Report of the Keiv Committee for the Year ending 

 October 31, 1881. 



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

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

 constitnted as follows : 



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



Mr. De La Rue, Vice-Cliairman 

 Capt. W. de W. Abney, R.E. 

 Prof. W. G. Adams. 

 Capt. Sir F. Evans, K.C.B. 

 Prof. G. C. Foster. 

 Mr. F. Galton. 



Vice-Adm. Sir G. H. Richards, 

 C.B. 



The Earl of Rosse. 

 Mr. R. H. Scott. 

 Lieut.- General W. J. Smythe. 

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

 Mr. E. Walker. 



Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. H. Lefroy, K.C.M.G., having been appointed 

 Deputy- Governor of Tasmania, withdrew from the Committee in 

 December, and Capt. Abney was elected to fill the vacancy. 



The work at the Observatory may be considered under seven 

 heads : — 



1st. Magnetic observations. 

 2nd. Meteorological observations. 

 3rd. Solar observations. 



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

 ments. 



5th. Verification of instruments. 

 6th. Aid to other Observatories. 

 7th. Miscellaneous. 



I. Magnetic Observations. 



On January 10 the magnetograph needles were dismounted and 

 re-magnetized, having become weakened by age. Since then work has 

 continued as usual. 



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

 January, in accordance with the practice of previous years, both 

 before and after the re- magnetization of the needles. 



