"The measurements obtainable from photographs are much more reliable than those from projected images. "E. J. Stone, Esq." "I am, The Association will regret to learn the deaths of Dr. Sabler and M. Gussew, in consequence of which the Wilna Heliograph is not at work. M. Smysloff of the Pulkowa Observatory has been appointed Director of the Wilna Observatory, by the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. M. O. Struve having asked for information respecting the working of the Heliograph, it has been suggested to him by the Kew Committee that it would be advisable for M. Smysloff to visit the Kew Observatory, to see the instrument in operation. The sun-spots continue to be observed after the method of Hofrath Schwabe, of Dessau, and the valuable collection of drawings lent by this eminent observer remains at the Observatory. These have been supplemented by the beautiful series of detailed drawings of spots made by the Rev. F. Howlett, which that gentleman has deposited at Kew. The apparatus for verifying sextants alluded to in the last Report has now been constructed by Mr. Cooke, and is being erected at the Observatory. About three-fourths of the region of the solar spectrum between E and F has been mapped by the spectroscope belonging to the Chairman. The spectroscope is now in London, the work appertaining to the staff at the Observatory not permitting sufficient time for further observation with this instrument. The instrument devised by Mr. Broun for the purpose of estimating the magnetic dip by means of soft iron, remains at present at the Observatory, awaiting Mr. Broun's return to England. The Superintendent has received grants from the Royal Society for special experiments; and when these are completed, an account will be rendered to that Society. The Report of a Committee appointed to consider certain questions relating to the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade, and presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty, has been communicated to the Members of the Kew Committee, and has been otherwise widely circulated among the meteorologists of the British Association: the object of the Report is expressed in the following terms : 66 Upon the death of the late Admiral FitzRoy, a correspondence took place between the Board of Trade and the Royal Society with respect to "the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade. The result of that "correspondence was the appointment of a Committee, consisting of the fol"lowing gentlemen, viz. Francis Galton, Esq., F.R.S., General Secretary of the "British Association for the Advancement of Science, nominated by the Pre"sident and Council of the Royal Society; Staff Commander Evans, R.N., "F.R.S., Chief Naval Assistant to the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, by "the Admiralty; T. H. Farrer, Esq., one of the Secretaries to the Board of "Trade, by the Board of Trade,-to consider and report upon the following "questions: "1. What are the data, especially as regards Meteorological Observations "at sea, already collected by and now existing in the Meteorological Depart"ment of the Board of Trade? "2. Whether any, and what steps should be taken for arranging, tabula"ting, publishing, or otherwise making use of such data. "3. Whether it is desirable to continue Meteorological Observations at sea, "and if so, to what extent, and in what manner. "4. Assuming that the system of Weather Telegraphy is to be continued, "can the mode of carrying it on and publishing the results be improved? "5. What staff will be necessary for the above purposes?" The authors of the Report arrive at the following conclusions in respect to the ocean statistics, weather telegraphy, foretelling weather, and observations affecting weather in the British Isles. "The collection of observations from the captains of ships is a function "which can probably best be performed through the medium of such agencies "as a Government Office can command, and which was in fact well performed "by the Meteorological Department before its attention was devoted to the "practice of foretelling weather. We assume, therefore, that this function "will remain with the Board of Trade. "The digesting and tabulating results of observations is, on the other hand, "a function which requires a large knowledge of what the state of the science "for the time being requires, as well as exact scientific method. 66 66 "This function is one that has not been satisfactorily performed by the Me"teorological department. And we believe that it would be much better, as well as more economically performed, under the direction of a scientific body"such as a Committee of the Royal Society, or of the British Association, if "furnished with the requisite funds by the Government-than it will be if "left to a Government Department. The establishment already existing at "Kew might probably be easily developed, so as to carry into effect such a "purpose. It would in that case become a meteorological centre, to which 'all observations of value (by British observers), whether made on land or "at sea, and whether within the British Isles or not, would be sent for dis"cussion and reduction. We have therefore in the following estimates, as"sumed that all meteorological observations made on land, whether at the "stations recommended by the Royal Society, or at the lighthouses or coast "guard stations, as well as all observations at sea, shall be referred to and "discussed under the direction of such a scientific body as we have men"tioned; and we have also assumed that the aid afforded by Government "would be in the shape of an annual vote, so made as to leave the Royal "Society, or other scientific body charged with the duty, perfectly free in "their method and in their choice of labour, but upon the condition that an "account shall be rendered to Parliament of the money spent, and of the re"sults effected in each year." The Kew Committee have examined this Report, and, speaking in general terms, they cordially acquiesce in the conclusions of its authors. They consider the proposed arrangement to fall within the competence of the Kew Observatory. In the last Kew Report it was stated that many experiments and observations of a nature to advance science are made by the Committee under the sanction of the Association, the cost of each being defrayed by the pro moters. The Committee consider that the suggested observations contained in the Government Report which has been referred to, would be merely an extension of the usual practice of the Observatory; but in consideration of the magnitude of the work proposed, they suggest that the Council should bring the subject before the General Committee, with the view of the Kew Com mittee being authorized to discuss and make the necessary arrangements with the Board of Trade, should any proposal be made. The Committee are also desirous of bringing under the consideration of the Council, the expediency of proceeding in the formation of a memoir on the periodic and non-periodic variations of the temperature at Kew, as a normal station of British meteorology. Similar works have for some years past occupied the attention of the most eminent amongst the continental meteorologists as being in fact the foundation of all scientific knowledge of the climatology of their respective countries. A memoir on the periodic and nonperiodic variations of the temperature at the magnetical and meteorological observatory at Toronto in Canada has been printed in the Philosophical Transactions for 1853, but no such work has yet been systematically undertaken at Kew, although it is quite in accordance with the objects for which the Observatory was instituted, in familiarizing British meteorologists with a system of tabulation they have hitherto unduly neglected. Daily photograms taken from the thermograph constructed under Mr. Stewart's direction will supply in the most unexceptionable manner the observational basis on which the memoir would be founded. To obtain such photograms would constitute a very small addition to the duties of the assistant by whom the daily photograms of the magnetical instruments are taken. The tabulation from the daily photograms of the temperature would be the only increase of any moment to the ordinary present work of the observatory, and would require, possibly, the part services of an additional young assistant. The tabulation would supply twenty-four equidistant entries in every solar day. The tables containing these entries, together with the Photograms, after careful inspection by a proper authority, would be preserved for subsequent use. Five or, at most, six years would constitute quite a sufficient basis for the determination of the periodic variations forming the first part of the proposed work, and would require about a couple of months of superintending care on the part of the person who might be director of the Observatory, when the observations of the five or six years should have accumulated. Nothing more than ordinary clerk's work under such general superintendence would be required. Should the Board of Trade be disposed to avail itself of the suggestion which has been made to them in respect to the Kew Observatory, the publication which has been suggested would become one of its first important duties. J. P. GASSIOT, Kew Observatory, August 17, 1866. Chairman. Accounts of the Kew Committee of the British Association from September 6, 1865, to August 22, 1866. Ironmonger, Carpenter, and Mason...................................................... 20 0 0 523 0 0 35 8 3 ........................... 2 10 0 Printing, Stationery, Books, and Postage ....................... House Expenses, Chandlery, &c.. Rent of Land to 10th October, 1866 6 13 0 22 9 9 £754 16 1 I have examined the above account and compared it with the vouchers presented to me. Received from the Treasurer of the British Association .......... From Sundries, for the construction and verification of instruments Report of the Parliamentary Committee to the Meeting of the British Association at Nottingham, August 1866. The Parliamentary Committee have the honour to report as follows::Your Committee have to express their regret that another Session of Parliament has been allowed to pass away without any step having been taken by the Legislature to promote the study of science in our great public schools. In the last Session, however, an Act was passed to amend the Acts relating to the Imperial Standards of Weight, Measure, and Capacity. The Act was introduced chiefly for the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of a Treasury Committee, which reported in 1864; and it will effect some very useful reforms in the constitution of the Office having the custody of the Imperial Standards, whereby the whole organization of the Department will be placed on a more scientific basis. An Officer is appointed to be called the Warden of the Standards; and due provision is made for the periodical comparison of the Imperial and Secondary Standards, a matter which had hitherto been very much neglected. A provision is for the first time made for defining the amount of error to be tolerated in Secondary Standards; there is also a clause in which it is stated to be the duty of the Warden "to conduct all such comparisons, verifications, and other operations with reference to Standards of Length, Weight, and Capacity, in aid of scientific researches, or otherwise, as the Board of Trade from time to time authorize or direct." Your Committee have also to express their regret that no steps have as yet been taken to reorganize the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade, and carry out the valuable suggestions of the Report of Mr. Francis Galton and his colleagues, presented to Parliament during the last Session. Your Committee will not fail to advocate such measures as may be necessary for placing this Department on a satisfactory footing. They will neither be unmindful of the part which they took in its original establishment, nor of the benefits which it has already conferred, and which, if successfully reorganized, it will continue to confer on Meteorological Science. In conclusion, we recommend that Sir Henry Rawlinson be elected a Member of our Committee. 15th August, 1866. WROTTESLEY, Chairman. |