Report of the Kew Committee, 



345 



The monthly observations with the absolute instruments have been 

 made regularly, and the results are given in the tables forming 

 Appendix I of this Report. 



The magnetic instruments have been studied, and a knowledge of 

 their manipulation obtained by — 

 M. Puiseux. 



Captain Dawson, R.A., and 3 of his assistants. 

 Dr. Ristori. 

 Mr. Dallas. 



Information on matters relating to terrestrial magnetism and various 

 data have been supplied to Professor W. G. Adams, J. B. H. Gordon, 

 Dr. Stewart, Messrs. Tate, Zambra, Professor McLeod, The Hydro- 

 graphic Department of the Admiralty, the Director- General of the 

 Chart Depot of the French Marine, Lieutenant Chad wick, the Naval 

 Attache from the United States, and others. 



The following is a summary of the number of magnetic observations 

 made during the year : — 



Determinations of Horizontal Intensity . » 33 



Dip 138 



„ Absolute Declination 28 



At the request of the Polar Committee of the Royal Society a 

 number of old magnetic instruments were removed out of store, and 

 after repair, packed and delivered to Captain Dawson, R.A., who 

 has been intrusted by the Government with the charge of a tem- 

 porary observatory established in connexion with the International 

 system at Fort Rae, Great Slave Lake, N.W. America. 



Other instruments were lent to the Rev. S. J. Perry, F.R.S., for use 

 during their residence in Madagascar for the observation of the 

 transit of Venus by a party under his direction ; and a third set were 

 prepared for Dr. Ristori, who projected an expedition to Iceland, but 

 has not yet started for that country. (See Appendix III.) 



A Dip-circle was also lent to the Austrian expedition to Jan 

 Mayen, to replace one mislaid at the time of sailing of the vessels ; 

 this, however, having been recovered by the expedition, the Kew circle 

 has been returned. 



II. Meteokological Obseevations. 



The several self-recording instruments for the continuous registra- 

 tion of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity, wind (direc- 

 tion and velocity), sunshine, and rain, respectively, have been main- 

 tained in regular operation throughout the year. 



The tube of the wet bulb thermograph was accidentally broken on 

 June 30 by a workman engaged in painting the exterior of the 

 building. A spare tube was substituted for it, and only a few hours' 



2 a 2 



