. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 9 



"ImportJint classes of phenomena relating to physical meteorology and to terrestrial 

 and astronomical physics require observations of such a character that they cannot 

 be advantageously carried on otherwise than under the direction of Government. 

 Institutions for the study of such phenomena should be maintained by the Govern- 

 ment; and in particular an observatory should be founded specially devoted to 

 astronomical physics." 



If the men of science of this countiy who procured the appointment of this com- 

 mission, and who subsequently gave evidence before it, will now come forward to 

 support its recommendations, it can hardly be doubted that these will be speedily 

 carried into eftect. 



But other things besides observations are necessary if we are to pursue with 

 advantage this great physical problem. 



One of these is the removal of the intolerable burden that has hitherto been laid 

 upon private meteorologists and magneticians. Expected to furnish their tale of 

 bricks, they have been left to find their own straw. Nothing more wretched can 

 be imagined than the position of an amateur (that is to say, a man who pursues 

 science for the love of it and is unconnected with any establishment) who has set 

 himself to promote observational inquiries, whether in meteorology or magnetism. 



He has first to obtain, with great expenditure of time pr money, or both, copies 

 of the individual observations taken at some recognized institution. He has next 

 to reduce these in the way that suits his inquiry, an operation again consuming 

 time and demanding means. Let us suppose all this to be successfully accomplished 

 and a valuable result obtained. It is doubtless embodied in the Transactions of 

 some Society ; but it excites little enthusiasm, for it consists of something which 

 cannot be repeated by every one for himself like a new and interesting experiment. 

 Yet the position of such men has recently been improved. Several observatories and 

 other institutions now publish their individual observations ; this is done by our 

 Metereological Office, while Dr. Bergsma, Dr. Neumayer, and Mr. Broun are recent 

 examples of magneticians who have adopted this plan. The publication of the 

 work of the latter is due to the enhghtened patronage of the Rajah of Travancore, 

 who has thus placed himself in front of the princes of India and given them an ex- 

 ample which it is to be hoped they will foUow. But this is only one step in the right 

 direction ; another must consist in subsidizing private meteorologists and magne- 

 ticians in order to enable them to obtain the aid of computers in reducing the 

 observations with which they have been furnished. The man of science would 

 thus be able to devote his knowledge, derived from long study, to the methods 

 by which results, and the laws regulating them, are to be obtained ; he could be 

 the architect and builder of a scientific structure without being forced to waste his 

 energies on the work of a hodman. 



Another hindrance consists in our deficient knowledge as to what observations 

 of value in magnetism and meteorology have already been made. We ought to 

 have an exhaustive catalogue of all that has been done in this respect in oiu- globe, 

 and of the conditions under which the various observations wiU be accessible to 

 outside inquirers. A catalogue of this kind has been framed by a committee of 

 this Association ; but it is confined to the dominions of England, and requires to 

 be supplemented by a list of that which has been done abroad. 



A third drawback is the insufficient nature of the present facilities for the inven- 

 tion and improvement of instruments and for their verification. 



We have no doubt advanced greatly in the construction of instruments, espe- 

 cially in those which are self-recording. The names of Brooke, Robinson, Welsh, 

 Osier, and Beckley will occur to us all as improvers of our instruments of obser- 

 vation. Sir W. Thomson has likewise adapted his electrometer to the wants of 

 meteorology. Dr. Roscoe has given us a self-recording actinometer ; but a good 

 instrument for observing the sun's heat is still a desideratum. It ought likewise 

 to be borne in mind that the standard mercurial thermometer is by no means a 

 perfect instrument. 



In conclusion, it cannot be doubted that a great generalization is looming m the 

 distance — a mighty law, we cannot yet tell what, that will reach us, we cannot yet 

 say when. It will involve facts hitherto inexplicable, facts that are scarcely re- 

 ceived as such because they appear opposed to our present knowledge of tlieir causes. 



1875. 2 



