ON THE RAINFALL IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 

 Determination of the apparent First Meridian. 



281 



The values of the coordinates are expressed in parts of the moon's aemi- 

 diameter, which is equal to unitj'. See Report, 1865, p. 295. 



Report of the Rainfall Committee, consisting of J. Glaisher, F.R.S., 

 Lord Wkottesley, F.R.S., Prof. Phillips. F.R.S., Prof. Tyndall^ 

 F.R.S., Dr. Lee, F.R.S., J. F. Bateman, F.R.S., R. W. Mylne, 

 F.R.S., Charles Brooke, F.R.S., and G. J. Symons, Secretary. 



It is satisfactory to state, that in all branches of rainfall investigations steady 

 progress has been maintained, and order, regularity, and accuracy more fully 

 established than at any previous time. Mr. Symons's last Report to this 

 Association in the volume just published, contained an epitomized history of 

 rainfall investigations from 1677 to 1865, the present one deals principally 

 •with the progress made since the Meeting at Birmingham. The Rainfall 

 Committee appointed at that Meeting having been fully impressed with the 

 paramount importance of promptly collecting all the old rain records that are 

 in any way accessible, directed that a circular should be sent to every news- 

 paper in the United Kingdom ; and as the circulars had to be modified for 

 each journal, and there are upwards of 1400 newspapers regularly published 

 the preparation of these circulars was rather a tedious process, even to one 

 pretty well used to voluminous work. They were, however, all ready at 

 last, and posted simtiltaneously. It speaks volumes for the willingness of 

 the press to help science, and for its disinterested public spirit, that these 

 circulars (and troublesome ones to print too) were inserted by many himdred 

 journals without a scruple or a word as to payment. The circulars were as 

 follows : — 



British Rainfall. 

 To the Editor of the 

 Sir, — I have to ask yom- readers' attention for a few moments to a request 

 on the above subject, the importance of which in relation to engineering and 

 drainage questions is well known. It is now some years since I began col- 

 lecting returns of the fall of rain — with what success I will mention pre- 

 sently, but my main difficulty has been to find out the persons who keep such 

 records, and one of the most obvious sources of assistance is the Public Press ; 

 I now, therefore, ask from each and every journal in the British Isles their 

 aU-powerful aid. When the collection was first organized in 1860, scarcely 

 200 persons were known to observe and record the rainfall ; by steady per- 



