32 UNIVERSAL OR COSJIIC TIME. 



to transmit copies of the Pamphlet to the B,epresentatives of Foreign 

 Countries, as desired, and to intimate to them that I shall be happy 

 to forward to the Canadian Institute any communications which may 

 be sent in reply from any Foreign Scientific Institutions to which 

 they may be forwarded, but it must be distinctly understood that 

 Her Majesty's Government are merely transmitting these papers out 

 of courtesy to a Scientific Institution in Canada, and that in doing so, 

 they lend no support to, and assume no responsibility for the views 

 advocated therein. 



I have, &c., &c., 



M. E. HICKS-BEACH. 



Govermor-General, 



The Right Hon. The Marquis of Lorfte, K.T., G.C.M.G., &c. 



SIRM.E. HICKS-BEACH, COLONIAL SECRETARY, LONDON, TO THE 



MARQUIS OF LORNE, GOVERNOR-GENERAL, CANADA. 

 [Canada, 343.] Downing Street, 17th October, 1879. 



My Lord, — With reference to my despatch, No. 342, of the 15th 

 instant, relating to the pamphlet on '• Time Reckoning and the 

 Selection of a Common Meridian," which the Canadian Institute of 

 Toronto has desired to have brought before the notice of various 

 Scientific Societies and of Foreign Governments, I have the honour 

 to transmit to you the accompanying copies of letters received from, 

 the Admiralty and from certain of the scientific bodies to whom copies 

 of the Pamphlet were forwarded, in accordance with the wish ex- 

 pressed in your despatch, No. 174, of the 12th of July last. 



I request that these documents may be forwarded for the inform- 

 ation of the Canadian Institute of Toronto. 



I have, &c., &c., 



M. E. HICKS-BEACH. 

 'Governor-General, 



The Right Hon. The Marquis of Lome, K.T., G.C.M.G., &c. * 



SIR G. B. AIRY, ASTRONOMER ROYAL, GREENWICH, TO THE SEC- 

 RETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. 



(PORTINSCALE, KeSWICK), 



Royal Observatory, GREESfWicn, 18th June, 1879. 



Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of June 13th, 

 transmitting to me copy of a Memorial, undated, from the Council of 

 the Canadian Institute of Toronto to the Governor-General of Canada, 

 together with a Pamphlet by Mr. Sandford Fleming, which I return 

 herewith, and requesting my observations or suggestions on these 

 documents. I respectfully offer the following remarks : 



1, The subject of the Pamphlet is " Time Reckoning and a Prime 

 Meridian common to all Nations," on this matter I advance : First, 



