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might be applied to their original purpose. The re-establishment 

 of magnetic observatories in the British Colonies might furnish a 

 favourable occasion for reviving, in concert with M. Hansteen, a 

 proposition for an observatory at the North Cape, which seems to 

 have failed on the former occasion rather from an accident than 

 from any real difficulty in the matter itself. 



M. Secchi, of the Observatory of the Collegio Romano at Rome, 

 has recently been supplied from Kew, at the expense of the Papal 

 Government, with a complete equipment of magnetical instruments, 

 similar to those which have done such good work in the British 

 Colonial establishments. With the encouragement derived from the 

 revival of active measures here, M. Secchi might hope to obtain the 

 aid which he desires, in the way of temporary assistance, to enable 

 him to carry out the complete system of observation, for which he is 

 already provided with the instrumental means. 



The concert which has prevailed between Russia and England in 

 magnetic operations, gives reason to hope that renewed activity here 

 might so far strengthen M. KupfFer's hands, as to enable him to 

 carry out efficiently the hourly system of the three elements, at one 

 at least of the stations in Eastern Siberia, the probable importance 

 of which can scarcely be overrated. 



A meteorological observatory has recently been instituted at Ha- 

 vanna, and the director, M. Poey, has proposed to the Cuban autho- 

 rities the purchase of magnetical instruments, to be prepared at Kew, 

 and a sufficient increase of assistants to provide for observations to 

 be made with them. M. Poey is active and intelligent, and has 

 recently visited the principal magnetic institutions in Europe. He 

 would not fail to avail himself of the support which his proposition 

 would derive from the measures which might be taken here. 



The Regents of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, have 

 agreed to allot a portion of their funds to a magnetic observatory ; 

 but neither the instruments nor the system of observation have yet 

 been determined : their decision might probably be hastened by the 

 knowledge that active measures are in progress here. 



Viewing the necessity of resorting to means of securing and ascer- 

 taining a precise correspondence between the magnetical and meteoro- 

 logical instruments which may come to be used in these operations, 

 or in cooperation with them in other quarters, as well as their exact 



