146 REPORT — 1844. 



raents steadily maintained at every hour of the day and night could not fail 

 to accomplish the solution of many problems in vain attempted by a large 

 expenditure of desultory labour. The mean quantities, the diurnal and an- 

 nual variations of the temperature, pressure of the gaseous atmosphere, and 

 tension of the aqueous vapour, with their many concurrent circumstances of 

 wind and weather, must be determined with no remaining uncertainty for 

 each station, if the system be continued in operation for a sufficient time. 

 The definite and conclusive character of the meteorological results obtained 

 by the system of observation which we have adopted, appears to be strongly 

 in favour of the extension of the system. By the comparison of such defi- 

 nite conclusions obtained in different parts of the world, by their points of 

 agreement and of difference, reasonable expectations may be cherished that we 

 shall speedily be enabled to advance the science of meteorology to a degree 

 unexpected at the commencement of these operations. That the spirit to ac- 

 complish this is alive, and that an organization has now been established and 

 is recognised, by which a proper direction and guidance may be supplied to 

 that which individual zeal is desirous to effect, will appear from a considera- 

 tion of what has passed Avith respect to the establishment of observatories in 

 Ceylon, Newfoundland and elsewhere. 



New Series of Observations at Fixed Stations proposed or recently commenced. 



As regards the first of the above-named stations (Ceylon), a proposal Avas 

 submitted in April of the current year to the Governor of that colony by 

 Captain Pickering of the Royal Artillery, and Dr. Templeton, Assistant- 

 surgeon R.A. (the former of whom had been instructed in the nature of the 

 observations and the use of the instruments at Woolwich), for the establish- 

 ment of a magnetic and meteorological observatory at Columbo in that 

 island, a station of obvious interest and importance. The proposal was most 

 favourably received by His Excellency, who recommended it to the favourable 

 consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with the additional 

 suggestion of an astronomical observatory, declaring his readiness, if approved, 

 to devote to it local funds adequate to its maintenance in activity, if once esta- 

 blished and furnished with instruments. The subject is at present under the 

 consideration of government, and a subject of official correspondence ; and 

 in case of a favourable issue, the Royal Society have been applied to for the 

 loan of the magnetometers prepared at the cost of the Wollaston fund for the 

 Hammerfest Observatory, which have never been claimed by the Nor- 

 wegian government, and which station is for the present to be regarded as in 

 abeyance. 



A similar arrangement is in progress for Newfoundland, and indeed more 

 advanced, the magnetical and meteorological instruments having been sent 

 there, with a company of artillery proceeding on their tour of service, one of 

 the officers of which, Lieut. Brittingham, has been instructed in their use, and 

 will remain at that very important station probably for some years. Some 

 small expenditure for instruments may possibly have to be defrayed from the 

 grant of the Association to this Committee at a future stage of the business. 



During the printing of this report a prospect has been opened, through the 

 intervention of Sir William Colebrooke, Governor of New Brunswick, seconded 

 by the representations of Capt.Owen, R.N., of the establishment of an observa- 

 tory at Frederictown in that colony, a station remarkable for its brilliant aurora 

 borealis, of which we hope to have further mention to make in a future report. 



Arrangements are also in progress, and with good prospect, for a meteoro- 

 logical and in part magnetical station at the Azores. 



The German apparatus belonging to the British Association has been 



