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Report of Experiments on Subterranean Temperature, under 

 the direction of a Committee ; consisting of ProfessorFonBESf 

 Mr. W. S. Harris, Professor Powell, Lieut. -Col. Sykes, 

 and Professor Phillips (Reporter). 



Having noticed the principal causes of error in experiments 

 on the temperature of the air, water, rocks, and metallic veins 

 below the surface, the author described the methods and instru- 

 ments of research recommended by a Committee of the Associa- 

 tion to eliminate the known and neutralize the unknovm sources 

 of fallacy. The instruments constructed for this purpose were 

 properly placed in many situations, under the direction of com- 

 petent persons, and satisfactory results had already been obtained, 

 which in every instance agreed with the general results of foreign 

 inquiries in proving a continual augmentation of heat below the 

 surface of invariable temperature. At the Lead Hills Professor 

 Forbes had placed thermometers under the care of Mr. Irvine j 

 Mr. Buddie had established registers at Newcastle; Mr. Ander- 

 son, at Monk Wearmouth ; Mr. Hodgkinson, near Manchester j 

 and withina few days Professor Phillips had been enabled through 

 the kindness of a friend to place a thermometer in a deep coal 

 mine at Bedminster, near Bristol. Similar instruments have since 

 been extensively distributed, and the following general instruc- 

 tions and form of register have been prepared for the assistance 

 of observers. 



Instructions for conducting experiments on the Temperature of 

 the Earth, at various depths, upon a plan and with instru- 

 ments recommended by a Committee of the British Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science. 



The general interest and importance of inquiries into the 

 interior temperature of the earth render it proper to explain, to 

 those who may be engaged in conducting the experiments, that 

 for the purpose of obtaining results really valuable, and capable 

 of being combined in philosophical investigations, it is essential 

 that the same object of research should be proposed, — the same 

 planof experimentfollowed,— and similar instruments employed; 

 — it is convenient that the results obtained should be recorded in 

 tables of one form, and transmitted to one person, named by the 

 Association, for the examination of the Committee. 



(«.) The object proposed to be accomplished, by the experi- 

 ments contemplated, is the acquisition of satisfactory data, for 

 the establishment of undoubted conclusions concerning the real 



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