ADDRESS. l.KV 



tion, to record the momentary variations of pressure, or sum the varying 

 velocities of the 'wind. No small thanks were due to Mr. Marshall and Mr. 

 Miller* for their enterprise and perseverance in placing rain-gauges and 

 thermometers amidst the peaks of Cumberland and Westmoreland. These 

 experiments are now renewed in both counties and in North Wales ; and I 

 hope to hear of similar efforts among the mountains of the West of Ireland 

 and the West of Scotland. Our meteorological instruments of every kind 

 have been improved ; our system of photographic registration has spread 

 from Kew into other observatories ; and our corresponding member, Pro- 

 fessor Dove, has collected into systematic maps and tables the lines and 

 figures which represent annual and monthly climate over every land and 

 sea. 



In the same manner, by no sudden impulse or accidental circumstance, 

 rose to its high importance that great system of magnetic observations, on 

 which for more than a quarter of a century the British Association and the 

 Royal Society, acting in concert, have been intent. First, we had Eeports 

 on the mathematical theory and experimental researches of magnetism by 

 Christie (1833), Whewell (1835), and Sabine (1835) : — afterwards, a magnetic 

 survey of the British Islands t ; then, the establishment of a complete obser- 

 vatory at Dublin, with newly arranged instruments, by Dr. Lloyd, in 1838. 

 On all this gathered experience we founded a memorial to Her Majesty's 

 Government, made a grant of £400 from our funds for preliminary expenses, 

 and presented to the Meeting of this Association in Birmingham, in 1839, a 

 Report of progress, signed by Herschel and Lloyd. From that time how 

 great the labour, how inestimable the fruits ! Ross sails to the magnetic 

 pole of the south ; America and Russia cooperate with our observers at Kew, 

 Toronto, and St. Helena ; and General Sabine, by combining all this united 

 labour, has the happiness of seeing results established of which no man 

 dreamed — laws of harmonious variation affecting the magnetic elements of 

 the globe, in definite relation to the earth's movement, the position of the 

 sun and moon, the distribution of temperature, and the situation in latitude 

 and longitude J. 



Our efforts have not been fruitless, whether with Mr. Mallet we make ex- 

 periments on artificial earth-shocks at Dalkey, or survey the devastations 

 round Vesuvius, or tabulate the records of earthquakes since the beginning of 

 history§ ; or establish the Kew Observatory as a scientific workshop where 

 new instruments of research are made and proved and set to work ||; or 

 dredge the sea with Forbes, and Brady, and Jeffreys If; or catalogue the 

 stars with Baily** ; or investigate electricity with Harris, Ronalds, Thomson, 



* Mr. Marshall's observations were made in Patterdale, Mr. Miller's about Wastdale 

 Head. (British Association Eeports for 1846, and Royal Society's Transactions, 

 1850.) 



t The survey was begun in Ireland iu 1835, by Lloyd, Sabine, and Ross ; and com- 

 pleted in England, Wales, and Scotland in 1837, by the same magneticians, assisted by 

 Fox and PluUips. It was repeated in 1857 and following years by Sabine, Lloyd, Welsh, 

 Haughton, Gralbraith, and Stoney. 



t Trans, of the Royal Society for many years ; Reports of the British Association, 

 1840 and following years ; Rede Lecture, 1862. 



§ British Association Reports ; Experiments at Dalkey, 1853 ; Report on Earthquakes, 

 1840-1858. See also the excellent communications of M. Perrey to the Memoirs of the 

 Academy of Dijon. 



|| The Kew Observatory became a part of the system of the Association in 1842. 



IT See Reports of the Dredging Committees from 1842 to 1864 ; Nat. Hist. Trans, of 

 Northumberland and Durham ; Jeffrey s's British Conchology. 

 • ** British Association Catalogue of Stars, 1845. 



1865. e 



