any or all of such abstracts for your own work that will be of use to you. I have employed
copyists at this rate of 2 cents per day for other parts of the ocean, and a quick writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. can easily
earn dlrs. 6 or dlrs. 8 a day.
I shall, in the course of a short time, do myself the pleasure of sending you other forthcoming
publications. You will from them perceive the actual advantages which the practical
Navigator has derived from these Charts, stated in the least favorable forms. It should afford
encouragement to the generous spirits that sympathize with you in your noble efforts.
I shall be happy to receive the Geographical papers to which you allude.
I have succeeded in tracing out the locality of two streams of warm water which have their
genesis in the Indian Ocean, and atleasttwo streams of cold water that run into it.
One of the former has its exodus through the straits of Malacca, with waters hotter than those
of our Gulf stream. I am in search of another, which I have reason to believe ought to be
found somewhere between New Holland and Borneo. Perhaps this joins the other, for it is now
well established by my researches, that Origon owes its mildness of climate to the hot waters of
a “ Gulf Stream” in the North Pacific. The Northern Indian Ocean with its Seas, Bays, and
Gulfs, is the cauldron which performs the office of a furnace in tempering the climates of North
Western America as well as of New Zealand and Extratropical Australia.
However, I have made it a rule not to offend prejudices by venturing speculations in advance
of my work, and I should therefore conform more strictly to this rule by saying that I have some
indications of such currents.
I shall send this and the parcel through your Agents, Smith , Elder & Co. I regret that 1
nnot send it without cost to you ; but this I can do only to their hands.