KEW OBSERVATORY 169 



ments, until 1910. It ceased, however, before that 

 year, to be suitable for magnetic work, owing to 

 the disturbance caused by electric railways in the 

 vicinity, and for this purpose the new magnetic 

 observatory at Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire, took its 

 place. Meteorological research work continued at 

 Kew, and in 1910 the control both of this and of the 

 Eskdalemuir observatories passed to the Director of 

 the Meteorological Office. The testing of thermo- 

 meters, watches, and other instruments, however, 

 continued at Kew as it had under the Association's 

 regime until 1913, when this work was transferred 

 to Bushy House. But Kew Observatory still carries 

 on its meteorological work, rescued from extinction 

 by the British Association, whose action and expendi- 

 ture during those thirty years, 1842-72, not merely 

 ensured for the future the maintenance of an institu- 

 tion of prime interest in the history of scientific 

 research, but also led in direct line of succession to 

 the establishment of a most powerful instrument for 

 the advancement of science in the service of the State. 

 The establishment of the National Physical Labora- 

 tory was an important achievement by Science in 

 the education of the Government and the public, 

 and the use of the British Association as a mouthpiece 

 has never been more clearly demonstrated. 



