REPORT OP THE COUNCIL. 
XXVII 
The Report of the Kew Committee to the Council, signed by J. P. Gassiot, 
Esq., Chairman:— 
In their Report for the last year your Committee stated that an application 
had been made to them by the Hydrographer of the Admiralty for advice 
as to the construction of thermometers to be supplied to H.M. Navy, for 
the purpose of making meteorological observations at sea, aud that vour Com¬ 
mittee had undertaken to provide a specimen of the form of instrument 
which they might consider most suitable. 
When the necessary experiments were completed and a Model Thermo¬ 
meter constructed, your Committee directed that one should be sent to each of 
the Philosophical Instrument Makers who had been supplied with Standard 
Thermometers from the Observatory, requesting that they would acquaint 
the Committee at what price 9uch instruments could be supplied. 
The prices named by Messrs. Negretti aud Zambra and by .Messrs. Ca- 
sella and Co. having been ascertained to be the lowest, tin firms were 
selected by your Committee as those to whom applications should be made 
to furnish such thermometers when required. 
The diameter of the spherical bulb of the proposed thermometer is about 
tfrths of an inch; the graduation includes a range of from 10 : to 13(> ; ’ I'ahr.; 
the length of the thermometer is 10^ inches; the brass scale on which the 
figures are stamped is raised to nearly the level of the front of the tube, 
which is fastened to the scale by two clips. The scale is cut away about 
oue inch above the bulb, astop being fixed on the copper case so as to prevent 
the kilb touching the bottom of the cup. 
Ihe thermometer is constructed of enameled tubing, and the divisions are 
etched on t-lic stem with fluoric acid ; the figures are stamped on the brass 
scale at every 10th degree, and each instrument is fitted to a japanned copper 
case with a cup surrounding the bulb, and has a distinguishing number. The 
cost, in consideration of the quantity ordered from the makers at one time, in¬ 
cluding the case, is 5s. 6d., and without the case 'is. 6d., for each thermometer. 
On the 3rd of December 18.53 your Committee requested Colonel Sabine 
to inform the Hydrographer of the Admiralty that thermometers according to 
the model described could be supplied in any quantities; a copy of the corre¬ 
spondence with the Hydrographer, as also with the Board of Trade, is annexed 
to this Report. 
On the 28th January 1854 your Committee received an application from 
me Smithsonian Institution of the United States, through its agent, Mr. 
i-evens, tor specimens of thermometers and barometers for marine u-.\ as 
so tor a standard thermometer. Mr. Stevens has since ordered one thousand 
ermometers for the use of the United States Navy, five hundred from each 
o ie eiore-montioned firms, and fifty marine barometers; the whole of 
these instruments, which will he similar to those described in this Report, 
will be verified by Mr. Welsh at the Observatory. 
. 6 , 1 ‘hernioinetei- will undergo a rigorous examination at the Obsirva- 
. *7’ "J a table " ll1 ,n a11 cases be furnished of scale errors, which, on the 
Jjo, jjJfSISg ." lth t,lc Instrument-makers, are not to exceed 0'6 
etween 3- and 100 Fahr., nor to vary more than 0°*3 within any 10 . your 
Committee consider that for all the purposes intended such th^monirtors 
. ns . If o ; nd ‘•Jfflcwnttv correct, and being obtainable at a very moderate 
f , °I )e \ utuvo observations made with such instruments will prove 
ut essential practical and scientific value. 
On the 27th March, 1854, the Board of Trade addressed a letter to the 
nnri'+k 1311 ° ^ our ^ omi idttee requesting their aid in procuring barometers 
erinometers for the use of the Mercantile Marine. On the 3 rd of 
