304 REPORT—1858. 
to the general Superintendent, in carrying on, under his direction, the details 
of correspondence with the observatories. ‘Total, four officers, twelve non- 
commissioned officers, and three privates. 
2nd. With reference to our own Colonies. 
As soon as the sanction of Government has been obtained for the observa- 
tories already named, the governors of British Guiana, Mauritius, and Mel- 
bourne may be written to, suggesting that a communication should be ad- 
dressed from each of those colonies to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, 
expressing the desire which is felt in the colony to participate in the proposed 
systematic researches, stating what facilities can be afforded, and what portion 
of the expense can be borne by the colony itself, and requesting to be placed 
in official communication with some suitable authority for the preparation of 
instruments, and for furnishing such instruction and advice as may be 
required. 
The accompanying letter from Lieutenant-Governor Walker, of British 
Guiana, to Mr. Sandeman (which has been just forwarded to me), will show 
how ready that colony is to take its part, and that it waits only for that 
measure of countenance and encouragement which it reasonably expects, and 
ought to receive, from the mother country. At Mauritius, a Meteorological 
Society formed by the colonists themselves is most actively and usefully 
employed in tracing out, by means of the logs of merchant vessels, the phae- 
nomena of the storms by which navigation in that vicinity is troubled, and 
is making most pressing appeals for an authorization which should enable 
them to add researches in magnetism to those in meteorology, —having on the 
spot, in Captain Fyers of the Royal Engineers, a person who would make an 
admirable director of such an establishment. At Melbourne, a proposition 
for a magnetic observatory and survey is now before the local government ; 
means are abundant, but instruments and direction are wanting. Mr. Jeffery, 
so well trained in the Hobarton observatory, is in that country, and is desirous 
of such employment, as M. Neumayer is of being engaged in the survey. 
Melbourne would be a most important station for a magnetic observatory, as 
we might expect from it the verification or otherwise of the increase in the 
magnetism of the earth, at the period of the year when she makes her nearest 
approach to the sun. 
Other Colonies might follow the example ; but in regard to these three we 
are justified in expecting that, with suitable measures of encouragement, 
we should have thoroughly efficient establishments, carrying out the system 
of observation in its completeness. 
3rd. With reference to foreign countries. 
A proposition has recently been made to the Netherlands’ Government, by 
Dr. Buys Ballot (who fills the same official position in Holland that Admiral 
FitzRoy does in this country), for the establishment of a magnetic observa- 
tory in the Dutch Colony of Batavia; and Dr. Buys Ballot has written to 
inquire whether, in the event of the proposition being acceded to, two sets of 
instruments, one for Batavia and the other for Utrecht, could be prepared at 
Kew. An intimation that the British Government was about to resume and 
extend its magnetical researches might be expected to have a favourable in- 
fluence on the success of Dr. Buys Ballot’s proposition, and might also lead to 
the adoption of our colonial system of observation in its full extent at the 
Batavian observatory. 
The importance of the North Cape of Europe as a magnetical station, 
especially with reference to the connexion between the Aurora and the mag- 
netic disturbances, has already been noticed iia preceding letter from me (that 
of May 13). ‘The instruments which were prepared some years ago at the ex- 
