410 



when, in effect, the expectations from them were little more than 

 the anticipations of what a voyage of discovery upon an unknown 

 ocean might produce, the propriety of embarking upon such inves- 

 tigations was thus unhesitatingly affirmed, how much more confidently 

 may the duty of perseverance be insisted upon, when the results of 

 the first experiment have already more than realized the hopes which 

 caused it to be undertaken. They have indeed confirmed the belief 

 that " the gigantic problem proposed to be resolved " is of a nature 

 to yield in its full extent only to "continued and persevering inquiry ; " 

 but at the same time they may be said, in a certain sense, to have 

 narrowed the field of inquiry, by showing more distinctly than was 

 previously apprehended, both what is desired to be known, and how 

 and where it is to be sought. If the history of magnetical science 

 is to be something more than a fragment, the research must be per- 

 severed in. 



In considering the means by which the researches thus opened out 

 may be most advantageously prosecuted, it is natural that we should 

 look, in the first instance, to the adoption, at other selected stations, 

 of arrangements similar to those which were instituted at the stations 

 which were chosen for a first, and as it has proved, successful expe- 

 riment ; and with this view I may be permitted to restate the opi- 

 nions which I submitted to the Magnetical and Meteorological Con- 

 ference at Cambridge in 1845, as all that has since taken place has 

 served to confirm them. 



" Before I close this communication, I wish to advert to the ex- 

 pediency of extending the system of observation now in operation at 

 Toronto, St. Helena, and the Cape of Good Hope, to other of the 

 British Colonies, where the same objects can be accomplished in an 

 equally effective and economical manner. 



"In cases where the institution of similar establishments is 

 strongly urged by the Governor of a Colony, where competent per- 

 sons are present and disposed to superintend the observations, and 

 where soldiers of the Artillery are stationed whose services may be 

 available, and whose employment has been shown to be economical 

 and effective in a high degree in the execution of a laborious and 

 exact routine of observation, there is wanting only a supply of in- 

 struments, the temporary allotment of a building to contain them, 

 extra pay, such as the individuals at the above-named Observatories 



