xxxvi REPORT — 1859. 



end of the six weeks, therefore, the party might be ready to embark, taking 

 their instruments away with them ; and a second set of instruments might 

 then take their place for the instruction of a party for a second Observatory. 

 All the arrangements contemplated in my letter* to Professor Owen of 

 January 1st, 1859, are complete, so far as the Kew Observatory, Mr. Adie, 

 and myself are concerned ; and we are ready to receive and send away the 

 first party to their destination, whether it might be British Columbia or 

 Shanghai, as soon as the Government pleases." 



(Signed) " Edward Sabine." 



The interval elapsed since the last meeting of the Association has not 

 been wanting in affording proofs of the high interest taken in the subject of 

 these observations in other countries. Foremost in expressions of willing 

 cooperation are the leaders of public opinion on such subjects in the United 

 States. By a communication from Dr. Bache (Superintendent of the United 

 States Coast Survey) to General Sabine, dated June 1, it appears that he 

 is ready to enter con amore into our plans, and that he has his instruments 

 all ready at the Joint Smithsonian and Coast Survey Magnetic Observatory 

 at Washington, and desires only to be informed what course of action shall 

 be here determined on, to afford his ready and powerful cooperation. And 

 by a subsequent communication of the 12th ultimo, he further reports the 

 readiness of President Barnard, of the University of Oxford, Mississippi, to 

 undertake, or cause to be undertaken, a series of concerted observations, 

 provided a formal request (of course duly authorized) from General Sabine 

 be made to that institution to such effect, such a report being necessary to 

 obtain the requisite appropriation of funds from the Board of Trustees. 



The officers also of the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science have, we understand, been instructed by that body in their meeting 

 at Springfield, to express to the officers of the British Association their in- 

 terest in these magnetic proceedings. 



Senhor Da Silva, successor to Senhor Pegado in the direction of the 

 Meteorological Observatory at Lisbon, has expressed his wish to join in 

 the system of magnetic observation to be undertaken in England, an object 

 which he considers might be accomplished provided the British Government 

 would interest itself with the Portuguese in favour of the undertaking, and 

 suggesting that in that event a Portuguese officer might be instructed at Kew 

 in the use of the instruments. 



The project for the establishment of a Magnetic Observatory on the 

 Eastern Sea-bord of the United States, and the determination of the Cana- 

 dian Legislature to maintain the Toronto Observatory in full efficiency, are 

 noticed in Colonel Sabine's letter already referred to ; and in the event of a 

 British establishment at Vancouver's Island being procured in addition to 

 Shanghai or Pekin, would complete, in conjunction with the existing Russian 

 Observatories, and with one which might very possibly be established by 

 the University of Kasan in lat. 55° 4-5' N., under the able direction of Pro- 

 fessor Bolzani (who has expressed his desire to procure self-recording mag- 

 netic instruments similar to those of Kew, and to adopt the proposed system 

 of observations), a chain of stations in considerable north latitude, which 

 would surround the Pole, and afford a connected series of most valuable 

 observations. 



Though not in immediate connexion with the direct object of this Report, 

 your Committee cannot refuse themselves the mention, as matters of Magnetic 

 progress since the last meeting of the Association, of the completion of Mr. 



* This is the letter above alluded to as formiug part of the Minutes of Council of Deeeiu- 

 er 17, 1858. 



