725 Years Ago The following item was first published in THE LIFEBOAT of January, 1861.

VALUE OF BAROMETRICAL INDICATION.

ON the occasion of the hurricane which swept the island of St. Kilda, in the Hebrides, on the 3rd Oct. lust, and inflicted .such distress In g loss on its poor inhabitants, the following were the indications of a KPW Verified Barometer, on board her Majesty's steamer Porcupine, then off the island, us reported by her commander, Captain OTTER, R.N". The rapid and regular fill of the mercury to the extent of Ji inch lx.'t veen 8 A.M. on the 2nd of October and .'1-20 A.M. on the :Jul, at which latter time the hinrie.iin.' began, and its thon rapid rise of m-ar]v an inch, are interesting verifications of the- ct-rtaiiity by which coining weather is indicated by this valuable instrument, which is at this moment deserved I v attracting so much public attention ;— Inches.

Oct. 2. 8-0 A.«., 30-32 8-0 F.U., 2-J-75 8- 15 P.M.,29-70 windS.

8-45 PM., 29-C2S.S.W.

10-30 P.M., 29-34 S.S.W.

11-0 r.ii.,29-2tiS.SAV.

ll-4.r» P.M., 29-22 S.'W.

Oct. 3. 0-15 A.M., 2'J-IC S.W. heavysqnnlls.

0-45 A.M., 2d: 10 S.W. heavy squall*.

2-0 A.M., 3S'9GS.W. heavysqunlls.

2-4O A.M., 28-87 S.'W. nearly culm.

3-20 A.M., 28-87 S.'W. westerly.

3-2C N."W. hurricane began.

r -30A.M., M'.iai;., K.K.W.pulc C-1(1 A.M., 2'J-6j N.N.AV.

7- !.* A.U , S'J-ri.") M., nearly rnlm, Nnon 20-87 N.W. by N.

2-30 P.M., 23-87 Admiral CATOP. recently report •»! to tho NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, that while in Cullercoats, near Shields, in the beginning of October last, the fishermen of that place had expressed to him their gratitude for the barometer which the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, President of the Institution, had presented to them. A fearful gale from the westward had about that time somewhat suddenly sprung up. The fishermen were preparing to go to sea.

Some of them observed the fall of the barometer; while others disputed its utility and value, and even treated it with derision.

The majority of the fishermen, however, decided that they would not go to sea while the barometer was falling, although it was quite fine at the time. A few hours afterwards a terrific gale of wind from off the land came on, when they expressed their firm conviction that every one of them would probably have perished had they gone to sea, as most assuredly they would have gone, in the absence of the- barometer.

. . and subsequently published in the April 1861 issue . . .

Barometer?.—The Committee have taken steps to provide the life-boat stations of the Institution, wherever desirable, with standard Barometers, properly fitted up, and the daily indications of which will be registered on a chart or diagram by the aide of the-instrument.

It seems probable that with such powers placed In their hands, the calamities now endured by our fishermen and coasters may(J in rainy instances, be avoided. A good Barometer in a public situation may warn them in time what weather to expect; and they may thus be frequently able to avoid exposing themselves to the terrible consequences of storms, so often at present proving fatal to them. The Committee have received much val liable assistance from Rear-Admiral Fitz-RoY, F.R.S., and JAMES GLAISHER, Esq., F.U.S., of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in carrying out this important undertaking.

Mr. GLAISHER kindly verifies, by the Greenwich standard, each Barometer supplied to the Institution, which greatly enhances the value of the instrument, and makes it the standard of the neighbourhood in which it is situated.