“It is difficult to spare the time; and I can not neglect my profession,” I urged.
“Where there is a will there is a way,” he replied.
“It is difficult to make one’s self understood without many illustrations.”
“Very well, they are easily obtained.”
“But they cost money, and it is said ‘science will not pay its way’ like fiction and humbug.”
“That,” said he, “is a libel—such science will. Every one is interested in the weather—all talk about it—and thousands would carefully observe it, if they could be correctly guided in their observations.”
“I may get into unpleasant controversy.”
“Suppose you do; you can yield your position if wrong, and maintain it if right, and magna est veritas.”
“But I may be mistaken in some of the views to which it will be necessary to advert, if I attempt to systematize the subject.”
“Be it so—your mistakes may lead others to the discovery of the truth. Besides, the weather is common property, and every one has a right to theorize about it, or to talk about it, as they please—even to call a stormy day a pleasant one, or make any other mistaken remark concerning it; and every other person is entitled to a like latitude of reply. And further,” said he, with some emphasis, “no important observation, in relation to a subject of such interest, should be lost; and, if you have observed one new fact, or drawn one new and just inference from those which have been observed by others; and especially if, from observation and reading, you can deduce from the phenomena an intelligible, observable, general system, it is not only your right, but duty, to make it known. Such a knowledge of the true system is greatly desired by every considerate man.”