Report of the Kew Committee for the Year ending 

 December 31, 1892. 



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

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

 constituted as follows : 



Mr. F. Galton, Chairman. 



Captain W. de W. Abney, C.B., 

 R.E. 



Prof. W. G. Adams. 

 Captain E. W. Creak, U.N. 

 Prof. G. C. Foster. 

 Admiral Sir G. H. Richards, 



K.C.B. 

 The Earl of Rosse, K.P. 



Prof. A. W. Riicker. 

 Mr. R. H. Scott. 



Lieutenant- General R. Strachey, 

 C.S.I. 



General J. T. Walker, C.B. 

 Captain W. J. L. Wharton, 

 R.N. 



The serious illness of Mr. Whipple has prevented his performing 

 the duties of Superintendent during the last half-year. During this 

 period the work of the Observatory was very satisfactorily carried 

 out by Mr. Baker, the Chief Assistant, and the Committee are of 

 opinion that his services should be specially recorded, and they are 

 glad to state that the routine work of the Observatory has in no w T ay 

 suffered in these circumstances. 



The work at the Observatory may be considered under the fol- 

 lowing heads : — 



1st. Magnetic observations. 

 2nd. Meteorological observations. 

 3rd. Solar observations. 



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



5th. Verification of instruments. 



6th. Rating of Watches and Marine Chronometers. 



7th. Miscellaneous. 



I. Magnetic Observations. 



There have been no changes introduced in the magnetographs 

 during the past year, but during the erection of the additional story 

 to the west wing of the Observatory the self-recording instruments 

 were at times disturbed by the building operations. Fortunately the 

 indications of the instruments were seriously affected by these causes 

 on one of the " quiet days " only, and that day has been omitted in 

 calculating the monthly mean. 



