422 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Dec. 1, 



precession and tides in a viscous spheroid, in which he applies his 

 results to a discussion of the internal condition of the several planets, 

 and of the evolution of the moon and other satellites from the 

 primitive nebulas. 



I now pass on to mention briefly a few other subjects which, out- 

 side our immediate sphere of action, form substantial elements of the 

 scientific progress of the past year, and among these I should first 

 mention Meteorology, because the Council, to whom in this country the 

 subject is entrusted, is nominated by the Royal Society. 



The science of Meteorology has, during the last few years, attracted 

 an increasing amount of attention, more perhaps from its close relation 

 to the interests of all classes of the community, than from the definite- 

 ness or novelty of the scientific results to which it has led. 



The second International Congress of Meteorology met at Rome in 

 April of the present year, on the invitation of the Italian Govern- 

 ment ; an interval of nearly five years having elapsed since the date of 

 the first Congress, which was held at Vienna in 1874. The main object 

 of these meetings has been to introduce greater uniformity of method 

 into the meteorological systems of Europe, without attempting, how- 

 ever, to pledge the different Governments to any definite engagements 

 on the subject. With this view, a permanent International Com- 

 mittee has been constituted, to furnish a point d'appui for common 

 action, and to facilitate, during the intervals between the Congresses, 

 a personal interchange of opinions among the authorities directing the 

 different systems. 



A great number of valuable reports, on questions embracing nearly 

 the whole field of Meteorology, were received by the Roman Congress. 

 Among them, special mention may be made of the reports by M. Violle 

 on Solar Radiation ; by M. Pernet, on the Determination of the Fixed 

 Points of Thermometers ; and by Professor Everett, on Atmospheric 

 Electricity. 



A Conference of a semi-official character, which was originated by 

 the Qongress at Rome, was held at Hamburg in the beginning of 

 October, for the purpose of taking into consideration a proposal, 

 emanating from Lieutenant Weyprecht and Count Wilczek, to 

 establish for one complete year a circle of meteorological observations 

 round the Arctic regions of the globe. The Conference was attended 

 by representatives of the Meteorological Institutes of Austria, France, 

 Germany, Russia, and the Scandinavian countries; and it was agreed 

 that an effort should be made to establish the proposed circumpolar 

 system of meteorological and physical observations in the year 1881. 

 Some part at all events of this plan will, in all probability, be carried 

 into effect, as the Canadian Government has intimated its readiness to 

 co-operate in it, and as Count Wilczek has offered himself to defray 

 the cost of an Observatory at Nova Zembla. 



