100 Description and System of Working 



A Photometer , according to Steinheil's principle. 



(Executed in the Optical Institute of C. Steinheil, Munich. ) 



A Six-feet Refractor, as above. 



In the Dwelling House — 

 An Electrometer on Quetelet's principle. 

 A Telegraphic Instrument, executed by E. Merfield, Mel- 

 bourne. 

 A large Photographic Apparatus, for charts, maps, &c. 

 A Small Photographic Apparatus, for scientific objects. 



(From the atelier of Messrs. Lerebour et Secretan, Paris. ) 

 Chronometers, sextants, barometers, thermometers, tubes, 

 heliotropes, balances, microscopes, turning lathe, tools, &c. 



Having given an outline of the circumstances which led to 

 the selection of the Flagstaff Hill as a site for a magnetical 

 and nautical observatory, and having given a sketch of the 

 different buildings and their construction, I now arrive at the 

 second part which forms the subject of this paper, namely, 

 the system of working. 



To be successful in illustrating the labors undertaken by 

 me, and the methods I have applied, I cannot begin in a bet- 

 ter manner than by stating in a few precise terms the objects 

 of the Flagstaff Observatory. 



First amongst these comes the advancement of the science 

 of Terrestrial Magnetism in its theoretical and practical scope, 

 and more especially in reference to those investigations which 

 will ultimately give us a clue by which to connect the pheno- 

 mena of meteorology and magnetism. Further, to assist the 

 great systems of observations carried on at sea, with a view 

 to improve ocean navigation, and to endeavour to establish 

 and support similar institutions on the Australian coast and 

 adjacent seas. 



By carefully weighing and realizing the full purport of the 

 foregoing ideas, we perceive at once that they are all closely 

 connected with each other ; in fact, that Avhile we are all 

 pursuing any one of them, we can hardly exclude the others, 

 if we have clearly defined views as to the best means 

 which can be adopted. We further perceive at once that it 

 must be one of the first principles of an institution of this kind, 

 that the simultaneous nature of phenomena should be re- 

 corded and established, and that an Observatory, aiming at 

 such a high position in reference to the general system, must 

 keep hourly registers on meteorology and magnetism. 



These were the conclusions which guided me in forming 



