EARTHaUAKES IN SCOTLAND AND IRELAND. 49 



curring in Scotland. The light which such a register is calculated to throw 

 on this dark and important subject is self-evident. The Committee would 

 only add, that the value of such a register is now greatly enhanced by its 

 appearing that in other countries similar registers are kept, which will afford 

 data for comparing the phaeaomena as exhibited in different parts of the 

 earth's crust respectively, and ascertaining whether, and to what extent, they 

 are connected. In the volume of the Transactions of the Royal Academy of 

 Turin, lately published, there will be found a part of the register kept at St. 

 Jean de Maurienne from the 19th of December 1838, to April 1840, which 

 partly embraces the period comprehended in the Comrie register. 



In urging the continuance of the Committee, and of means to enable them 

 to prosecute the object entrusted to them, it may not be out of place to ob- 

 serve, that great additional interest attaches to it from the opinion entertained 

 by several persons who have attended to the subject, that the earthquake 

 shocks of this, and perhaps of other non-volcanic countries, are connected 

 with the state of the atmosphere, and more particularly with electrical agen- 

 cies. To test the accuracy of this opinion it would be desirable to have 

 some meteorological instruments at Comrie, and accurate registers of their 

 indications kept. It is unnecessary to say that this opinion, if proved to be 

 accurate, would open up new and most important views as to the nature and 

 situation of the forces which are concerned in the production of earthquakes. 



If the British Association be still desirous, as it is hoped it will be, of 

 having inquiries prosecuted on this subject, it is recommended that a sepa- 

 rate Committee should be appointed for Scotland, where the shocks appear 

 to be more frequent than in any other part of the United Kingdom, and that 

 the Committee should consist of Lord Greenock, Sir John Robison, Professor 

 Jameson, Professor Traill, Professor Christison, Professor Forbes, Thomas 

 Jameson Torrie, Esq., and David Milne, Esq. 



With regard to the amount of the grant, it is thought that it certainly 

 should not be less than what was appropriated last year, viz. 20/. 



(Signed) Greenock, 



David Milne. 



Edinburgh, 10 York Place, 27th July, 1841, 

 My DEAR Sir, — I sent you some days ago a Report on the earthquake in* 

 struments and registers which have been established at Comrie by the Com- 

 mittee of the British Association. 



As a supplement to that Report I now beg to inform you, that on Sunday 

 evening, the 25th inst., there were two earthquake shocks felt at Comrie, by 

 both of which all the instruments set there were moved. Mr. Macfarlane 

 reports,, that the seismometer in Comrie parish-church had its point thrown 

 half an inch to the west, which indicated, therefore, a horizontal movement 

 of the earth towards the cast. An instrument of my own there also indi- 

 cated an upward movement to the extent of half an inch. 



These results, as they strengthen the recommendation in the Report, that 

 the Committee therein suggested should be appointed, and a sum of money 

 given, I hope you will communicate to the Association. 



Yours very truly, David Milne. 



Extract from a Letter from J. Bryce, Esq., one of the Members of the Com- 

 mittee, to D. Milne, Esq., dated Maghera Glebe-House, County of Lon- 

 donderry, July 21, 1841. 



Dear Sir, — Since the Glasgow Meeting there appeared in the Irish news- 

 papers three notices of earthquakes having occurred ; one in the county of 

 1841. E 



