356 
REPORT — 1854. 
to us, into successive forms of distribution, which, after the lapse of con¬ 
siderable intervals of time, are found to differ very widely from each other, 
This change has received the name of secular change. By this second class 
of observations it was also proposed to trace the laws, and, if possible, the 
causes, of certain small periodical and other variations, superimposed upon 
the mean magnetic state of the globe, which, at the time when the observa¬ 
tories were undertaken, were generally believed to be in some way or other 
connected with the variations in the temperature of the earth or of the air. 
For such observatories, our colonial possessions, dispersed as they an’ in 
almost all parts of the globe, and presenting almost every variety of climate 
suitable for a thorough examination of the supposed connexion between th< 
maguetical and meteorological elements, afforded excellent positions; and it 
was believed that amongst our naval and military officers employed for the 
protection of the colonies, many might be found possessing the ticcewarr 
acquirements and disposition to conduct the observations upon a prescribe 
plan, which should be prepared by a Committee of the Royal Society ana 
sanctioned by the authority of the President and Council of that body. 
I he recommendation thus made to Government by the British Associate, 
and strengthened by a similar recommendation from the Royal Society, h* v,D ? 
been acceded to, measures were at once taken for carrying out both e IK ' 
of observation; and an appeal was at the same time made, through the pis 
authorities, to the governments of the principal nations of Europe and Amcro 
to participate in the inquiries by causing magnetic surveys to be ma 1 
their respective countries, and by establishing fixed observatories to canj“ 
for a period of limited duration the same system of observation as that oi «| 
in the British Colonies. . 
In both departments of inquiry the instruments and methods rW. 
the research were for the most part novel. It was to be expected, 
tha the exjenenee of the first two or three years would be expended 
veahng deficiencies and in Biurirpatimr mndiiientions and improvement • 
the research were for me most pai 
vool' J * pe . nence of the first two or three years wouiu uu «-r*- n 
veahng deficiencies and in suggesting modifications and improvements. 
n ° l 1,0 until foie were devised and brought into use tl 
system ot nhsnrvntl...._U r • , . . I .1 ... .....niiinw. A re 
edition 
.ml o. .L"'”“ V 'V. W,4 ° u ! *! je W a * oocieiy wu, in i ^ 
.forth 
e 7 u,llu tneae were devised ana urougm ■ 
emrmn observation could fairly be considered to commence. 
«uiu 0n of the instructions of the Huval Society was published "> 11 , f 
fwttt 3 at the of the British Association at Cambridge 
continpio 8 ? a , Utilu,L ‘d by special invitation by many of t,ie ( ll< * a forth 
a " ., tal observatories which had adopted the British system.) ' t0 tt 
Ko?ernm!l W ^ T* 6 to the British Government, and through 
nuance of 5? i° ther Pountrio8 » to prolong the period for whic 
1’hp ni .„. '• observatories was originally sanctioned. .pronin* 1 
dation, nT U1 n U pftr f takpi * by the British Association in 
the results ?' P roduce ^ ' n its members a strong desire to e 
before ti!'' ' C ia< * been obtained by their means, and toJjf v f :u, (four" 
in which tl l ? a m °re popular form than in the quartos fill? r oU „deda 
them nrr* le observations themselves, ami elaborate itivestigahoi- . D ,^ 
reasonahlp Pn " td ' l ,, eir wishes in this respect, which were p 
ObservatoriM 0 ' 6 com ™" nie ated to me, as the Superintendent 0 i tr8t jan « 
the affairs of '* - by my C0,lca S ucs ^ with their 
sentation I nnSl. , -Association; and iu accordancewitu for ik 
present meetine a °°^ at OUr meet *'ig last year at Hull, P n P 0 btai°^, ' 
means of the Brit‘7 1 #™''! “ 0,1 SOme of the results which had 1*®% „ to 
request howem fVelt T 181 ?*«*** Observatories" 
the firs moment at w ill r,8l, f t0 state niy ful1 beI,ef 
