KBPORT OP THE KEW COMMITTEE. XXXVU 



stated the present tenure with the Crown would cease, and it being then 

 considered, that at the teniiination of the agreement arrangements might be 

 made with the Crown for the use of this suiall portion of the ground ; this, 

 however, is now found to be impracticable : the Commissioner having sub- 

 sequently informed the Committee that he has no intention to determine 

 the present tenancy of the Park, the Committee are therefore precluded 

 from becoming the direct tenants from the Crown, even at a rental (see 

 Letter, llth April, 1855); and consequently they must either continue to 

 pay the present exorbitant rent of f 10 lO*. per acre, or give up the land 

 to the tenant, although an expense of £4'8 in fencing, and nearly ^50 in the 

 erection of a magnetical house, has been incurred. 



In respect to the lighting of the Observatory with gas, the Committee 

 consider that it is highly desirable that this should be effected ; for, exclusive 

 of the increase in the general scientific work carried on in the Observatory, 

 the constant attention requisite in the verification of the barometers and 

 thermometers for the use of H.M. Navy and the Mercantile Marine, ren- 

 ders a more perfect and uniform system of lighting highly desirable, as also 

 avoiding the danger of fire by the use of oil lamps. 



The Committee having at last ascertained, by correspondence, that the 

 Observatory and the Park are under the control of separate Boards, the Ob- 

 servatory being under the direction of the Commissioners of Parks, Palaces, 

 and Public Buildings, while the Park is under that of the Woods, Forests, and 

 Land Revenues, applied to the Chief Commissioner of the latter department, to 

 ascertain whether he would grant permission to lay down the gas-pipes in the 

 Park, and whether any, and what, amount of compensation would have to be 

 paid to the tenant who rents the land ; by the correspondence it will be seen 

 that no compensation will be required, if the gas-pipes are laid down during 

 the winter, and that the Chief Commissioner will not object, provided the 

 Association will undertake to pay a nominal rent of is. per annum. 



The Committee have ascertained that the cost of laying down the gas to 

 the Observatory would be about £220, and in the event of its being considered 

 advisable, all that will now be necessary to obtain is the sanction of the 

 officer of the Parks, Palaces, and Public Buildings department, who has 

 charge of the district, and whose name and address the Committee will 

 endeavour to ascertain. John P. Gassiot, 



Chairman. 



Supplementary Report of the Kew Committee, September 12, 1855. 



In addition to the report presented to the Council on June 27, a copy of 

 which is appended, your Committee have now to report that a tube of 

 rather more than one inch internal diameter having been satisfactorily filled 

 with mercury by Mr. Welsh, the standard barometer has been now completed. 

 A detailed account of the various experiments which have been made during 

 the construction of this instrument will be prepared for publication. 



The following statement shows the actual number of meteorological in- 

 struments verified at the Kew Observatory during the past year: — 



Thermometers. Barometers. Hydrometers. 

 For the United States Government .... 1000 50 



„ Admiralty and Board of Trade. . 1340 200 1269 



„ Opticians 180 7 



Total 2520 257 1269 



