44 REPORT—1845. 
vollkommnen. Sie werden endlich dazu beitragen den Sinn fiir Erreichung 
moglich grosster Scharfe, der sonst nur in der Astronomie und hohern Geo- 
dasie zu treffen war, auch fiir die andern Theile der Naturwissenschaften zu 
beleben, zu nahren und zu verbreiten. ; 
Die Privatthitigkeit im Felde der magnetischen Beobachtungen liegt ubri- 
gens was Deutschland und die benachbarten Linder betrifft seit einer Reihe 
von Jahren offenkundig vor. Obgleich man nicht sagen kann, dass die Bri- 
tischen Anstalten dieselbe erst erweckt haben, da sie bekanntlich schon vor 
denselben vorhanden war, so haben doch diese Anstalten an mehrern Orten 
Erweiterung jener Thatigkeit veranlasst. ~ Daran aber ist jedenfalls nicht zu 
zweifeln, dass wenn die Britische Regierung ihre aussereuropiischen An- 
stalten eingehen liesse, dies auch einen entmuthigenden Einfluss auf die in 
Deutschland und anderwerts bestehenden Anstalten haben wiirde, um so 
mehr, da das Erscheinen des Organs dieser Thitigkeit, der Resultate des 
Magnetischen Vereins, seit der Entfernung des Professors Weber von Gottin- 
gen auf unbestimmte Zeit suspendirt ist. 
This indeed is all I have to say under present circumstances. I had de- 
layed my reply, which you expected to receive before 10th March, till today, 
in hopes to get the promised volume for inspection. But I can tarry no longer 
now (though Mr. Sabine’s letter seems to prorogate the ultimate term to 31st 
March), because, even if that volume should arrive tomorrow or in the next 
days, I am for the next weeks so overcharged with other affairs, that it would 
be impossible to give it a close examination. I conclude therefore with the 
assurance that I ever remain 
Faithfully yours, 
Cu. Fr. Gauss. 
( Translation.) 
Much as I feel honoured by your appearing to attach a value to my judge- 
ment in regard to the longer continuance of the magnetic establishments 
which the munificence of the British government has founded in different 
parts of the world, my regret is equally great that I cannot give to your 
questions answers as definite, and this chiefly because the results of the work 
executed in those establishments are still almost wholly unknown to me. I 
have as yet only received the Ist volume of the Greenwich magnetic obser- 
vations, and one volume of extraordinary magnetic disturbances, both which 
arrived duly, and I return my best thanks for them; but the 1st volume of 
the observations of the extra European British stations, which your letter 
made me hope for before the close of the year, and which, by a later letter 
from Colonel Sabine, should have arrived at latest on the 25th of February, 
has not yet reached me. But until the observations of some years are actually 
seen, and I must add, until they have undergone a certain degree of discus- 
sion and examination in detail, it is impossible to pronounce a judgement as 
to whether, and how far, the proposed objects are already obtained. 
In my present position, therefore, and on account of this very uncer- 
tainty, I can only urgently desire that these labours may be continued at 
least for some years longer, in the same manner and to the same extent as 
hitherto. 
But I must go stili further, and must express my confident hope that the 
British government will apply to this branch of science especially its perse- 
vering care, and that it will secure these establishments for an indefinite 
period, even should it be with certain limitations, should such be thought 
necessary. on account of expense; if so, the reductions might, I conceive, 
apply to terms and to hourly observations, discontinuing the former altogether, 
