| RefNo | MS/257/2/204 |
| AltRefNo | Sa.586 |
| Previous numbers | ES2/29/586 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Francis Galton, Cannes to Edward Sabine |
| Date | 16 March 1866 |
| Description | Regarding a meteorological report. Discusses reasons in proposing that the entire report and not only the statistical part should be shared with the Kew authorities. Galton asks Sabine to forward this letter to Mr [John Peter] Gassiot and members of the Kew Committee as a ‘private explanation’.
Discussion prediction of the weather, and the recommendation to abolish the daily forecasts. Argues ‘a daily statement’ of the weather is ‘clearly within the province of a scientific body such as the British Association’. Discussion regarding the recommendation to place weather forecasts and ‘some other branch of meteorology’ should be placed in the ‘same hands’, as telegraphic meteorology requires a large staff of clerks. Galton shares his opinion that Kew might have a branch in London where telegraphic reports would be received and discusses weather warnings and duties of the clerks.
Discusses putting the entire meteorology in the ‘hands of Kew’.
Discussion regarding the subject in part two of their report should be under a committee rather than one ‘man’, as no one has yet devised an ‘exceptional method of representing the current weather’. Therefore, Galton suggests the need for ‘many minds’ to keep a ‘good system’.
Discussion regarding ‘tabulating and charting current weather’.
Galton discusses the possible critique of the public regarding changes in weather predictions, and therefore the advantages of placing its ‘conduct’ with the British Association and whole ‘English scientific world’. Reference to other possible institutions [to take responsibility for meteorological work for weather forecasts].
Discussion regarding the suggestion to not recommend the ocean statistics to go to the Admiralty. |
| Extent | 7p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7708 | Galton; Sir; Francis (1822 - 1911); statistician, human geneticist and eugenicist | 1822 - 1911 |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |