] 4 2 POPULAR LECTURES AND ADDRESSES. 



individual Fellows of the Royal Society and 

 Members of the British Association gave the initial 

 impulse, supplied the necessary initial funds, and 

 recommended their new institution successfully to 

 the fostering care of the British Association. The 

 work of the Kew Observatory has, from the 

 commencement, been conducted under the 

 direction of a Committee of the British Asso- 

 ciation ; and annual grants from the funds of the 

 Association have been made towards defraying its 

 expenses up to the present time. To the initial 

 object of pendulum research was added continuous 

 observation of the phenomena of meteorology and 

 terrestrial magnetism, and the construction and 

 verification of thermometers, barometers, and 

 magnetometers designed for accurate measure- 

 ment. The magnificent services which it has 

 rendered to science are so well known that any 

 statement of them which I could attempt on the 

 nt occasion would be superfluous. Their 

 value is due in a great measure to the indefatigable 

 /.cal and the great ability of two Scotchmen, both 

 from Kdinburgh, who successively held the office 

 of Superintendent of the Observatory of the British 



