XXX REPORT — 1853. 



previous years ; at the same time it will be seen that the expenditure has 

 been proportionately diminished. The total amount is 159/. lis. Id., ex- 

 clusive of the sum expended in the ascents, which, as has already been stated, 

 was wholly defrayed by the Royal Society. 



" The Committee suggest that, with regard to the balance in hand, the 

 same principle as that hitherto adopted should be continued, viz. that the 

 balance from former years should be still held at the disposal of the Kew 

 Committee (in the event of its being re-appointed), in addition to the usual 

 annual grant of 200/. Tiie strict ceconomy with which the funds have been 

 hitherto used is a sufficient guarantee that no unnecessary expenditure will 

 be incurred. 



" The Committee recommend that an application should be made to the 

 Commissioners of Woods and Forests for the temporary use of a small por- 

 tion of the ground near the Observatory for the erection of suitable places 

 for observing ; the expense would be very trifling, while the position of the 

 Observatory, in the centre of 450 acres of a level field, combined with its 

 near proximity to the metropolis, renders it in every respect a most suitable 

 place for the carrying on those scientific researches which are so intimately 

 connected with the objects of the British Association. 



'" During the past year, an application has been received by the Council 

 of the Association for a portion of the electrical apparatus belonging to the 

 Association for the use of the Observatory at Toronto. This application was 

 referred by the Council to the Committee. The following is an extract from 

 their Minutes, ^th August, 1853 : — ' Read a letter from Capt. Lefroy to Dr. 

 Royle, dated Woolwich, 21st July, 1853. Resolved, that as the electrical 

 apparatus referred to in Capt. Lefroy's letter is a portion of that constructed 

 by Mr. Ronalds for the carrying out of his original experiments in atmosphe- 

 rical electricity, and in which the British Association has always taken so 

 much interest, the Committee cannot recommend that any portion of it should 

 be withdrawn from the Observatory, more particularly as Mr. Ne^\ynan could 

 supply a more perfect apparatus under the superintendence of Mr. Ronalds 

 at a comparatively trifling cost.' 



" Part of the Government Grant placed at the disposal of the Royal Society 

 having been entrusted to the Meteorological Sub-Committee, they have been 

 enabled to prosecute their experiments for the improvement of meteorological 

 instruments, and have, in furtherance of this object, obtained from M. CErt- 

 ling a set of standard weights, made under the direction of Dr. Miller, with 

 especial reference to facility of intercomparison. They are now in the hands 

 of Prof. Miller, of Cambridge, for verification, and he expects in the course 

 of about a montli to have the trials of them complete. These weights con- 

 sist of the following — a standard pound of gun-metal thickly electro-gilt; a 

 set of weights for ordinary use made of the same material, viz. 

 1 of 7000 grains. 1 of 700 grains. 



1 „ 4000 „ 1 „ 400 „ 



1 „ 2000 „ 1 „ 200 „ 



2 „ 1000 „ 2 „ 100 „ 

 A set of platinum wire weights for the smaller subdivision — 



1 of 70 grs. 1 of 7 grs. 1 of •? gr. 1 of '07 gr. 



1 „ 40 „ 1 „ 4 „ 1 „ -4 „ 1 „ -04 „ 



1 „ 20 „ 1 „ 2 „ 1 „ -2 „ 1 „ -02 „ 



2 „ 10 „ 2 „ 1 „ 2 „ -1 „ 1 „ -01 „ 



The standard scale, prepared by Messrs. Troughton and Simms, is awaiting 

 Mr. Sheepshanks' leisure for comparison with the bars in his possession. This 



