ADDRESS. . XXXl 
Happily we are not left without the means of forming a sound judgement 
on this momentous question. It isa case in which, connected as the science 
of Britain is with that of the other co-operating nations, we cannot and ought 
not to come to any conclusion without taking into our counsels the most 
eminent magnetists and meteorologists of other countries who have either 
taken a direct part in the observations, or whose reputation in those sciences 
is such as to give their opinions, in matters respecting them, a commanding 
weight. Accordingly it was resolved, at the York meeting last year, to invite 
the attendance of the eminent individuals I have alluded to at this meeting, 
with the especial object of conference on the subject. And in the interval 
since elapsed, knowing the improbability of a complete personal reunion from 
so many distant quarters, a circular has been forwarded to each of them, 
proposing certain special questions for reply, and inviting, besides, the fullest 
and freest communication of their views on the general subject. The replies 
received to this circular, which are numerous and in the highest degree in- 
teresting and instructive, have been printed and forwarded to the parties 
replying, with a request for their reconsideration and further communication, 
and have also been largely distributed at home to every member of our own 
Council, and the Committee of Recommendations, and to each member of 
the Council and Physical Committee of the Royal Society, which, conjointly 
with ourselves, memorialized Government for the establishment of the ob- 
servatories. 
In addition to the valuable matter thus communicated, I am happy to add, 
that several of the distinguished foreigners in question have responded to our 
invitation, and that in consequence this meeting is honoured by the personal 
presence of M. Kupffer, the Director-General of the Russian System of Mag- 
netic and Meteorological Observation ; of M. Ermann, the celebrated cireum- 
navigator and meteorologist ; of Baron von Senftenberg, the founder of the 
Astronomical, Magnetic, and Meteorological Observatory of Senftenberg ; of 
M. Kreil, the director of the Imperial Observatory at Prague; and of M. 
Boguslawski, director of the Royal Prussian Observatory of Breslau, all of 
whom have come over for the express purpose of affording us the benefit of 
their advice and experience in this discussion. To all the conferences be- 
tween these eminent foreigners and our own Magnetic and Meteorological 
Committee, and such of our members present as have taken any direct theo- 
retical or practical interest in the subjects, all the members of our Committee 
of Recommendations will have free access for the purpose of enabling them 
fully to acquaint themselves with the whole bearing of the case, and the ar- 
guments used respecting all the questions to be discussed, so that when the 
subject comes to be referred to them, as it must be if the opinion of the con- 
ference should be favourable to the continuance of the system, they may be 
fully prepared to make up their minds on it. 
I will not say one word from this chair which can have the appearance of 
in any way anticipating the conclusion which the conference thus organized 
may come to, or the course to be adopted in consequence. But I will take 
this opportunity of stating my ideas generally on the position to be assumed 
by this Association and by other scientific bodies in making demands on the 
national purse for scientific purposes. And I will also state, quite irrespective 
of the immediate question of magnetic co-operation, and therefore of the fate 
of this particular measure, what I conceive to be the objects which might be 
accomplished, and ought to be aimed at in the establishment of pHysicaL 
OBSERVATORIES, as part of the integrant institutions of each nation calling 
itself civilized, and as its contribution to Terrestrial Physics. 
, It is the pride and boast of an Englishman to pay his taxes cheerfully when 
he feels. assured of their application to great and worthy objects. And as 
