XXX REPORT—1858. 
tunity of Dr. Livingstone’s return to Africa, to employ a suitable vessel in the 
ensuing season to obtain, with his assistance, a more correct knowledge than 
we now possess, of the facilities which the Zambesi would afford for com- 
merce, and of the extent to which its waters may be navigable; and also to 
procure a more exact knowledge of the natural productions of the country, 
and of the availability of the supplies of coal and other mineral substances 
which are stated to exist in the vicinity of the river.” 
Early in November the Committee, accompanied by Dr. Livingstone, were 
favoured with a personal interview by Lord Clarendon, who was pleased to 
express a warm interest in the proposed Expedition, and promised that it 
should receive the favourable consideration of Her Majesty’s Government. 
The expectation thus raised has been fully realized; a vote of money was 
moved by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and sanctioned by the House of 
Commons; and the Expedition has since sailed, having had the advantage of 
receiving from the Royal Society, on Lord Clarendon’s invitation, suggestions 
as to the scientific objects which the Expedition may be made to subserve, 
without interference with its primary and immediate purpose, and having 
been furnished at the Observatory of the British Association at Kew, with 
scientific instruments, and with personal instruction in their use. 
ce. The General Committee, at Dublin, directed that application should be 
made to Her Majesty’s Government “ to send a vessel to the vicinity of the 
Mackenzie River, for the purpose of making a series of Magnetic Observations 
with special reference to the determination of the laws now known to rule 
the magnetic storms.” The General Committee entrusted this application to 
the President, assisted by aCommittee named in the Resolution. A Memorial, 
setting forth the grounds and object of the application, having been prepared 
by the Committee, was presented to Lord Palmerston on the 31st of October, 
with a request from the Committee to be favoured with an interview. 
The Memorial was as follows :— 
“ Among the most important results of scientific research during the last 
twenty years, is the addition which has been made to our knowledge of Ter- 
restrial Magnetism. The variation of its direction and intensity dependent on 
the observer's position on the globe, have been ascertained with a precision 
which already affords material assistance to the seaman ; and those variations 
which are connected with the hour of the day, or season of the year, have 
been also carefully investigated. But, as always happens in real progress, 
the advance which has been made has shown new ground which ought to be 
explored. Without referring to the magnetic influence, which we have now 
reason to believe is exerted on our planet both by the sun and moon, a still 
more interesting fact has recently been established. It has long been known 
that the earth’s magnetism is affected by sudden disturbances, occasionally 
so great as even to interfere with its practical applications; but it has been 
very recently discovered that these magnetic storms (as they have been called) 
are themselves subject to periodic laws. Their study is evidently of the 
highest importance towards the discovery of the physical causes which are 
engaged in producing magnetic phenomena, and a fortunate circumstance 
has pointed out one method of pursuing it. During the years in which Her 
Majesty’s Ship ‘Plover’ was stationed at Point Barrow, as a part of the 
squadron which was searching for the traces of Sir J. Franklin, and his noble. 
companions, her officers, under the superintendence of their gifted com- 
mander R. Maguire, made a valuable series of magnetic observations, the more 
precious from their peculiar position, and the great care with which they were 
conducted. On reducing these and comparing their results with those ob- 
tained at Toronto, the most famous of the British Magnetie Observatories, 
