222 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 
also be interesting to study the relation between magnetic storms and 
earth currents at Yalentia, where the presence of one end of a trans- 
Atlantic cable must give special facilities for observing these latter. 
It would be of great interest to observe whether there were periods of 
alternation in these corresponding to the free period of oscillation of 
an electric charge on the earth, sun, or moon. These observations 
would also help to decide to what extent the theory was justified that 
attributes many of the magnetic disturbances to electric currents in 
the upper regions of the atmosphere. 
In view of the great interest attaching to this work, I hope the 
Academy will advance the funds required to continue them. It will 
be seen from the account accompanying this report that we have already 
spent £12 195. &d. more than the grant made to us. In addition 
to this expenditure, we think it is necessary to purchase a chrono- 
meter. "We also think it would be most desirable to erect a second 
smaller hut, in which a permanent declinometer should be erected, for 
the purpose of making observations during the occurrence of magnetic 
storms, so as if possible to identify particular waves of disturbance 
with ones recorded by the Kew magnetographs : such an identification, 
in even a few cases, would be of great interest, and might lead to very 
important results. We therefore ask for an additional grant of £40 in 
order to enable us to continue this work. 
In conclusion, I must express my appreciation of the great service 
Mr. CuUum is rendering to science in assisting this work, and my very 
sincere thanks for the very hearty way in which he has undertaken 
the whole of the labour connected with it, and for the care and ability 
with which he has conducted it. 
Geoege Francis FitzGeeald. 
Teinitt College, Dublin", 
March 25, 1889. 
On the Absolute Values of Teeeesteial Magnetism obseeved at 
Yalentia dueing 1888. 
A small grant being obtained from the Eoyal Irish Academy for 
the purpose of making observations in Ireland of terrestrial magnetism, 
Mr. J. E. Cullum, Superintendent of Yalentia Observatory, who had pre- 
viously been Magnetic Assistant at Kew Observatory, offered (subject 
to the approval of the Meteorological Council) to make absolute mea- 
surements of declination, horizontal force, and dip at the observatory. 
