300. REPORT—1858. 
a former occasion having been well received and having ultimately failed 
owing only to a want of attention to some point of diplomatic form in its mode 
of communication), we should then have a chain of stations in high northern 
latitudes, the results obtained at which, being severally brought into com- 
parison with those already procured at Point Barrow, and with each other, 
could hardly fail of bringing out some very positive conclusion. 
As regards the proposal for a station at the Falkland Isles, it is presumed, 
from the general course of the magnetic line of minimum intensity, that this 
station will prove, in analogy to the Cape of Good Hope, and in contrast with 
the northern stations recommended, to have the character of an equatorial, or 
approximate equatorial station ; and in respect to that proposed in China, that 
it will complete and carry round the globe the chain of northern middle-lati- 
tude stations,—the intermediate links being supplied by the Russian observa- 
tories, and by those which it is hoped may be established at the North Capeand 
at Vancouver Island. As regards the Falkland Isles and Newfoundland, it 
should be noticed that there exist considerable facilities and conveniences for 
the comfortable establishment of an observatory there; and in respect of the 
other two, it may be remarked that they are both points of great present 
interest, and that a determination of the incteorological as well as magnetic 
peculiarities of both would be important. The affections of a telegraphic 
wire by electric discharges in the nature of Aurora Borealis have already 
attracted attention, and produced confusion in the ordinary use of such wires, 
and constitute one of the motives for inquiry into the nature and laws of the 
so-called magnetic storms. It may also be observed that, in reference to 
the anomalistic equation of the sun’s magnetic intensity, or the effect of its 
annual approach and recess due to the ellipticity of the earth’s orbit, the 
influence of local temperature upon the observations requires to be elimi- 
nated, in order to bring this effect into evidenee, by a combination of the 
results obtained at stations whose seasons are opposite. 
In reference to the important consideration of keeping down as much as 
possible the outlay consequent on the establishment of these observatories, 
your Committee have given attention to the question whether it be desirable 
to continue, as heretofore, the printing of the observations in extenso—a 
measure resulting in the production of vast and costly volumes, and entailing 
a great amount of laborious superintendence. They consider that, the form 
of the observations remaining unaltered, and the principles of their reduction 
being now rendered familiar, this would not be necessary, provided the 
original observations were registered in triplicate, and the copies separately 
deposited in different and secure custody for preservation and occasional 
reference when required, and provided that sufficient and well-digested 
abstracts of their reduced results were published. One series of observations, 
however, they consider must be excepted from this alteration of system :— 
those of a continuous nature, made on term days, Four of which per annum 
they desire to see still kept up; and those taken on occasions of magnetic 
storms, when continuous observation is substituted for that on the regular 
hourly intervals: for the treatment of such observations is still a matter of 
scientific inquiry ; and to render them available in comparison with others, 
the complete register is indispensable. 
Your Committee cannot but contemplate a revival of active interest and 
cooperative participation in the system of observation, on the part of our 
Colonial and of Foreign Governments, when once it shall become known 
that the subject is resumed by our own Home Government in the manner 
recommended. On this subject they beg to refer to Gen. Sabine’s reply to 
their inquiries, already alluded to, which places in a distinct point of view 
