REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. xlvii 



The results for Dip obtainable with the Kew Dip instruments are un- 

 doubtedly more consistent and more certain than I had supposed them to be. 

 In considering the possible cause of this difference in the phenomena of 

 the two sets of needles, I am led to the strong belief that it is not in any way 

 mechanical. The mechanical structure and treatment is the same. I am 

 inclined to suppose that it depends on the original quality and the subsequent 

 tempering of the steel. I am not aware that the Kew Committee have 

 published anything on this point. 



I am, my dear Sir, 



Yours very truly, 

 John P. Gassiot, Esq., (Signed) G. B. Airy. 



Chairman of the Kew Committee. 



Report of the Parliamentary Committee to the Meeting of the British 

 Association at Bath, September 186-1. 



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



The Dukes of Devonshire and Argyll, the Earls of Harrowby and Ennis- 

 killen, and Sir John Pakingtou, have vacated their seats, but youi* Committee 

 recommend their re-election. 



Your Committee recommend that the Vacancy in the House of Commons' 

 List be supplied by the election of Mr. Goschen. 



Your Committee suggest that they should be permitted to propose for 

 Election Members of either House of Parliament, in addition to the thirteen 

 Members now constituting their Committee, whenever such addition may 

 appear desirable. 



These additional Members might be considered as Supernumerary, and any 

 Vacancy ia the Supernumerary List supplied, or not, as may be thought ex- 

 pedient, when the Vacancy occurs. 



Your Committee also recommend that a Resolution, passed at Liverpool in 

 1854, be rescinded, and the following substituted : — 



" That any Member of the Parliamentary .(Committee, who shall not attend 

 any one of four consecutive Meetings of that Committee, shall be considered 

 as having resigned, but shall be eligible for re-election." 



No subject was referred to your Committee at Newcastle, but several of its 

 Members have supported, or signified their intention to support, the valuable 

 suggestion of the Royal Commissioners, that the study of Natural Science 

 should be introduced into certain Public Schools, and likewise the Bill for 

 legalizing the use of the Metric System of "Weights and Measures. 



In thus acting, the Committee conceive that they are properly fulfilling the 

 important duty imposed upon them of " Watching over the interests of 

 Science." 



Weotteslet, Chairman. 



17tli August, 1864. 



