1880.] 



Report of the Kew Committee. 



115 



Report of the Kew Committee for the Year ending 

 October 31, 1880. 



The operations at the Kew Observatory in the Old Deer Park, 

 Richmond, Surrey, are controlled by the Kew Committee, which is 

 now constituted as follows : 



General Sir E. Sabine, K.O.B., Chairman. 



Mr. De La Rue, Vice- Chairman. 

 Prof. W. G. Adams. 

 Capt. F. Evans, O.B. 

 Prof. G. C. Foster. 

 Mr. F. Galton. 



Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. H. Lefroy, 

 K.C.M.G. 



Vice-Adm. Sir G. H. Richards. 



The Earl of Rosse. 



Mr. R. H. Scott. 



Lieut.- General W. J. S my the. 



Lieut- Gen. R. Strachey, C.S.I. 



Mr. B. Walker. 



The work at the Observatory may be considered under seven sec- 

 tions : — ■ 



1st. Magnetic observations. 

 2nd. Meteorological observations. 

 3rd. Solar observations. 



4th. Experimental, in connexion with either of the above depart- 

 ments. 



5th. Verification of instruments. 

 6th. Aid to other Observatories. 

 7th. Miscellaneous. 



I. Magnetic Observations. 



No change has been made in the Magnetographs, which have 

 worked continuously during the year. The curves have recently 

 indicated the approach of a more disturbed period than has occurred 

 for some few years, and a magnetic storm of considerable intensity 

 was registered from August 11th to 15th. 



Owing to the gradual secular change of declination, the distance 

 between the dots of light upon the cylinder of the magnetometer had 

 become too small for satisfactory registration, and it was found neces- 

 sary to readjust the instrument by a displacement of its zero. From 

 a similar cause it was also found necessary to readjust the balance of 

 the vertical force magnetometer. 



The scale values of all the instruments were re- determined in 

 January, in accordance with the usual practice. 



