60. 



Mr. Gilchrist on the Balance 



[July 



nut trees) of the sea horizon to the west. The eastern view is termi- 

 nated by the Ghat mountains, the highest of which subtend an angle of 

 about 2° 15', the low hills to the north intercept only 45' : and from 

 N. N. W. to S. E. the view extends to the sensible horizon itself. The 

 country intervening between the Observatory and these boundaries, on 

 the land sides, consists of hills covered with low jungle, having strips 

 of rice-ground meandering between them, and topes of trees inter- 

 spersed. On a cliff, between three and four miles distant to the south, 

 and of the same elevation above the sea as the Observatory hill, are 

 built walls of masonry, intended to receive three meridian marks ; 

 and to the north an equally eligible situation may be selected for those 

 in that direction. 



The geographical situation of the Observatory, as nearly as I have 

 yet been able to ascertain it, is as follows : — 

 Latitude 8<> 30' 35'' north. 

 Long. 76° 59' 45" or hh. 7s. 59m. east. 



These positions cannot, I think, be in error to the amount of 5" in 

 latitude, or of 2' (in time) in longitude — they will, however, be settled 

 with more precision shortly. 



With the expression of my earnest hope, that the Trevandrum 

 Observatory may, hereafter take an important part in celestial research, 

 and prove useful to science, I shall conclude this brief account. 



\.—The Objections made by T. G. Taylor, Esq,, H. E. I. C's Jsiro- 

 nomer to the Balance Self -Registering Barometer considered ; and 

 further Remarks respecting that Instrument. — By William Gil- 

 christ, Esq. of the Madras Medical Establishment. 



In the 15th No. of this Journal Mr. Taylor has advanced several 

 objections to the principle and details of the plan for a self-register- 

 ing barometer, proposed by me, in the 14th No. These objections I 

 have considered with the attention due to the source whence they 

 emanated, and being humbly of opinion, that those which refer to the 

 principle of the plan do not hold good, I purpose, in the present com- 

 munication, to state my reasons for thus considering them. With re- 

 spect to those that refer to the details, it will afterwardsjbe seen that they 

 are easily got over. 



I shall (although in Mr. Taylor's paper it be last stated) first consider 

 the objections referring to the principle of the plan, because, if they hold 

 good, they undoubtedly would be what he considers them " fatal to the 

 balance barometer." In page 308, No 15, of the Madras Journal, the case 

 is supposed of an increase of atmospheric pressure equivalent to half an 



