96 
ME. C. V. WALKEE ON MAONETIC STOEMS AND EAETH-CUEEENTS. 
along the Brighton Eailway, and along the North Kent Bail way) wires which would 
photographically register in the Eoyal Observatory the currents that pass in these 
directions, exhibiting their indications by photographic curves in close juxtaposition 
Avith the registers of the magnetic elements*.” I think it would be very deshable, 
because it is not practicable on wires erected for other purposes, and vsdth obseiwers 
whose duties with these wires are of an urgent nature, to secure an undisturbed series of 
consecutive observations, — and the more so as the abnormal state comes on without 
foreAvarning. Nor would it be necessary for this purpose to incur the cost of erecting a 
long line of wire ; for it will be seen, as we proceed, that one of the most active circuits 
Avith Avhich we have to deal is only three miles long. I have also two stations at Ash- 
ford which are only 972 yards apart, between which derived currents of small value 
have more than once passed, although the galvanometers by which they were indicated 
are not of the most sensitive character. This was the case, 1859, November 30, 4.48 
to 6.6 p.m., and 1860, August 11, 10.6 to 10.8 p.m. The most favourable direction for 
Avires, or the best bearing for earth-plates, may be gathered from the results to which 
the folloAving observations will lead. 
To return to August — September 1859. The Dover clerk writes on September 2, 
“ This morning, on opening the office, I found the needles of both instruments firmly 
blocked over to the left, and although the handles were firmly held over to the right to 
counteract the current, to my sm’prise I found that our battery power had not the 
shghtest effect .... I am sorry to say there is not the slightest possibility of our working 
the instrument ; needles continuing firmly fixed over, and which has continued for 
upwards of half an hour.” The clerk at Ashford, who generally makes a good series of 
continuous observations, in this instance, for reasons already named, reports in very few 
Avords : “ September 1. From 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. very strong on all instruments, first one 
side and then the other, which prevented any messages to or from ; and deflections very 
strong through the day, which caused great delay to the work. 
“September 2. Very strong from 4a.m. to 10a.m. and throughout the day. Great 
delay to messages in consequence.” 
Deal reports for each of the three days, September 1, 2, and 3, very briefly: — “Hard 
on, right and left the whole day.” 
The Kamsgate observations were more in detail, and are given in full in Table I. 
At this station are three telegraph instruments ; the most sensitive is on the group 
Avhich terminates at Ashford and Margate ; the next in character is on the group termi- 
* Since this paper Avas read, Mr. Aiey’s Eeport to Visitors, 1861, June 1, has been printed. Eeferriug 
to the suggestion in his previous Eeport, he says, “ I conceive that this may he justly regarded as an im- 
portant physical experiment ; and I hope to be able shortly to lay before the Visitors some details of plan, 
and to ask their opiuion in a more precise form.” The proposition has come before me officially ; I have 
reported upon it to the Astronomer Eoyal, and have furrdshed him with an estimate of the cost of erectiug 
a wire from Greenwich to near Croydon, and another from Greenwich to near Dartford {vide Map, Plate II.). 
The proposition has met with the approval of the Visitors ; and I have, to a certaiu small extent, made 
progress in anticipation. — C. V. "VV., July 1861. 
