xxxiv REPORT — 1859. 



at the close of the series, to some place of proper deposit, where they would 

 be available for those who, in years to come, will carry on the magnetic in- 

 vestigations of which the value has now begun to be appreciated. 



" The comparison of simultaneous photographic records at different Obser- 

 vatories will constitute a distinct work, from which, very possibly, a far more 

 complete knowledge of the laws of the disturbances may be expected ; and 

 for this the materials would be preserved and arranged : but the execution 

 must be looked for from other hands than mine. If, as may be expected, the 

 establishment of self-recording apparatus at Pekin or Vancouver Island be 

 followed by the establishment of similar instruments in other places, an in- 

 terchange of photographic traces might be desirable, and could be readily 

 effected by little more than clerk's work. 



"I do not encumber this already long letter with remarks on the com- 

 parative scientific value of Vancouver Island and Pekin as Magnetic Sta- 

 tions; both are highly important; but this much is certain, that whatever 

 might be the value of either, that value would be greatly enhanced — far 

 more than doubled — by there being a simultaneous and continuous record 

 at both Stations. It has been remarked [by Sir Charles Trevelyan] that there 

 are 'other than scientific reasons' which would give a preference to Pekin. 

 This remark might indeed be made in other countries ; but the establishment 

 at Pekin would be unanswerably justified by the scientific importance of 

 having two Stations in nearly the same latitude on the opposite shores of the 

 Pacific. 



"By recent letters from the United States, I learn that the steps taken in 

 this country in regard to the continuance of Magnetical investigations, 

 have already produced a corresponding feeling in that country, and a desire 

 that one Observatory at least, on a similar plan to that which should be 

 adopted in this country, should be established somewhere on the Eastern 

 Sea-bord of the United States. This would in a considerable measure fulfil 

 the objects contemplated in the suggestion of Newfoundland as a Magnetic 

 Station. The letters of Mr. Kingston (by which it appears that, when writing 

 to Sir John Herschel on the 26th of June 1858, 1 was not thoroughly in- 

 formed of the full purpose of the Canadian Legislature to maintain the 

 Toronto Observatory in fullest efficiency ) may give reason to expect that, if 

 the instruments for a continuous record shall be approved, the present 

 differential instruments at Toronto, which are only adapted for eye-obser- 

 vation, may be replaced by the contemplated ones, which are capable of both. 



(Signed) " Edward Sabine." 



"Professor Owen, 



President of the British Association." 



At a Meeting of the Council held this morning (September 14, 1859) at 

 Aberdeen, the following Report was received from Sir John Herschel, Chair- 

 man of the joint Committees of the Royal Society and British Association, 

 appointed to endeavour to procure the continuance of Magnetical researches, 

 by which the General Committee will be fully informed of the proceedings 

 in this matter up to the present time, and will be able to judge what further 

 steps it may be desirable to take. 



The Committee of the British Association appointed to cooperate with 

 a Committee of the Royal Society, to endeavour to procure the continuance 

 of the Magnetic Observations, &c, have to report progress as follows: — 



Immediately on the breaking up of the meeting at Leeds, the recom- 

 mendation adopted by the General Committee of the Association, to the 

 effect [" That an early communication be made of the procedure taken on 



