ON TERUESTRIAL MAGNETISM AND ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. 737 



discussion of its report to the International Meteorological Conference. 

 It is evident that here there is plenty of opportunity for collision between 

 rival authorities, for confusion between conflicting jurisdictions ; but to 

 all questions as to the precise limits of authority and jurisdiction it is 

 sufficient to reply in the most general terms. The whole of the arrange- 

 ments are temporary, to meet an immediate pressing need. The work of 

 the Conference will be conducted like that of a Department of the 

 British Association. The members of the International Committee will 

 act as the Committee of the Department, but some of their work will be 

 done on the General Committee of Section A, of which other magneticians 

 will also be members. Should it be necessary, they will hold some 

 separate meetings, and some such meetings will certainly be necessary 

 to discuss their report to the International Meteorological Conference. 

 These general regulations will probably suffice for all practical purposes. 

 If cases occur which they do not cover, we must deal with them as they 

 arise. 



With regard to the future, I do not propose to lay before you any 

 detailed scheme, but in discussing the matter among ourselves the fol- 

 lowing principles should, in my opinion, be adhered to. The International 

 Meteorological Conference has held a number of successful meetings. I 

 believe tliat I am correct in saying that the right to attend that Conference 

 was at first confined to those who were officially connected with Meteoro- 

 logical and Magnetic observatories, but that of late invitations have been 

 more widely distributed. If the authorities of that Conference see their 

 way to inviting in future most or all of those who are known to be 

 specially interested in Terrestrial Magnetism, I do not see why the 

 Magnetic Conference, which would then be constituted once in live years, 

 should not meet all our requirements. If, however, additional meetings 

 are necessary, I would urge that they should be held in turn in different 

 countries, and, if possible, in connection with existing societies which play 

 elsewhere the part taken by the British Association in this country. 



That a permanent committee should be established is essential, 

 and the mode of appointing this body must no doubt be considered, 

 but I hope that in the course of the next few days the committee may 

 be able to discuss the whole question, and that when the next meeting of 

 the Meteorological Conference takes place we may be able to lay before 

 the Committee suggestions which may lead to the foundation of an Inter- 

 national Magnetic Association on a stable and permanent basis. 



Another matter of great importance is the maintenance of an inter- 

 national journal devoted to Terrestrial Magnetism. This we now 

 possess, thanks to the energy of Dr. Bauer, and I feel sure that all present 

 will agree that such a means of intercommunication is invaluable. I 

 believe, however, that the enterprise is threatened with financial dangers, 

 and I desire to take this opportunity of urging all those who are interested 

 in its success to do what they can to support it by increasing the circula- 

 tion. There is every reason for making more use of a common journal. 

 The records of the observatories are necessarily so bulky, that anyone 

 who desires to obtain the facts as to the magnetic state of the earth 

 at any given time must collect or consult a large library of quarto 

 volumes, in some of which the magnetic facts are mingled with data 

 interesting chiefly to the meteorologist or astronomer. It is no doubt 

 essential that an account of all the work done at each observatory should 

 be published in a collected form, and that full details of the magnetic 



1898. 3 B 



