Ivi REPORT — 1867. 



world; and as during the nest two or three years magnetic disturhances 

 may he expected to increase, it will he interesting to institute comparisons 

 between the simultaneous records produced hy these various instruments. 



The usual monthly absolute determinations of the magnetic elements con- 

 tinue to be made by Mr. "Whipple, magnetic assistant; and the Self-record- 

 ing Magnetographs are in constant operation as heretofore, also under Mr. 

 Whipple, who has displayed much care and assiduity in the discharge of his 

 duties. 



The photographic department connected with the self-recording instruments 

 is under the charge of Mr. Page, who performs his duties very satisfactorily. 



The observations made for the purpose of determining the temperature 

 coefficients of the horizontal-force and vertical-force magnetographs have 

 been reduced. 



In order to obviate the chance of any break in the continuity of the series 

 of absolute magnetic determinations made at Kew which might arise from 

 a change of the magnetic assistant, the Superintendent has commenced taking 

 quarterly observations of the dip and horizontal force, with the ^dew of cor- 

 recting any change in personal equation which might be produced by change 

 of assistant. 



The magnetic curves produced at Kew previously to the month of Ja- 

 nuary 1865, have all been measured and reduced under the direction of 

 General Sabine, by the staff of his ofiRcc at Woolwich, and the results of this 

 reduction have been communicated by General Sabine to the Eoyal Society 

 in a series of interesting and valuable memoirs. It is now proposed that the 

 task of tabulating and reducing these curves since the above date be perfonned 

 by the staff at Kew working under the direction of Mr. Stewart. 



2. Meteorological tvork. — The meteorological work of the Observatory con- 

 tinues in charge of Mr. Baker, who executes his duties very satisfactorily. 



Since the Kottingham Meeting 89 Barometers have been verified ; 608 

 Thermometers have likewise been verified, and two Standard Thermometers 

 have been constructed at the Observatory. 



The Self-recording Barograph continues in constant operation, and traces 

 in duplicate are obtained, one set of which is regailarly forwarded to the 

 Meteorological Office. 



A Self-recording Barograph and Thermograph on the new Kew pattern 

 about to be made for Mr. EUery of Melbourne, and a Self-recording Baro- 

 graph for Mr. Smalley of Sydney, will be verified at the observatory before 

 they are dispatched to their destination. 



The Anemometer is in constant operation as heretofore. 



Dr. E. Coleridge Bowles, before he proceeded to Pekin, received meteorolo- 

 gical instruction at Kew. 



The weU-known apparatus employed for so long a time by Mr. Robert 

 Addams for liquefying carbonic acid, has been purchased by Mr. Stewart from 

 funds supplied by the Eoyal Society ; and Mr. Addams has kindly under- 

 taken to make a preliminary experiment with his apparatus, as well as to 

 give specific instructions regarding it. As the exact thermometric value of the 

 freezing-point of mercury has been previously determined by Mr. Stewart, it 

 is expected that the apparatus will furnish the means of verifying thermo- 

 meters at very low temperatures. 



At the request of the Meteorological Committee, several Aneroids have 

 been obtained from the best -known makers of these instruments, and, by 

 means of an apparatus constructed by Mr. Beckley for this purpose, they 

 have been compared with a standard Barometer at different pressures, being 



