465 



only to a want of attention to some point of diplomatic form in its 

 mode of communication), we should then have a chain of stations in 

 high northern latitudes, the results obtained at which being severally 

 brought into comparison with those already procured at Point Bar- 

 row, and with each other, could hardly fail of bringing out some very 

 positive conclusion. 



As regards the proposal for a station at the Falkland Isles, it is 

 presumed, from the general course of the magnetic line of minimum 

 intensity, that this station will prove, in analogy to the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and in contrast with the northern stations recommended, to 

 have the character of an equatorial, or approximate equatorial, station; 

 and in respect to that proposed in China, that it will complete and 

 carry round the globe the chain of northern middle latitude stations, 

 the intermediate links being supplied by the Russian observatories, 

 and by those which it is hoped may be established at the North 

 Cape and at Toronto. As regards the Falkland Isles and Newfound- 

 land, it should be noticed that there exist considerable facilities and 

 conveniences for the comfortable establishment of an observatory 

 there ; and in respect of the other two, it may be remarked, that they 

 are both points of great present interest, and that a determination of 

 the meteorological as well as magnetic peculiarities of both would be 

 important. The affections of a telegraphic wire by electric discharges 

 in the nature of Aurora Borealis have already attracted attention, and 

 produced confusion in the ordinary use of such wires, and constitute 

 one of the motives for inquiry into the nature and laws of the so- 

 called magnetic storms. It may also be observed that, in reference 

 to the anomalistic equation of the sun's magnetic intensity, or the 

 effect of its annual approach and recess due to the ellipticity of the 

 earth's orbit, the influence of local temperature upon the observations 

 requires to be eliminated, in order to bring this effect into evidence, 

 by a combination of the results obtained at stations whose seasons 

 are opposite. 



In reference to the important consideration of keeping down as 

 much as possible the outlay consequent on the establishment of these 

 observatories, your Committee have given attention to the question 

 whether it be desirable to continue, as heretofore, the printing of the 

 observations in extenso a measure resulting in the production of vast 

 and costly volumes, and entailing a great amount of laborious super- 



