466 
THE  ADMIEALTT  ASTEONOmCAL  EXPEEIMEyT 
feet  practicability  of  making  an  experiment  on  the  Peak  of  Teneriffe, — laid  a statement 
to  that  effect  before  the  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  the  Eight  Honourable  Sir  Chaeles 
Wood. 
That  Minister  instantly  saw  the  importance  of  the  proposition,  and  entering  most 
warmly  and  liberally  into  it,  at  once  agreed  to  furnish  such  funds  as  would  enable  me 
to  proceed  immediately  to  Teneriffe ; and,  with  due  permission  from  the  Spanish  autho- 
rities, make  trial  of  the  capabihties  of  the  mountain.  The  first  estimate  amounted  to 
£300 ; but  so  noble  a view  did  the  Admiralty  take  of  the  matter,  that  they  inquired, 
through  their  Hydrographer  (Captain  Washington),  if  £300  was  not  too  small  a sum 
for  the  efficient  performance  of  the  service.  Having  in  the  meantime  received  good 
reasons  from  Mr.  Aiet  for  taking  out  a larger  telescope  than  I had  at  first  contemplated, 
I sent  in  a second  estimate  for  £500,  and  it  was  immediately  authorized. 
The  spring  being  now  well  advanced  (May  the  2nd),  there  was  but  short  time  to  pre- 
pare ; and  it  is  here  proper  again  to  express  my  obhgations  to  the  Admiralty,  who  left 
me  unfettered  by  any  instructions,  except  the  very  reasonable  one  of  not  exceeding  the 
grant.  The  preparations  therefore  went  on  rapidly  in  May  and  Jime. 
Meanwhile  the  Admiralty  wrote  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  the  Eoyal  Astronomical  Society, 
the  British  Association,  Sir  John  Heeschel,  Mr.  Aiey,  and  the  Director  of  the  Ordnance 
Survey,  informing  them  of  the  authorization,  and  inquiring  if  they  had  any  suggestions 
to  offer. 
These  several  parties  highly  approved  of  the  measure,  but  sent  m propositions  for  so 
much  additional  work,  that  the  whole  scale  of  the  mission,  its  time  for  preparation,  and 
for  execution,  its  materials,  men,  and  money,  would  have  had  to  be  greatly  extended  to 
include  them  all.  Many  reasons,  however,  dictated  the  propriety  of  keeping  to  the 
original  idea,  of  making  the  experiment  for  the  summer  of  1856  a tentative  one  merely. 
A capabihty  nevertheless  of  attending  to  many  of  the  very  important  suggestions  thus 
made,  and  without  exceeding  the  Admiralty  allowance,  was  acquhed  before  long 
through  the  liberal  loans  made  by  private  individuals.  The  number  and  value  of  these 
are  so  interesting  a proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  the  undertaking,  as  an  attempt  to 
solve  an  important  problem  in  practical  astronomy,  was  \iewed  by  the  scientific  men  of 
Great  Britain,  that  they  may  well  be  entered  here. 
(1.)  Actinometer,  Magnetometer,  two  Eadiation  thermometers.  Electrometer,  Spec- 
trum apparatus,  and  Polarimeter.  By  G.  B.  Aiey,  Astronomer  Eoyal.  (2.)  Equatorial 
instrument;  the  telescope  11  feet  in  focal  length,  and  7^  inches  aperture  with  clock 
motion.  By  H.  L.  Pattinson,  Esq.,  of  Newcastle-on-Tyne.  (3.)  A Quartz  train  for  , 
spectrum  observations.  By  Professor  G.  G.  Stokes.  (4.)  Mountain  Barometer,  and 
six  thermometers.  By  Dr.  Lee  of  Hartwell.  (5.)  Mountain  Barometer,  and  four  ' 
thermometers.  By  J.  Adie,  Esq.,  of  Edinburgh.  (6.)  A Thermo-multipher.  By  ' 
J.  P.  Gassiot,  Esq.,  F.E.S.  (7.)  Four  barometers,  twelve  thermometers  and  hydi-o-  | 
meters  compared  at  the  Kew  Observatory,  with  blank  books  and  maps.  By  Admiral  i 
FitzEoy  on  the  part  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  (8.)  Four  Chronometers.  By  the  Hydro-  j 
