| Description | He was not in the Physical Committee of the Royal Society when the subject of magnetic observations came up. He cannot say exactly what passed, but their recommendation came before Council of the Royal Society, to obtain detailed meteorological and magnetic observations from the vicinity of London. Council did not feel it right to place additional burdens on Airy, but rather to have one establishment for this special purpose and he was instructed to express these views to Lord Melbourne. He did so, accompanied by [John William] Lubbock, Major [Edward] Sabine and Mr [Samuel Hunter] Christie. This did not sugggest any particular plan but rather opened the subject for consideration of Government. If Airy was willing to undertake the duties at Greenwich, then the country could not have a better superintendent, although he would need additional assistants and instruments. He will have Airy's letter communicated to the Physical Committee and Lubbock will explain in more detail than Northampton can. |