Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/257

1837.] one complete set of such instruments. We may, however, in the mean time, offer a remark on one apparatus referred to by M. de Humboldt, that of M. Gauss. However well we may consider this apparatus to be adapted for the determination of the course of the regular diurnal variation, yet we apprehend that the great weight of the needles employed would prevent their recording the sudden and extraordinary changes in the direction of the magnetic forces, which are, probably, due to atmospheric changes. Another, and we conceive a very serious objection to this apparatus is, that bars of the magnitude employed must have an influence so widely extended, that there would be great risk of the interference of one of these heavy needles with the direction of another, especially in places where the horizontal directive force is greatly diminished, unless the rooms for observation were placed at inconvenient distances from each other.

By referring to M. de Humboldt's letter, it will be seen that the plan of observation so comprehensively conceived by him, has been most powerfully and liberally patronized by the Governments of France, of Prussia, of Hanover, of Denmark, and of Russia: indeed, it is quite manifest that a plan so extensive in its nature must be far beyond the means of individuals, and even of scientific societies unaided by the Governments under which they flourish. To suppose, even without the example thus held out, that the Government of this, the first maritime and commercial nation of the globe, should hesitate to patronize an undertaking, which, independently of the accessions it must bring to Science, is intimately connected with navigation, would imply that our Government is not alive either to the interests or to the scientific character of the country, and would show that we had little attended to the history, even in our times, of scientific research, which has been so liberally promoted by the Government. Although the investigation of the phenomena of terrestrial magnetism was not the primary object of the expeditions which have now, almost uninterruptedly, for twenty years been fitted out by Government,—another of which, and one of the highest interest, is on the point of departure,—yet a greater accession of observations of those phenomena has been derived from these expeditions than from any other source in the same period. We therefore feel assured that, when it shall have been represented to the Government, that the plan of observation advocated by the Baron de Humboldt is eminently calculated to advance our knowledge of the laws which govern some of the most interesting phenomena in physical science; that it appears to be perhaps the only one by which we can hope ultimately to discover the cause of these phenomena; and that, from it, results highly important to navigation may be anticipated; the patronage to the undertaking which is so essential to its prosecution will be most readily accorded. We beg, therefore, most respectfully,