598 



permit to those describing Sir George Everest's operations and 

 results, and in sufficient number (say 500 copies) to allow of their 

 being presented to all the known Libraries, Academies, and Obser- 

 vatories of importance, throughout the world. 



8. The Committee unhesitatingly express their opinion that the 

 expense attending all the recommendations which they have made 

 would be small in comparison with the scientific value of the result. 

 And even in the event of ulterior operations (to which they proceed 

 to allude) being ultimately sanctioned, the adoption of the course 

 which they have recommended would give valuable facilities. 



9. The Committee think it right, however, to call the attention of 

 the President and Council to the general quality of Colonel Lambton's 

 Surveys, which, though executed with the greatest care and ability, 

 were carried on under serious difficulties, and at a time when instru- 

 mental appliances were far less complete than at present. There is 

 no doubt that at the present time the Surveys admit of being im- 

 proved in every part. The Standards of length are better ascer- 

 tained than formerly, and all uncertainty on the unit of measure 

 can be removed. The base-measuring apparatus can be improved. 

 The instruments for horizontal angles used by Colonel Lambton were 

 inferior to those now in use ; and one of them was most severely in- 

 jured by an accidental blow, the result of which was more distinctly 

 injurious because the circle was read by only two microscopes. 

 Allusion has already been made to the circumstances of observation 

 affecting the altitude of stations. Though, the astronomical obser- 

 vations were probably good for their age, yet new observations con- 

 ducted with such instruments and on such principles as those adopted 

 by Sir George Everest would undoubtedly be better. The Com- 

 mittee therefore express their strong hope that the whole of Colonel 

 Lambton's Survey may be repeated with the best modern appliances. 

 The expense of such a work would be considerable ; but no Arc of 

 Meridian yet measured has such claims on the attention of the pa- 

 trons of science as the Indian Arc, from its proximately equatorial 

 position, and from its anomalies and the reference of them to the 

 attraction of the Himalaya Mountains. 



" G. B. AIEY. 

 " W. H. MILLEE. 

 "G. G. STOKES." 



