32 REPORT — 1839. 



of drawing up plans of scientific co-operation, &c. relating to 

 the subject, and reporting to the Association. 



'^ 9. That the sum of 400/. be placed at the disposal of the 

 above-named Committee for the above-mentioned purposes." 



The Committee named in the above-mentioned Resolutions 

 report, — 



That in pursuance of the instructions conveyed in Resol. 7? 

 they immediately proceeded to address a copy of the Resolu- 

 tions to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, President of 

 the Association, for signature, with a request that he would 

 forward it so authenticated to Lord Melbourne, accompanied 

 by a letter from Sir J. Herschel, soliciting an interview on the 

 part of the Committee, for the purpose of entering into the 

 necessary explanations. His Grace having most readily com- 

 plied with this request, a reply was after some time received 

 from Lord Melbourne to the following effect : — 



" Sir " Windsor Castle, September 3, 1838. 



" I BEG leave to acknowledge your letter of the 27th ult., and 

 to acquaint you that I shall be most happy to receive the 

 Committee of the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science upon my return to London ; and remain. Sir, 

 "With great respect, 



" Your faithful and obedient Servant, 

 " Melbourne." 

 " Sir J. Herschel, Bart., 

 10, Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park." 



By a subsequent communication from his lordship the inter- 

 view in question was deferred until the Chancellor of the Ex- 

 chequer could appoint a day for attending. At length Saturday 

 the 10th November was appointed ; but the last mentioned 

 minister not being then able to attend, his lordship declined 

 considering the interview as official, allowing the Committee 

 however to place in his hands for consideration a memorial, of 

 which the following is a copy. 



Memorial of the Committee appointed by the British Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Science, to submit to Her 

 Majesty's Government the Resolutions of that Association 

 on the subject of Terrestrial Magnetism. 



The instruments and the methods of observation hitherto 

 employed in determining the dip and variation of the magnetic 

 needle, whether at fixed stations, or in surveys and voyages of 



