XXXvi REPORT — 18G6. 



" The measurements obtainable from photographs are much more reliable 

 than those from projected images. <' I am, 



" Yours very truly, 

 (Signed) " Waeeen De la Rue." 



" E. J. Stone, Escj." 



The Association Tvill regret to learn the deaths of Dr. Sabler and M. Gussew, 

 in consequence of Avhich the "Wilna Heliogi-aph is not at work. 



M. Smysloif of the Pulkowa Observatory has been appointed Director of the 

 Wilna Observatory, by the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. 

 M. 0. Struvc having asked for information respecting the vrorking of the 

 Heliograph, it has been suggested to him by the Kew Committee that it would 

 be advisable for M. Smysloif to visit the Kcw Observatory, to see the instru- 

 ment in operation. 



The sun-spots continue to be observed after the method of Hofrath Schwabe, 

 of Dessau, and the valuable collection of drawings lent by this eminent ob- 

 server remains at the Obsei-vatory. These have been supplemented by the 

 beautiful series of detailed drawings of spots made by the Eev. F. Hewlett, 

 which that gentleman has deposited at Kew. 



The apparatus for verifying sextants alluded to in the last Ptcport has now 

 been constructed by Mr. Cooke, and is being erected at the Observatoiy. 



About three-fourths of the region of the solar spectrum between E and F 

 has been mapped by the spectroscope belonging to the Chairman. The spec- 

 troscope is now in London, the work appertaining to the staff at the Obser- 

 vatory not permitting sufficient time for further observation with this instru- 

 ment. 



The instrument devised by Mr. Broun for the purpose of estimating the 

 magnetic dip by means of soft iron, remains at present at the Observatory, 

 awaiting Mr. Broun's return to England. 



The Superintendeiit has received grants from the Eoyal Society for special 

 experiments ; and when these are completed, an account will be rendered to 

 that Society. 



The Eeport of a Committee appointed to consider certain questions relating 

 to the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade, and presented to 

 both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty, has been communi- 

 cated to the Members of the Kew Committee, and has been otherwise widelj' 

 circulated among the meteorologists of the British Association : the object 

 of the Beport is expressed in the following terms : — 



*' Upon the death of the late Admiral FitzBoy, a correspondence took 

 " place between the Board of Trade and the Boyal Societj- with respect to 

 " the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade. The result of that 

 " correspondence was the appointment of a Committee, consisting of the fol- 

 " lowing gentlemen, viz. Francis Galtou, Esq., F.E.S., General Secretary of the 

 '* British Association for the Advancement of Science, nominated by the Pre- 

 " sident and Council of the Eoyal Society ; Staff Commander Evans, E.IS"., 

 " F.Pt.S., Chief Naval Assistant to the Hydrographer of the Admiralty, by 

 " the Admiralty ; T. H. Farrer, Esq., one of the Secretaries to the Board of 

 " Trade, by the Board of Trade, — to consider and report upon the following 

 " questions : — 



" 1. "Wliat are the data, especially as regards Meteorological Observations 

 " at sea, already collected by and now existing in the Meteorological Depart- 

 *' ment of the Board of Trade ? 



