518 REPORT — 1873. 



I should mention too that up to the year 1864 similar hourly observations 

 to those described were printed, forming twenty-one large 4to volumes, and 

 distributed amongst scientific bodies ; but that little use seeming to have been 

 made of them outside this observatory, the expense thus incurred, amounting 

 . to many thousands of pounds, represents, up to the present day, little more 

 than so much waste. This statement I may observe reflects no discredit upon 

 scientific men, seeing that the labour of reduction of such multitudinous ob- 

 servations is utterly beyond the power of any individual. But I think it 

 justifies fully the course which the Government are now pursuing in devoting 

 a part of the funds formerly granted for publication to the eliciting, by the 

 agency of the observatoiy itself, of some scientific conclusions from the obser- 

 vations. 



4. With reference to the Committee's second inquiry, I beg to inform you 

 that I am jDermittcd by Government to supply copies of observations on the 

 same terms as those on which the Meteorological Committee of London 

 furnish copies of their records, viz. on condition that the applicant pays the 

 expense incurred in producing the copies. Any moderate demands that 

 would not seriously interrupt the regular work of the observatory, I should 

 gladly meet under this sanction. 



I remain, 

 Dr. Balfour Steivart, F.E.S., Tours sincerely, 



Secretary of the Observational JSuhcommittee Chaeles Chambers. 



of the Organization Committee of the 

 British Association. 



Calcutta Observatory. 



Meteorological Office, Calcutta, 

 May 26, 1873. 

 Dear Sir, 

 I understand, from the Report of the Proceedings of the Observational Sub- 

 committee of the Science-Organization Committee of the British Association, 

 that the Committee desires information what original meteorological registers 

 exist in this office which have not been published in detail. I append a list, 

 but would remark that many of the registers contain some entries which are 

 evidently erroneous. Copies of any of these that I consider trustworthy can 

 be furnislied to the British Association for the cost of copying. 



It obviously depends on the nature of the inquirer's object which of these 

 registers he would hold to be most important. In some respects I am inchned 

 to regard Darjeeling as the most important, since it affords, what is rare in 

 most parts of the world, a register (continuous for nearly six years) of a 

 station at an elevation of about 7000 feet. Goalparah, at the embouchure of 

 the Assam valley, is interesting for comparison with Darjeeling. 



The most complete and detailed register extant in Bengal is that of the 

 Calcutta Observatory at the Surveyor- General's Office, which consists of 

 hourly observations recorded continuously since 1853. These are very 

 valuable, but are not equal to those of Bombay or Madi-as. 



Believe me, dear Sir, 



Yours faithfuUy, 



Henry F. Blanford. 

 Balfour Stetvarf, Esq., 

 Secretary to Observational Subcommittee, 

 British Association. 



