Meteorological Observations at the Kew Observatory. 309 



continued to retain their independence ; and at the same time 

 we understand why, at so early a period of their conquest, the 

 Romans established permanently at the southern and northern 

 extremities of the border of this mountain district two of the 

 three legions which occupied the island. It was not to hold 

 in check independent and turbulent natives, but to overawe 

 a large population of slaves and condemned criminals who were 

 employed in the extensive mining operations. Many of the 

 numerous early entrenched inclosures which are scattered over 

 the mountains in which the mines were situated, and which 

 our antiquaries have so hastily and so injudiciously called camps, 

 contained probably villages of miners, or places for works in 

 connection with the mines, or possibly posts which were occu- 

 pied from time to time by detachments of troops when their 

 presence happened to be necessary. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE KEW 

 OBSERVATORY OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION 

 FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



BY CHARLES CHAMBERS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The situation of the Kew Observatory, in the north western 

 part of the Old Deer Park, is on the whole well adapted to afford 

 true indications of meteorological phenomena. The building, 

 which was erected about eighty-five years ago as a private 

 astronomical observatory for George III., stands on a slight 

 elevation surrounded by a flat grassy surface, and is freely 

 exposed to winds from every direction, the nearest obstacles 

 being three elm trees 170 feet to the south-east. The Thames 

 sweeps close past the boundary of the park, approaching very 

 near to the observatory, which it surrounds on all sides but the 

 east ; a circumstance which may render the moisture of the air 

 somewhat higher at Kew than at other places in the same lo- 

 cality, its effect being evident in an extreme prevalence of fogs. 



BRIEF DESCRIPTION" OF THE INSTRUMENTS. 



Barometer. — This instrument, which is one of Newman's 

 construction, is placed in the east room, on the first floor of the 

 building, with its cistern at a height of about thirty-four feet 

 above the level of the sea. The internal diameter of the tube 

 measures 0*55 inch. The temperature of the mercury and of 

 the scale is observed by a thermometer immersed in mercury 

 contained in a tube of the same bore as the barometer, and 

 vol. i. — NO. IV. Y 



