Si6 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



meteorologists of this country whose attendance could be obtained; 

 and a report has been drawn up which will shortly be laid before Parlia- 

 ment. It will include the answer of the Committee of this Society to 

 a letter addressed to the President and Coimcil by a Committee of the 

 Treasury requesting information on the following points : — 1. As to 

 the extent to which the objects indicated in the Eeports presented 

 by your President and Council in 1855 and 1865 for the guidance 

 of the Office, had been attained by means of the labour and publications 

 of the Office. 2. How far they had led to a better knowledge of the laws 

 goA'erning the weather, and to the discovery of new laws. 3. How far 

 they had led to the collection of data, not otherwise procurable, that 

 form a necessary basis for the establishment of new laws. 4. Should 

 the same objects be further pursued ? and if so, in accordance with tlie 

 programme of operations now in force ? 5. Should a change in the 

 programme of the operations appear desirable, what should their nature 

 be? 



The Committee of the Eoyal Society, which consisted of Sir Gr. Airy, 

 the Eev. E. Main, Professors Adams, Stokes, and B. Stewart, Dr. Gruy, 

 Messrs. He LaEue, Warington Smyth, Broun, and Spottiswoode, sent in 

 a series of recommendations to the Council that were embodied in a letter 

 addressed to the Treasury Committee. 



Tour Council reported that oceanic meteorology had been greatly 

 enriched by the investigations made with regard to winds, currents, 

 and temperatures of the ocean, and by the deductions obtained there- 

 from, and that these contained results on which sailing-directions of 

 the most trustworthy character, for the use of navigators, can be con- 

 structed. 



As regards terrestrial meteorology, that the number of statioiis for 

 which observations are signalled for the purpose of forecasts should be 

 increased rather than diminished ; and that these forecasts are justified 

 by the results of three-fourths of the cases recorded. 



That daily weather-charts are considered to have contributed materially 

 to a di:ffusion of the knowledge of meterological phenomena among all 

 classes, and are on that account of great utility ; and, further, their pre- 

 paration and issue are regarded as beyond the means of private estab- 

 lishments, and eminently worthy the support of the Grovernment. That 

 the publications of the Office generally bear the impress of a scrupulous 

 regard to accuracy, and embrace a collection of data not otherwise attain- 

 able, and supply a large mass of material of a nature indispensable to 

 the establishment of new laws ; and that all the work appears to have been 

 done in accordance with the recommendations of the Eoyal Society. 



As to the future of the Office, your Council were of opinion that the 

 programme now in force should be generally followed ; that the hitherto 

 unpublished results of oceanic observations should be brought out as soon 

 as possible, so that the meteorology of all navigable parts of the ocean 



