104 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1912. 
two of the quiet days selected for July at de Bilt, basing the inequality 
on the remaining three. 
The magnetic character of individual days has been decided by 
Mr. Kitto as in previous years, and communicated to Professor van 
Everdingen at de Bilt for inclusion in the International List. 
Having received an intimation that the contributions from the 
British Association and Royal Society would be discontinued, the 
following letter was circulated to those interested in the work of the 
Observatory :— 
The Observatory, Falmouth, 
December 9, 1911. 
FatmoutH METEOROLOGICAL AND MAGNETICAL OBSERVATORY. 
Dear Srr,—The work of the Falmouth Observatory was originally under- 
taken at the request of the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society, and 
it was placed under the local care of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. 
Under a Special Committee of that body the work has been carried on without 
intermission since March 1868, an annual grant being contributed for that pur- 
pose by the Meteorological Office. ) 
At the close of 1883 negotiations were entered into with the Meteorological 
Office which resulted in the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society providing a new 
site and erecting buildings for observatory purposes. The new observatory was 
opened in 1885. 
At the instance of several prominent members of the Royal Society oppor- 
tunity was taken at this juncture to initiate the recording of the terrestrial 
magnetic elements. A chamber was provided in the basement of the new build- 
ing for this purpose, and a set of self-recording magnetographs was placed there 
by the Royal Society, who also provided the necessary instruments for absolute 
magnetic observation. Regular magnetic records commenced in January 1887, 
and from that date the meteorological and magnetic work has been continued 
without intermission. ; 
In 1901 the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society gave notice that they were 
unable to continue the magnetic work without pecuniary aid, and that it would 
cease if the aid were not forthcoming. 
From that date grants were given by the Royal Society and the British 
Association. 
In view of matters connected both with the finances and the personnel of the 
Observatory, this Committee do not see their way to continue the observations 
after the close of 1912, and feel it only due to the scientific authorities who have 
so long and so consistently supported the Falmouth Observatory that they should 
be at once apprised of the fact.—Your obedient servant, 
Witson L. Fox, 
Honorary Secretary, Observatory Committee of the 
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. 
The Director, Meteorological Office. 
Fatmouta MEtTEorRoLoGicaL AND MAGNETICAL OBSERVATORY. 
The Committee of the Falmouth Observatory respectfully submit the follow- 
ing, amongst other reasons, why it appears to them that upon scientific grounds 
the Falmouth Observatory should be continued. In the Report of the Grant 
Administration Committee of the British Association, consisting of Sir W. H. 
Preece (chairman), Dr. W. N. Shaw (secretary), Dr. W. G. Adams, Captain 
Creak, Mr. Wilson L. Fox, Dr. R. T. Glazebrook, Professor A. Schuster, Sir 
A. W. Ricker, and Dr. Charles Chree, allusion is made to several of these points. 
As regards Meteorology. 
1. The situation at the extreme South-West of England and the 
opening of the Channel is one of exceptional meteorological importance. 
2. The Observatory serves the purpose of a central station of refer- 
ence for meteorological data for the South-West of England. 
