Letter from Erasmus Ommanney, 6 Talbot Square to Edward Sabine Replies to Sabine’s query ‘whether any magnetic observations were made in the White Sea in 1854’. Ommanney remarks they ‘were engaged on hostile operations’ and therefore did not take any ‘special instruments’ for observations. The observations were made ‘in the ordinary way’. Ommanney wrote to the navigating officers for their information and encloses Captain McDougall’s reply [see MS/257/3/91]. Refers to using ‘accurate charts’ made by the Russians under Admiral [Friedrich Benjamin von Lütke], and ‘sluggish’ nature of their compass. 8 October 1870