200 



REPORT — 1859. 



7 days at first quarter, and minima only, with one exception, before the day of 

 the change. Similar results were obtained from the observations taken at 

 Toronto (from 1843 to 1848). 



Notwithstanding this, it is certain that the rise in the curve at first quarter 

 and other periods of the lunation is not caused by the presence of maximum 

 temperatures so much as the ordinary means of the several days. 



Though not at present able to prove the point, I may state my conviction 

 that a close connexion will eventually be established between the occurrence 

 of extreme temperatures (at the several periods of the lunation at which they 

 may most probably be looked for) and the years of maximum and minimum 

 of the solar spots. The year 1858-1859 has been already instanced as one 

 that exhibits many noticeable examples of this increased action. 



The inquiry will be proceeded with ; though as a non-professed Meteor- 

 ologist I much need both indulgence and assistance. 



Table III. 

 Means of the month of May, for 43 years, at Greenwich. 



An Account of the Construction of the Self-recording Magnetographs 

 at present in operation at the Kew Observatory of the British Asso- 

 ciation. By Balfour Stfavaut, M.A. 



Eakly in 1857 the Government Grant Committee of the Royal Society 

 voted £150 towards the expense of a set of Self-recording Magnetographs to 

 be erected at the Kew Observatory of the British Association; the sum ol 

 £250 having been pieviously granted out of the Wollaston fund for the 

 purpose of lighting the observatory with gas. 



The late Mr. Welsh thereupon applied himself with much zeal to the 

 task of constructing these magnetographs, and devised a plan which was 

 transmitted to Mr. Adie, optician, 395 Strand, who undertook to make the 

 instruments. 



These were completed by Mr. Adie in a satisfactory manner, and were in 

 operation in July 1857 ; by the beginning of 1858 all difficulties, whether of 

 a mechanical or photographic nature, had been overcome, and since that 

 date a continuous register of the magnetic elements has been obtained. 

 With regard to the plan devised by Mr. Welsh, the best proof of its excel- 

 lence is the nature of the results obtained, which may be judged of from 

 an average specimen of the curves appended to this Report. Indeed, the 



