4 REPORT—1845. 
is one of a novel description, contrived by Professor Lloyd, for determining 
the absolute total force by direct observation in dips from 80° to 90°. The 
interesting discovery of Sir James Ross, of a barometric pressure in the 
Antaretic Seas lower by more than an inch than at the equator, will render 
the barometric observations of this Expedition especially important, in con- 
sequence of attention being drawn to circumstances in the usual mode of 
executing barometric observations in severe colds, which have been supposed 
capable of partially masking this peculiarity, and upon which we shail now be 
enabled to pronounce definitively. 
As the Magnetic Pole will be again probably approached in this Expedition, 
an opportunity will be afforded of ascertaining (at least by subsequent calcu- 
lation) whether any and what change has taken place in the situation of that 
important point since the date of Sir James Ross’s observations, and should 
the Expedition be successful in making their passage home by Behring’s 
Straits, an invaluable series of data along the northern coast of America to 
the Straits in question will be secured. 
New Stations for Meteorological and Magnetic Observations. 
_ The Astronomical and Meteorological Society of British Guiana have re- 
cently established an observatory in that colony for the purpose of making 
astronomical, meteorological and magnetic observations, and have (partly by 
the grant of magnetic and other instruments used by Sir R. Schomburgk in 
his survey of the colony, partly at their own cost) furnished it with in- 
struments. Not content with this, however, they have engaged a competent 
and well-recommended observer, at a liberal salary, so that we have here an 
example which it may be hoped our other colonies will eagerly imitate, of 
scientific cooperation, voluntarily undertaken, in a highly interesting region, 
from which the best results may be hoped. 
The prospect of a colonial observatory at Colombo in Ceylon, though not 
yet realized, appears by a letter received by Colonel Sabine from Capt. Pick- 
ering, dated January 18, 1845, to be still entertained, since that gentleman 
has received the Governor's directions to prepare estimates for the building 
and establishment. 
It is assuredly much to be desired that such of our colonies as are capable 
of bearing the expense of such institutions, should be encouraged by such 
examples to take part in the great and important work which remains to be 
done, in order to place terrestrial magnetism and meteorology in the rank of 
permanently progressive sciences. The government observatories, by im- 
proving the instruments and methods of observation and chalking out the 
course of observation most desirable to be pursued, have laid the foundations 
of a system which must, sooner or later, be carried out in all climates and in 
every part of the globe. But the system is yet susceptible of further perfec- 
tion, which it has been and is receiving. Several important defects have 
been remedied, and as far as the magnetic observations go, a definite and 
well-directed course is taken. The meteorological system is also beginning to 
assume a more distinct and regularly improving form ; distinct notions of im- 
portant objects to be attained, and improvements introduced into the instru- 
mental departments, which by degrees will fit them for objects they are not 
yet competent to. Should the government observatories at Toronto and Van 
Diemen’s Land ultimately come to be handed over to their respective colonies 
as part of their domestic institutions, not only would a permanent contribution 
of data be secured to science, but incalculable benefit would arise to the 
colonies themselves, in the possession of establishments in which the art of | 
observing has been wrought up to elaborate perfection, and in which practice 
