TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 49 



sisted of three levers ; by pressing them down steel springs moved along a veiy 

 short, or along longer sheets of conducting material, and formed thus three signs 

 of different lengihs. Yet there was a certain time required to work the three keys ; 

 to obviate it, and to put the telegraphist entirely at his ease as to the speed attain- 

 able for him, and to obtain in such a manner the highest speed possible ^ I con- 

 structed the key in another manner. 



A clockwork arrangement moves a small wooden cylinder, whose steel axis is 

 attached to it by a handle, and rotates with great velocity, the rate of velocity 

 being accurately indicated by sounding a small bell as often in a second as the 

 cylinder will revolve in the same time. 



The wooden cylinder bears three thin circular disks of brass attached to the 

 steel axis of the cylinder ; these disks are differently cut out, in such a manner that 

 the first is a full circle of 300°, the second a sector of nearly 120^, the rest of the 

 circle being covered with an insulating material, viz. wood or india-rubber, to pre- 

 vent metallic contact. 



The third disk is only a segment of 10°, the rest being cut out and covered with 

 the insulating material. 



Three levers, put in front of the three disks, bear on their ends platinum wires or 

 plates that touch the disks during one revolution of the cylinder when pressed 

 down. 



From the levers a conducting-plate, uniting them, leads to the printing apparatus, 

 and the levers are reduced to their former position by strong steel springs, so that 

 they regain rapidly their positions after the pressure of the finger has ceased. What- 

 ever be the velocity of the paper and the rollers, and the clockwork moving it, the 

 relative length of the sizes and their distances remain imalterably the same. 



In the model presented to the General Post Office, the motion endures for 15 

 minutes, and, being only a model, it is worked hy a spring, and it has no rollers for 

 the paper. 



In the working apparatus for telegraphic use, the rollers and whole printing ap- 

 paratus are attached to the key, and the same clockwork moves both the rollers 

 and the rotating cylinder, forming thus only one apparatus together. From that 

 contrivance we obtain : — 



1. A quite equal distance between the signs, as in printing. 



2. By putting the fans of the clockwork in differently inclined positions, the 

 velocity may be carried to as great an extent as a clever clerk can manage it. 



.3. By using three signs instead of two, the signs for letters, figm-es, and phrases 

 are reduced about one-third, and as much of time and space is spared. 



Meteoeologt. 



On the Importance of the Azores as a Meteor ohg leal Station. 

 By Dr. Buys Ballot. 



In this paper the author classed his remarks under three heads : — (1) as to the 

 importance of the station ; (2) as to the present condition of the question of its esta- 

 blishmentj (.3) what remains to be done. He showed that, although we have very 

 copious results of observations made by vessels crossing the ^ arious oceans in all 

 directions, there is great deficiency of actual observations at fixed points. After 

 pointing out the very important position occupied by the Azores, as illustrated by 

 the researches of Mr. Buchau and Prof. Mohn with reference to the normal tracks 

 of European storms, and also in their lying so completely in the path of merchant 

 vessels, Dr. Ballot explained that about five years ago he submitted to the 

 Biitish Admiralty a proposal for establishing a chain of barometric stations in tho 

 S. and W. of the British Isles, and at the Azores, and obtaining meteorological 

 reports from thence. In April 1806 he applied to the Portugue.se Government 

 and to various learned meteorologists ; and the Director of the Lisbon Observatory 

 has been to Holland to consult Dr. Ballot on the subject. 



A concession has been granted for the laying of a cable to the Azores ; a learned 

 1871. 4 



