MAGNETIC AND METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORIES. 3805 
pense of the Royal Society, and were intended to be presented to the observa- 
tory at the North Cape (should one be established there by the Norwegian 
Government), are still in existence, and with a few modifications might be 
applied to their original purpose. The re-establishment of magnetic observa- 
tories in the British Colonies might furnish a favourable oceasion for reviving, 
in concert with M. Hansteen, a proposition for an observatory at the North 
Cape, which seems to have failed on the former occasion rather from an 
accident than from any real difficulty in the matter itself. 
M. Secchi, of the Observatory of the Collegio Romano, at Rome, has 
recently been supplied from Kew, at the expense of the Papal Government, 
with a complete equipment of magnetical instruments, similar to those which 
have done such good work in the British Colonial establishments. With the 
encouragement derived from the revival of active measures here, M. Secchi 
might hope to obtain the aid which he desires, in the way of temporary 
assistance, to enable him to carry out the complete system of observation for 
which he is already provided with the instrumental means. 
The concert which has prevailed between Russia and England in magnetic 
operations gives reason to hope that renewed activity here might so far 
strengthen M. Kupffer’s hands as to enable him to carry out efficiently the 
hourly system of the three elements, at one at least of the stations in Eastern 
Siberia, the probable importance of which can scarcely be overrated. 
A meteorological observatory has recently been instituted at Havana ; and 
the director, M. Poey, has proposed to the Cuban authorities the purchase 
of magnetical instruments, to be prepared at Kew, and a sufficient increase of 
assistants to provide for observations to be made with them. M. Poey is 
active and intelligent, and has recently visited the principal magnetic institu- 
tions in Europe. He would not fail to avail himself of the support which 
his proposition would derive from the measures which might be taken here. 
The Regents of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington have agreed to 
allot a portion of their funds to a magnetic observatory ; but neither the 
instruments nor the system of observation have yet been determined : their 
decision might probably be hastened by the knowledge that active measures 
are in progress here. 
Viewing the necessity of resorting to means of securing and ascertaining a 
precise correspondence between the magnetical and meteorological instruments 
which may come to be used in these operations, or in cooperation with them in 
other quarters, as well as their exact and scientific adjustment, as also of se- 
curing a self-registered series of photographic delineations of the solar spots 
during their continuance, it is proposed that, during the continuance of the 
observatories, an annual sum, not exceeding £350, should be taken on the 
estimate, and placed at the disposal of the general Superintendent for these 
purposes. 
There is a point referred to in a former letter which will require the atten- 
tion of the Committee: it is the question whether the observations of the 
proposed observatories should be printed zm extenso, or in abstract accom- 
panied by a discussion of the principal results. 
I remain, 
My dear Sir, 
Faithfully yours, 
EDWARD SABINE. 
Sir John Herschel, Bart. 
