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the most remarkable magnetic phenomena revealed to us by modern 

 discoveries. 



Now these sudden changes are characterized by very large devia- 

 tions from the normal state. They are termed " Magnetic Storms." 

 It is found, however, that these storms occur more frequently at 

 certain hours of the day than at others, and are therefore themselves 

 subject to periodical laws. These laws have been worked out by 

 our able and persevering Treasurer, who has devoted, and with such 

 distinguished success, so much of his valuable time to this species of 

 research, and he finds that even these storms observe diurnal, annual, 

 and decennial periods. 



Several who are now present are aware how many years of laborious 

 toil have been expended in procuring these striking results. In various 

 places of our colonies and dependencies, at St. Helena, at Toronto, at 

 Hobarton, for example, officers and non-commissioned officers of the 

 Artillery, and officers of the Royal Navy were engaged hourly 

 through the day and night in watching the vibrations and angles 

 of small magnetic needles delicately suspended; a class of obser- 

 vations of a very tedious and exhausting description, and requiring 

 great patience, perseverance and accuracy. Still, undeterred by all 

 these difficulties, and often doubtless at great personal sacrifice, these 

 true votaries of science continued their anxious vigils. As the 

 observations were received by General Sabine, they were carefully 

 reduced and coordinated at an establishment organized by him at 

 Woolwich for that purpose. 



But while this was proceeding, there was, unknown to our magnetic 

 observers, another persevering enthusiast at work, whose labours were 

 destined to have an important relation to theirs. 



We must transport ourselves, in imagination, to the upper chamber 

 of a modest dwelling in an obscure town in Germany, in which an 

 old man has day by day for thirty long weary years been in the 

 habit of observing the sun through two small telescopes, placed in a 

 window overlooking the roofs of the houses. Every day, when the 

 luminary was visible, did this persevering observer, Schwabe by name, 

 survey its face, and note down the appearances of its disk. In this 

 way he obtained a faithful record of the configuration of the spots 

 during the whole of this long period. Science presents few examples 

 of such unwearied concentration of attention on one object. Often, 



