80 REPORTS ON THE STATE OP SCIENCE. 



this advantage might well be secured by arranging for a continuance 

 of the magnetic work at Falmouth, at least so long as Falmouth remains 

 undistu bed. There is also a special advantage in having an observatory 

 on the coast so that it may be directly available for comparisons with 

 observations at sea, and the position of the Falmouth Observatory is 

 very convenient from this point of view. The situation of the 

 observatory with reference to the growing town of Falmouth is subject 

 to some disadvantages owing to the mechanical disturbances due to 

 road traffic. This is a point which would come up for consideration with 

 the appeal which the Polytechnic Society propose. In the meantime 

 the Committee desire to support the appeal, and in asking the Associa- 

 tion to continue its support of the magnetic observations for another 

 year, until the first year's results of the Eskdalemuir Observatory are 

 published, they understand that by that time, and before the next 

 meeting of the Association, the result of the appeal for the mainten- 

 ance of Falmouth Observatory as a permanent institution will have 

 been ascertained. They therefore recommend their reappointment with 

 a grant of 50L 



Experiments for Improving the Construction of Practical Standards 

 for Electrical Measurements. — Report of the Committee, consisting of 

 Lord Rayleigh {Chairman), Dr. R. T. Glazebrook {Secretary), 

 Professors J. Perry, W. G. Adams, and G. Carey Foster, Sir 

 Oliver Lodge, Dr. A. Muirhead, Sir W. H. Preece, Professors 

 A. Schuster, J. A. Fleming, and Sir J. J. Thomson, Dr. W. N. 

 Shaw, Dr. J. T. Bottomley, Rev. T. C. Fitzpatrick, Professor 

 S. P. Thompson, Mr. J. Rennie, Principal E. H. Griffiths, 

 Sir Arthur Rucker, Professor H. L. Callendar, and Messrs. 

 G. Matthey, T. Mather, and F. E. Smith. 



The Committee have to regret the death, since the last meeting of the 

 Association, of Dr. G. Johnstone Stoney, F.R.S. He had been a mem- 

 ber since 1861, and up to a few years since continued his active interest 

 in the work. In its earlier stages his skill in definition and his admir- 

 able choice of nomenclature had proved invaluable to the Committee. 

 The collected Reports which are to be issued shortly will indicate 

 how large a share in the establishment of the C.G.S. system of units 

 is due to him. 



Republication of Reports. — The republication of the Reports is not 

 yet completed, but this should be done within the present year. The 

 proofs of the Reports from 1862 to 1883 have been finally revised and 

 the remaining proofs will soon be ready. 



Lorenz Apparatus. — The progress made has been satisfactory. 

 Preliminary experiments have shown that the apparatus is unin- 

 fluenced by changes in the earth's magnetic field and that the thermal 

 e.m.f.s at the brushes on the two discs very nearly balance. With 

 the form of brush in use at present there are sudden changes in the 



