REPORT OF THE KEW COMMITTEE. xliH 



mical Society, propose to devote their attention to the best means of regis- 

 tering and reducing the results obtained by the instrument, provided the 

 funds which may be necessary are placed at their disposal. 



The difficulties which have stood in the way of bringing the Photo- 

 heliograph into an efficient state of work, were such as required no ordinary 

 degree of perseverance to surmount ; and the Committee have therefore the 

 greater satisfaction in reporting that these have been overcome, in so far 

 as to render the Photoheliograph a valuable recording instrument:— the 

 minor improvements still contemplated have for their object the production 

 of pictures as free as possible from the spots and blemishes to which all 

 photographs are liable, and sun pictures in particular. 



It was mentioned in the last Report that Mr. Beckley had suggested certain 

 modifications of his anemometer. He was requested to prepare a descrip- 

 tion of this instrument, which description was published in the last volume 

 (page 306) of the Reports of the Association. 



The verifications of Meteorological Instruments have been continued on 

 the usual plan. 



The following have been verified from the 1st of July 1858 to the 1st of 



August 1859:— 



Baro- Thermo- Hydro- 

 meters, meters, meters. 



For the Admiralty 78 120 



For the Board of Trade 76 474 80 



For Opticians and others _33 317 12 



Total 187 911 92 



An application having been made by Colonel Sykes for the instruments 

 used by Mr. Welsh in his Balloon ascents, these were got ready and their 

 corrections determined. The instruments, consisting of one barometer, 

 two Regnault's hygrometers with attached thermometers, eleven separate 

 thermometers, three vacuum tubes obtained from Dr. Miller, and a polari- 

 meter, with their respective fittings, were delivered to Colonel Sykes, and 

 are now in charge of the Balloon Committee. 



On the 21st of May, 1 859, the Chairman of this Committee addressed a letter 

 to the Secretary of the Admiralty, stating that by the direction of the Com- 

 mittee he had been desired to acquaint the Lords of the Admiralty that the 

 Austrian frigate ' Novara,' which left Europe on a voyage of circumnavi- 

 gation and scientific research, was furnished with scientific instruments from 

 the Kew Observatory, that her officers received instruction for their use from 

 Mr. Welsh and his assistants, and that several communications had been re- 

 ceived from the ' Novara.' This vessel has since arrived. 



The following correspondence has taken place between Senhor da Silva 



of Lisbon and General Sabine. 



"Lisbon, July 11th, 1859. 



" Sir, — Having succeeded Dr. Pegado in the direction of the Meteoro- 

 logical Observatory at Lisbon, I shall be very happy if I can assist in, or 

 promote the important operations connected with magnetism that England is 

 about to undertake. 



" But previous to promising you on my part, I am desirous of knowing — 



" 1st. If it will be possible to instruct a Portuguese official at Kew. 



" 2nd. If the English Government would be disposed to interest that of 

 Portugal in this scientific expedition. 



"3rd. To whom we ought to apply in order to complete our collection of 



