IN FAVOUR OF MAGNETICAL OBSERVATIONS AT TIFLIS. 315 



and of publication. The reply was, not a refusal, but a postponement of the 

 consideration of the Memorial until the Russian finances should have recovered 

 from the heavy expenditure of the Crimean war. How far this decision was 

 influenced by the spirit of centralization, which is very strong in Russia, and 

 causes all such applications to be referred in the first instance for a report 

 from the central head, cannot of course be known ; but it is worthy of remark 

 that it was immediately followed by an application from M. Xupffer for a 

 complete set of instruments similar to those at Kew for the Central Observa- 

 tory at St. Petersburg. These have been furnished, and I have very recently 

 learnt from M. Kupffer that they have arrived, and have been established in 

 the Observatory. The observations have not yet commenced, because the 

 gas-pipes leading to the observatory are not yet quite finished. My impres- 

 sion is, though I can only speak of it as an impression, that M. Kupffer pur- 

 poses to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the instruments by using 

 them under his own eye ; and if he approves of them, to have others made 

 like them at St. Petersburg (or to procure them from England as he may 

 deem best) for those observatories under his direction to which they may 

 appear most suitable, and for which the Government is willing to supply the 

 necessary funds. It may be hoped that the observations at such observatories 

 will be reduced and applied to theoretical deductions, which has not been the 

 case hitherto in the Russian observatories. The publication of the crude 

 observations is comparatively of little value ; but the labour of the reduction 

 adds veiy considerably to the cost. 



"And this brings me to a second inquiry, which may be very important in 

 contributing to the success or otherwise of the recommendation contemplated 

 by the resolution adopted by the General Committee. "Was it understood from 

 Professor Moritz that there existed at Tiflis a separate fund by which, if the 

 instruments were supplied by the Russian Government, the current cost of 

 the locale, the staff for observation and reduction, and for publication, might 

 be defrayed ? This was the proposition from Kasan ; and if made on behalf 

 of Tiflis, might entitle Tiflis to be placed in the same category of independence 

 of the Central authority. 



" The object sought by the resolution of the General Committee is clearly 

 denned — the establishment of magnetical observations on the Kew system at 

 the Observatory of Tiflis by Professor Moritz. It is a perplexing circum- 

 stance, however, that I received from Professor Moritz a letter dated the 

 27th of September, viz. a few days after the Bath Meeting, desiring an inter- 

 view to discuss his project, ' d'un leve niagnetique, qu'on se propose d'executer 

 au Caucase.' His letter neither names or refers in any way to ' magnetical 

 observations on the Kew system at Tiflis.' The two projects are incompatible 

 if they are to be conducted by the same person. Is it possible that there may 

 have been some misunderstanding between the Professor and the gentlemen 

 who brought forward the Resolution, as to which project is uppermost in the 

 Professor's mind? A * Leve magnetique' in the Caucasus is a far less costly 

 affair than such an observatory as is contemplated at Tiflis. There would 

 be a degree of awkwardness if Professor Moritz's desire to be employed in a 

 magnetic survey of the Caucasus were brought before the Russian Govern- 

 ment at the same time with the recommendation of the British Association 

 that he shoidd be employed in a work which would require his whole time 

 and thoughts at Tiflis for some years to come. It is a point which I should 

 think Sir Charles Lyell would desire to be cleared up before he should make 

 his communication to the Russian Government. The President of the Section 

 which originated the proposition, or the officers of the Association Avho were 



