466 



intendence. They consider that the form of the observations re- 

 maining unaltered, and the principles of their reduction being now 

 rendered familiar, this would not be necessary, provided the original 

 observations were registered in triplicate, and the copies separately 

 deposited in different and secure custody for preservation and occa- 

 sional reference when required, and provided that sufficient and well- 

 digested abstracts of their reduced results were published. One series 

 of observations, however, they consider must be excepted from this 

 alteration of system, those of a continuous nature, made on term 

 days, FOUR of which per annum they desire to see still kept up, 

 and those taken on occasions of magnetic storms, when continuous 

 observation is substituted for that on the regular hourly intervals ; 

 for the treatment of such observations is still a matter of scientific 

 inquiry ; and to render them available, in comparison with others, 

 the complete register is indispensable. 



Your Committee cannot but contemplate a revival of active interest 

 and cooperative participation in the system of observation on the 

 part of our Colonial and of Foreign Governments, when once it shall 

 become known that the subject is resumed by our own Home Govern- 

 ment in the manner recommended. On this subject they beg to refer 

 to General Sabine's reply to their inquiries, already alluded to, which 

 places in a distinct point of view the expectations which may justly 

 be indulged on that score. In reference, moreover, to the personal 

 and material establishment at each of the Government observatories, 

 this document contains a summary of what is needed, and of what 

 ought to be applied for. 



And this leads your Committee to a point which they consider of 

 such importance to the success of the whole proceeding, that they 

 cannot help embodying their opinion on it in this Report. It is of 

 little avail to accumulate observations unless their effective and com- 

 plete reduction be provided for, and the assurance obtained that when 

 reduced they will undergo such discussion and scientific treatment as 

 shall elicit from them the laws of the phenomena of which they are 

 the records. The zeal and ability with which the present Superin- 

 tendent of the Government Magnetic and Meteorological Observa- 

 tories has hitherto executed this task, if extended to the new series 

 now called for, would afford that assurance in its fullest extent ; 

 and they earnestly trust that this will not be lost sight of in the 



