a 
REPORT OF THE KEW COMMITTEE. XXXV 
to Admiral FitzRoy, at his request, while the other has been retained at the 
Observatory. 
On 30th December, the Superintendent received the following letter from 
Admiral FitzRoy :— 
‘Meteorological Department, 2 Parliament Street, London, 
30th December, 1862. 
«« Str,—I have the honour of addressing the Kew Committee of the British 
Association, through yourself, as Superintendent at their Magnetic and 
Meteorologic Observatory, to request, on behalf of the Board of Trade, that 
daily meteorologic communications may be again made to this Office, as for- 
merly. 
ff iieyins extended our operations, and therefore incurred greater responsi- 
bility, it is considered advisable to acquire, if possible, the best strengthening 
support available. 
** On account of economical reasons solely, as you are aware, the Board of 
Trade asked for discontinuance of those Kew telegrams (which were then re- 
ceived as regularly as satisfactorily); but now, being able to add their expense 
(comparatively small) to the current charges of this Office, it is my pleasing 
duty to make this application. 
“The Kew Observatory is so well situated for Meteorologic purposes, be- 
cause separated from all local causes of error—neither on a hill nor in a 
valley, surrounded by grass land, on a level only about 35 feet above the 
sea, and to windward of our extensive Metropolis during the greater part of 
the year—that a better locality for reference and intercomparison need not 
be desired. 
“Tt is sufficiently far from London to be uninfluenced by its heated air, 
smoke, or other peculiarities of atmosphere (inseparable from such an area of 
fires, population, and altered radiation), while it is within an easy railway 
tri 
“But while such are the well-known exterior recommendations of the 
Kew Observatory for its specialities of Magnetism and Meteorology, there are 
sterling advantages obtainable within its walls not to be found elsewhere. 
Scrupulously careful, exact, and truly-principled observations (inseparably 
connected with the names of Ronalds and Welsh) gave character and initiated 
proceedings of which results are now patent—not only in improvements of 
many kinds, affecting instruments and methods, but in general instruction. 
** Nowhere else is there a Cathetometer by which barometric instruments 
can be perfectly verified. Other methods used elsewhere are inferior as to 
range, principle, and practice. To that instrument much more is due than 
may be yet generally recognized. ; 
* Persons aware of these facts are naturally desirous that Kew should have 
a place in the reports now published daily in most of the newspapers, and 
as the Board of Trade will defray such small contingent expenses as may be 
requisite, I am led to believe that the Kew Committee will consent to the 
necessary steps, through your obliging attention. 
“With this letter is a copy of the arrangements existing now, which are 
somewhat altered from those already known to yourself. 
“It may be convenient to permit morning observations to be made, soon 
after eight, by a resident at the Observatory, and to employ a special mes- 
Senger to carry them to the Telegraph Office, in order that we may receive 
_ them here early. The contingent charge would be borne by this Office. 
__ Lists of the places with which we now communicate, and forms for our 
daily Weather Reports, are enclosed—all which may help to show what im- 
c2 
