REPORT OF THE KEW COMMITTEE. xUu 



6. Mr. Gassiot to the Hon. Sir William Molesworth, Bart. 



" Clapham Common, 26th May, 1855. 



"Sir, — On the 20th of last March, by the direction of the Kew 

 Committee of the British Association, I addressed a letter to the Hon. Charles 

 Gore, Chief Commissioner of H.M. Woods, Forests, and Land Revenue 

 Department, of which the following are extracts : — 



" ' You are, I believe, aware, that some years since H.M. Government 

 placed the Observatory, in the Old Deer Park at Richmond, at the disposal 

 of the British Association, with the view of its being used not only for the 

 deposit of the various scientific instruments and apparatus, as well as books 

 belonging to the Association, but also for the carrying on of various scientific 

 experimental investigations. 



" * Much inconvenience has arisen in the prosecution of the latter, from 

 the Observatory not being properly lighted, and I have been requested by 

 the Committee to suggest to you the advisability of the interior of the 

 Building being lighted with gas. 



" ' Exclusive of the desirableness of the gas being laid on, as has been 

 done in the Magnetic and Electrical Department of the Royal Observatory 

 at Greenwich Park, and in the event of which the Committee would be 

 enabled to carry out a variety of scientific investigations which they are now 

 totally prevented from commencing, I may state that the increased require- 

 ments arising from the number of Barometers and Thermometers which are 

 at present in course of verification for the use of H.M. Navy and Mercantile 

 Marine, has rendered it indispensable that a corresponding increase should 

 be made in the number of oil lamps, and the Committee cannot but be 

 sensible that in a Building in which so large a quantity of papers and books 

 is distributed, a corresponding increase in,the danger of fire has arisen ; this 

 would be entirely obviated by the introduction of gas into the Building. 



" 'Limited as are the funds which are at the disposal of the Association, 

 the expense of the gas proposed to be used would be defrayed by the Com- 

 mittee, and all they ask is that it should be laid on in the different rooms ; 

 the Committee hope that as no pecuniary assistance is received by the Asso- 

 ciation from H.M. Government, and that as the exertions of the Committee 

 have latterly been devoted to the great national object of verifying the meteo- 

 rological instruments used by H.M. Navy, this request will not be refused. 



" ' I am also directed to acquaint you, that the Committee consider it 

 desirable the building should be examined by your Surveyor, as some repairs 

 are required, which if not made at an early period, may ultimately cause 

 considerable expense to the Government.' 



" On the 27th March, Mr. Gore replied, stating ' that the Building of the 

 Observatory being under the charge of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's 

 Works, any communication respecting its condition, or as to lighting it with 

 gas, should be made to that department, at No. 12, Whitehall Place, and I have 

 therefore transmitted copy of those portions of your letter which have 

 reference to that Building to that Office.' 



" Nearly two months having elapsed without being favoured with any 

 communication from you, I have been directed by the Committee to state, 

 that they should feel obliged by your informing them whether their request 

 can be complied with : 1 may add, that, in respect to the repairs, these are 

 absolutely necessary, in order to pi'event a much larger outlay at no great 

 distance of time. " I have the honour to be. Sir, 



" Your obedient Servant, 

 (Signed) " John P. Gassiot." 



