1864.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 611 



4^ _0n Government ships. These are fairly trustworthy, and, 

 with a little care and attention on the part of the Reporter, may proba- 

 bly he made more so. The barometrical observations so made are 

 especially of value, and those on the direction of the wind ; every 

 encouragement should be given to the multiplication of this class of 

 observations on the larger merchant ships and private steamers. 



A fifth class of observations may be recorded with advantage when 

 obtainable, viz., those made by educated Planters, Engineers, and 

 others scattered through the country, not in Government service. 

 Though these may be few in number, in certain cases they will be 

 of a value fully equal to those made at the Central Observatories. 

 The Society now receives a series of observations of this character 

 from a gentleman in Ceylon, which, for accuracy, care and fulness, 

 are surpassed by none in the country. Should any registers of this 

 class be obtainable, it would clearly be advisable to afford the observers 

 furnishing them every aid in the loan or repair of instruments, the 

 supply of forms of registers, &c. 



The scheme thus submitted would involve an immediate maximum 

 annual cost of about Us. 67,000, including cost of instruments, office, 

 travelling expenses for the Superintendent, &c, which may be divided 

 &s follows : — ■ 



Monthly. 



Secretary and Superintendent, 1,000 



7 Local Reporters, at Es. 500, 3,500 



Central Office, Computers, &c, say 300 



4,800 



Per annum ... 57,600 



Instruments, Printing, &c, say 10,000 



Total, per annum 67,600 



The Committee believe that this scheme, without being very costly 

 would yield results which would amply compensate the expense. 

 They would strongly urge as a general principle that any attempt to 

 obtain Meteorological data on a cheap scale of payments will fail as 

 previous attempts have failed, and they believe that any expenditure 



