REPORT OF THE UEW COMMITTEE. Iv 



" photographic records ; and that he be requested to have the work done 

 *' with as much rapidity aa is consistent with accuracy — the final reduction 

 " to include both monthly and annual means, but in the first instance the 

 " phenomena of the disturbances from 1863 to 1870 to be proceeded with. 



" In reference to Mr. Balfour Stewart's proposal that a more intimate 

 " comparison between solar and magnetic records be made, it was resolved 

 " that he bo requested to prepare such a comj)arison for one magnetic ele- 

 " ment, for a whole period of solar disturbance, for the consideration of the 

 " Committee." 



Erom all these extracts it will, I think, appear that the Committee con- 

 sidered that they would have funds sufiicient to tabulate and reduce the 

 magnetic curves since the beginning of 1865, the date at which Sir E. Sabine 

 left off tabulating, and that any resolution having reference to curves of a 

 previous date did not contemplate any retabnlation of such curves. I con- 

 ceive, therefore, that at present I am under obligation to tabulate and reduce 

 the curves obtained since the beginning of 1865, the Committee acting on 

 the supposition that the funds which accrue to the Observatory from various 

 sources are sufficient for this purpose. If, however, the Committee should 

 consider that, in addition to this, it would bo desirable to systematize the 

 whole Kew results "after the method indicated in the suggestions by me which 

 accompany this letter, it would be quite possible to accomplish this work 

 before 1872, and to do so without materially interfering with the work of the 

 Observatory ; but it would require additional funds for the purpose ; in fact, 

 the question resolves itself into one of expense. The following estimate, pre- 

 pared by Mr. Whipple, and revised by mo, wiU give a tolerably good idea of 

 the probable expense of doing this : — 



(«) £ s. d: 

 Purchase of two new Tabulating instruments and fit- 

 tings 30 



Measurement of curves to y^xr of an inch from Jan. 



1, 1858, to Dec. 31, 1864 143 14 



Subsidiary measurements 63 



Copying out and systematizing results 126 



Extraction of disturbances 100 



Paper and forms 10 



472 14 



This sum would probably enable aU these suggestions to be complied with, 

 except those relating to the means connected with the luuar-diurual varia- 

 tions. The production of such means since 1865 will, of course, form part 

 of the reductions at present in hand, and it would bo very easy to give the 

 tables such a shape as to exhibit a classification according to the relative 

 position of the sun and moon. If the results of this proved sufficiently 

 valuable, the same classification might be afterwards extended to the results 

 pi'ovious to 1865, provided the details of such results have been obtained and 

 preserved by means of the outlay of ,£472 14s., as mentioned above. This 

 particular form of reduction does not appear so pressing ; and as it would 

 cost i£130 to recast the individual results previous to 1865 into the precise 

 form of lunar tables mentioued in tho suggestions, this matter may be allowed 

 to wait, 



