xxxiv REPORT — 1860. 



The open roof will be covered by canvas when the observatory is not in use ; 

 and when in use, the canvas will be drawn back, so as to form an outer casing 

 at some little distance from the wall of the photographic room ; and, in order 

 to keep this room as cool as possible, the canvas will, in case of need, be kept 

 wetted. 



The chemicals and chemical apparatus will be packed in duplicate sets, so 

 as to provide as far as possible against the contingency of loss, by breakage 

 or otherwise, of a part of them. 



Mr. Downes, of the firm of Cundall and Downes of Bond Street, has 

 promised to accompany the expedition ; Mr. Beckley will also go ; and Mr. 

 De la Rue has engaged Mr. Reynolds to assist in the erection of the observa- 

 tory in Spain, and in the subsequent photographic operations. 



The Admiralty, on the representation of the Astronomer Royal, have pro- 

 vided a steam-ship to convey this and other astronomical expeditions to Bil- 

 bao and Santander. It is proposed that the Kew party should land at Bilbao 

 and proceed to Miranda. Mr. Vignoles, who is constructing the Tudela and 

 Bilbao railway, has kindly promised his aid and that of his staff of assist- 

 ants, to promote the objects of the expedition, and promises, on behalf of the 

 contractors, the use of horses and carts for the conveyance of the apparatus. 

 The expedition will sail from Portsmouth on the 7th of July; and, should the 

 weather prove favourable, there is reasonable hope that the various phases 

 of the eclipse will be successfully photographed. Whether the light of the 

 corona and red prominences will be sufficiently bright to impress their images, 

 when magnified to four inches in diameter, is a problem to be solved only by 

 direct experiment. 



Professor William Thomson (of Glasgow) having expressed a desire that 

 the practical utility of his self-recording electrometer should be tried at Kew, 

 his wish has been acceded to and the instrument received, and it is expected 

 that it will shortly be in operation under his direction. 



A Report has been completed by the Superintendent on the results of the 

 Magnetic Survey of Scotland and the adjacent islands in the years 1857 and 

 1858, undertaken by the late Mr. Welsh. This Report is printed in the 

 Transactions of the British Association for 1859. 



The following correspondence has taken place between General Sabine 

 and the Rev. William Scott, Director of the Sydney Observatory : — 



" Observatory, Sydney, March 2, 18G0. 



" Sir, — The great interest which you take in the promotion of Magnetical 

 Science encourages me to address you on the subject of the establishment of 

 a Magnetical Observatory at Sydney. The report which I send you by this 

 mail will explain to you the character and position of the Astronomical Ob- 

 servatory under my direction. 



" I am convinced that an application to our Government, from influential 

 persons at home, for the establishment of magnetical observations on not 

 too expensive a scale, would be readily attended to. I am not practically 

 acquainted with any magnetical observatory, with the exception of that at 

 Greenwich, and am ignorant of the cost of a set of instruments, and the 

 exact amount of space required for working them ; but I believe we could 

 find sufficient room in the observatory without any additional building; they 

 would be under my own supervision, and all that would be required would 

 be an additional assistant, to share with myself and my one assistant in 

 observing and computing. The Governor-General, Sir W. Denison, would, 

 though powerless as regards public money, exert his influence in favour of 

 such an object. 



