442 Anniversary Meeting. [Dec. 1, 



The erection and equipment of the Observatory have cost more 

 than 5,OOOJ. ; and, in connexion with the observations carried on at tho 

 top of the mountain, others have been daily made near the sea-level 

 at Fort William. A first report on these conjoint high and low level 

 observations, which began in 1881, has been prepared by Mr. Buchan.* 

 The monthly normals for atmospheric pressure and temperature have 

 been approximately determined for the Observatory. Important 

 results have also been obtained relating to the decrement of tem- 

 perature with height, for different months of the year and hours of 

 the day, the diurnal variations of the wind's velocity, the very large 

 increase in the rainfall on and near the summit, and the altogether 

 unexpected hygrometric conditions of the air in their relation to the 

 cyclones and anti-cyclones of north-western Europe. 



Another of the funds at our disposal, the Scientific Relief Fund, 

 requires a few words of mention. Its resources have been con- 

 siderably enriched during the past year by the legacy of 1,0007. from 

 Sir William Siemens, and nearly 50Z. from the medals offered by the 

 executors of the late Sir E. Sabine ; and the legacy of l.OOOZ. from the 

 late Mr. Bentham will, it is hoped, ere long be received ; but even with 

 these munificent additions the income of the fund will amount to only 

 250Z. per annum, while last year the calls upon it amounted, I regret to 

 say, to no less than 450i. The incalculable value of such a fund to men 

 of science or their families requiring temporary aid mxist be apparent 

 to all, and looking at the unfortunate necessity for its existence which 

 the calls upon it prove, I venture to commend it to your support. It 

 will, perhaps, not be out of place here to say a few words with regard 

 to the administration of this fund, the existence of which dates from 

 1859, and is in a great degree due to the exertions of the late Mr. 

 Gassiot. The Council of the Royal Society takes charge of any sums 

 contributed to the fund and invests them, applying the interest iu 

 grants for the relief of such scientific men or their families as may 

 from time to time require or deserve assistance. These grants are, 

 however, made only on the recommendation of a committee of seven 

 members who investigate the cases before them, and applications for 

 relief cannot be entertained except on the recommendation of the 

 President of one of the following chartered societies, the Astronomical, 

 Chemical, Geographical, Geological, Linneau, Royal, and Zoological 

 Societies. Since January, 1861, when the first grant was made, the 

 total number of grants is eighty-eight, and the total sum distributed 

 4.340Z. 



Our Donation Fund has also proved of much service, and several of 



the applications for comparatively small amounts, which were referred 



by the Government Grant Committee for the consideration of the 



Council of the Royal Society, were met by grants from this source. 



" Journ. of the Scottish Meteorol. Soc.," 3rd Series, No. 1 (1884), p. 4. 



