56 



Mr. R. H. Scott. 



requests that it may be understood to convey also the opinion of the 

 Council. 



At this early period much of Mr. Ronalds' attention was directed 

 to the subject of atmospheric electricity, and in this investigation he 

 was assisted by Mr. W. Radcliff Birt. At the same time the Hon. 

 Superintendent was far from neglectful of other branches of physical 

 research, and he devoted much of his rare mechanical energy to the 

 invention and perfecting of the photographic processes for the registra- 

 tion of meteorology and terrestrial magnetism, with which the name 

 of the Kew Observatory has been permanently associated. 



In the course of the year 1850 magnetic observations were com- 

 menced with instruments provided by Lieut. -Colonel Sabine, and Mr. 

 John "Welsh was appointed by the Committee as Assistant, Mr. Birt 

 having left the Observatory ; and in the following year we notice the 

 first commencement of the Verification Department, which has 

 subsequently become such an important feature of the Kew opera- 

 tions — the purchase of a standard thermometer by Regnault, with the 

 intention of employing the latter instrument in the verification of 

 thermometers made by artists in this country — and the procuring of 

 M. Regnault's apparatus for calibrating and graduating thermometer 

 tubes. 



In 1852 the verification work had fairly started, as well as the 

 making of standard thermometers. Mr. Welsh also had made two 

 ascents in a balloon, for the determination of the temperature and 

 hygrometric condition of the air at different elevations, before the date 

 of the British Association Meeting. 



In the course of this year Mr. Ronalds left the Observatory to 

 reside on the Continent, and accordingly from this date Mr. Welsh is 

 to be regarded as Superintendent of the Observatory, the first or 

 preliminary stage of the Observatory having come to an end. 



In 1853, as already stated, appeared the first Kew Report, signed 

 by Mr. Gassiot as Chairman of the Kew Committee, and in the next 

 year, 1854, we learn that the best form of barometers and thermo- 

 meters for the use of the Mercantile Marine had been decided on by 

 the Kew Committee at the request of the Board of Trade, and that 

 Mr. Welsh had experimentally tested the marine barometers in a 

 voyage to Leith and back, and in one to and from the Channel Islands. 



Also that Sir J. Herschel had suggested the importance of 

 obtaining daily photographic pictures of the sun's disk, and that 

 Mr. Warren de la Rue having reported that the probable cost would 

 not exceed 150Z., this sum had been procured from the Donation Fund 

 of the Royal Society. 



In the same year Robert Beckley was engaged as machinist, on the 

 recommendation of Mr. de Ja Rue. Two acres of ground were also 



