xliv REPORT 1860. 



In the meteorological department, all the barometers, thermometers, and 

 hydrometers required by the Board of Trade and the Admiralty have their 

 corrections determined; besides which, similar instruments are verified for 

 opticians. Standard thermometers also are graduated, and daily meteoro- 

 logical observations are made, an abstract of which is published in the 

 ' Illustrated London News.' 



Instruction is also given in the use of instruments to officers in the army 

 or navy, or other scientific men who obtain permission from the Committee. 



All this amount of work, it is believed, can be executed by the present 

 staff, consisting of the superintendi nt, three assistants (magnetical, mecha- 

 nical, and meteorological), and a boy; but the expense attending it is greater 

 than the present income of the Observatory, furnished by the British Asso- 

 ciation, will support. 



In the resolution of the British Association of the 14th September, 1859, 

 it was recommended to Government, at the instance of the joint committee of 

 the Royal Society and British Association, that the sum of £350 per annum 

 should be placed at the disposal of the general superintendent of the mag- 

 netical observations ; this sum was intended to have defrayed the expenses 

 attending the magnetical department of the Observatory and the observa- 

 tions of the sun's spots. It will be seen, however, from the correspondence 

 contained in an earlier part of this Report, that this source of income is not 

 yet available. 



John P. Gassiot, 

 June 18, 1860. Chairman. 



Report of the Parliamentary Committee to the Meeting of the British 

 Association at Oxford in June 1860. 



The Parliamentary Committee have the honour to report as follows: — 

 No subject of sufficient importance to require any especial notice has occu- 

 pied their attention during the past year, nor indeed was there any matter 

 referred to them at the last Meeting of the Association. 



There are now either two or three vacancies in that portion of the Com- 

 mittee which represents the House of Commons, according as it shall be de- 

 termined whether the vacancy caused in that Section by Lord de Grey's 

 taking his seat in the House of Lords is or is not to be filled up, 



Wrottesley, Chairman. 

 May 28, 1860. 



