REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. XXXI 



scale is composed of a brass rolled bar, about 41 inches long, 1^ inch wide, 

 and half an inch thick — the standard 3'ard is laid down between two gold 

 pins, inserted for the purpose, and the interval of 36 inches is marked off on 

 them by two fine lines ; near an edge of the bar, 40 inches subdivided into 

 tenths, have been marked off, and one-tenth has further been divided into 

 hundredths of an inch. 



" Application having been made from the Hydrographer to the Admiralty 

 for advice as to the thermometers to be supplied to Her Majesty's Navy for 

 meteorological observations to be made at sea, the Committee have under- 

 taken to recommend and provide a specimen of the form of instrument they 

 consider best adapted for the purpose, and experiments are now being made 

 by Mr. Welsh, with this object in view. 



" Lieut. Maury, of the United States Navy, has also requested the opinion 

 of the Committee upon the best form of a Marine Barometer, and the subject 

 is now under their consideration. 



" The Standard Barometer is not as yet mounted, but two tubes of an inch 

 in internal diameter, have been boiled at the Observatory, by Messrs. Negretti 

 and Zambra, under the inspection of the Committee, and the mounting is 

 shortly expected to be completed. 



" The Committee cannot close their report without expressing their high 

 estimation of Mr. Welsh's services. The constant and unremitting attention 

 to his duties, combined with the ability he has always evinced in their dis- 

 charge, entitle him to the warmest thanks and individual support of every 

 member of the British Association. 



" John P. Gassiot, 



" Chairman." 



Report of the Parliamentary Committee of the British Asso- 

 ciation, TO the Meeting held at Hull, in September 1853. 



" The Parliamentary Committee have the honour to report as follows: — 



" The subjects to which the attention of the Committee has been directed, 

 since the date of their last Report, are — 



" 1. The extravagant rates of postage charged on the transmission of pre- 

 sentation copies of scientific works to correspondents in foreign parts ; and 



" 2. Lieut. Maury's Scheme for the improvement of Navigation. 



'* As to the first, Mr. Heywood moved, in the House of Commons, for a 

 copy of the return, which has been already printed by order of the House of 

 Lords, on the motion of Lord Wrottesley, showing the great amount of the 

 rates now levied on the postage of letters to foreign countries (and such 

 communications as those above alluded to can only be sent as letters by the 

 existing regulation), and the same return was produced and printed accord- 

 ingly. This return is No. 32 of the sessional papers of the House of Lords, 

 and No. 142 of those of the House of Commons. 



" Your Committee likewise solicited and obtained an interview with the 

 Postmaster-General, on the 13th of July, and directed his attention to the 

 statements contained in the letter to Lord Malmesbury, of last year, on this 

 subject, and to the facts disclosed by the above-mentioned returns ; and a letter 

 was subsequently written at Lord Canning's request, embodying in writing 

 the observations which had been already addressed to him orally in this be- 

 half. Lord Canning seemed to admit the hardship of the case, and the fol- 

 lowing letter, which was afterwards received from Colonel Maberly, contains 

 the substance of the answer given by him to the Deputation : — 



