153 
made observations, while Mr. Macfarlane remained at Inver- 
cloy, constantly observing and recording the indications of the 
house electrometer. On the 4th inst. the same process was 
continued to observe simultaneously at the house and at one 
or other of several stations on the way up Goatfell. I have 
not yet reduced all the observations, but I see enough to 
leave no doubt whatever but that cloudless masses of air at 
no great distance from the earth, certainly not more than a 
mile or two, influence the electrometer largely by electricity 
which they carry. This I conclude because I find no con- 
stancy in the relation between the simultaneous electrometric 
indications at the difterent stations. Between the house and 
the nearest station the relative variation was least. Between 
the house and a station about half way up Goatfell, at a dis- 
tance estimated at two miles and a half in a right line, the 
number expressing the ratio varied from about 113 to 360 in 
the course of about three hours. On two different mornings 
the ratio of house to a station about sixty yards distant on 
the road beside the sea was 97 and 96 respectively. On the 
afternoon of the 4th inst., during a fresh temporary breeze of 
east wind, blowing up a little spray as far as the road station, 
most of which would fall short of the house, the ratio was 
108 in favour of the house electrometer — both standing at 
the time very high — the house about 350°. I have no doubt 
but that this was owing to the negative electricity carried by 
the spray from the sea, which would diminish relatively the 
indications of the road electrometer.” 
A Paper was read by Mr. Hopkins, entitled “ On Irregu- 
larities in the Winter Temperature of the British Islands.” 
This Paper was a continuation of one previously read to 
the Society, in which it was maintained that the superior 
warmth of the British Islands in the winter, is due to the 
large amount of vapour that is then condensed over them, 
'fo this proposition an objection has been taken, that the 
