502 DR. LAMONT ON THE MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY 
mined to present to His Majesty a memorial, showing the ad- 
vantages to science of our country furnishing a link in the chain 
of research which was to extend over all parts of the globe, and 
the simple arrangements which would be sufficient for the pur- 
pose. It was graciously accepted, and in January 1840 I received 
the order to commence the building. 
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria, 
who has during the present year instituted at his own expense 
inquiries relating to several branches of physical science, show- 
ing his princely liberality, and evincing in the choice of the sub- 
jects of investigation a knowledge of the progress of science which 
can only have been attained by deep study, testified his interest 
in the magnetic researches, by a spontaneous announcement of 
his intention of defraying from his own private funds the cost of 
an additional assistant during the continuance of these observa- 
tions, and has moreover assigned a further sum for the purpose 
of rendering the arrangements more complete in other respects. 
The preparations for the building of the Magnetic Observatory 
were made in the month of February, and as soon as the wood- 
work was nearly ready the excavation was begun. The clay, 
which extends over the whole district, was met with at the depth 
of 9 feet, and beneath the clay is gravel. Water does not begin 
to appear until a depth of 60 feet is reached. 
The accompanying ground-plan will best explain the arrange-~ 
ment of the building. 
ABC D is the 
magnetic observatory, 
which has the form 
of a cross; A B is in 
the direction of the 
magnetic meridian, 
and C D perpendicu- 
lar to it. The depth 
beneath the surface 
is 13 feet. The build- 
ing has a double wall 
of wood, the outer- 
most of which sup- 
ports the earth; in 
the intervening space 
(about 8 inches) is 
