XXxii REPORT — 1861. 



magnetism by the Committee engaged in tlie preparation of electrical stand- 

 ards, who have found it desirable, for some of their experiments, to ascer- 

 tain the contemporaneous readings of the Declination Magnetograph. 



The following papers ha\iug reference to Kew Observatory have been 

 communicated to the Eoyal Society by Major- General Sabine, President of 

 that body : — 



1. Results of hourly Observations of the Magnetic Declination made by 

 Sir Francis Leopold M'^Clintock, li.N., and the Officers of the Yacht ' Fox,' 

 at Port Kennedy in the Arctic Sea, in the Winter of 1858-59 ; and a Com- 

 parison of these Results with those obtained by Captain Maguire, R.N. and 

 the Officers of H.M.S. ' Plover,' in 1852, 1853, and 1854, at Point Barrow. 



2. A Comparison of the most notable Disturbances of the Magnetic Declina- 

 tion in 1858 and 1859 at Kew and Ncrtschinsk ; preceded by a brief Retro- 

 spective View of the Progress of the Investigation into the Laws and Causes 

 of the Magnetic Disturbances. 



A Table of the Mean Declination of the Magnet in each Decade from 

 January 1858 to December 1863, derived from the Observations made at 

 the Magnetic Observatory at Lisbon, has been dra-wn up by Senhor da Sil- 

 veira. Director of that Observatory. 



This Table exhibits the semiannual inequality to which that element is 

 subject at Lisbon, and which is of the same nature as that derived from the 

 Kew photographs by General Sabine. 



Mr. Stewart, Superintendent of the Kew Observatory, in conjunction 

 with Senhor CapeUo of the Lisbon Observatory, has communicated to the 

 Royal Societj' a paper, entitled " Results of a Comparison of certain Traces 

 produced simultaneously by the Self-recording Magnctographs at Kew and at 

 Lisbon, especially of those which record the Magnetic Disturbance of July 15, 

 1863." 



Mr. Stewart has likewise communicated to the same Society two short 

 papers, one " On the Sudden Squalls of 30th October and 21st ]S"ovember 

 1863," and another, entitled " Remarks on Sun-Spots." He has also com- 

 municated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh a paper on " Sun-Spots, and 

 their Connexion with Planetary Configurations." 



Mr. A. H. Burgess, M.A., being desirous to obtain magnetical instruction, 

 is at present visiting the Observatory for the purpose of acquainting himself 

 with our method of observation. 



The Meteorological work of the Observatory is now performed by Mr. 

 Thomas Baker, who likewise takes charge of the photographic department 

 connected with the self-recording instruments, and executes botli offices very 

 satisfactorily. 



During the past year 97 Barometers 

 „ „ „ 389 Thermometers 



have been verified, and five Standard Thermometers have been supplied to 

 men of science and opticians. A set of weights, a standai'd scale, and a 

 measure of capacity have likewise been verified. The Self-recording Baro- 

 graph continues in constant operation. Through an ingenious suggestion of 

 Mr. Beckley traces in duplicate have been obtained, and one of these has been 

 regularly forwarded to Admiral FitzRoy. 



The Self-recording Electrometer of Professor W. Thomson has continued in 

 constant operation until the beginning of August, when it was sent to the 

 optician for repairs. 



The arrangements at the Observatory for testing Sextants remain as before. 



