up magnetic observations.  On Oct. 22nd he wrote, avoiding my question in some measure, but saying that our instruments must be changed for such as those at Kew (his observatory):  I replied, generally declining to act on that advice.—­In March and April I was in correspondence with Mr Cowper (First Commissioner of Works, &c.) about the bells of the Westminster Clock; also about the smoky chimneys of the various apartments of the Palace.  On Apr. 21st I made my Report on the clock and bells, 20 foolscap pages.  I employed a professional musician to examine the tones of the bells.—­In November I was writing my book on Probable Errors, &c.—­I was engaged on the Tides of Kurrachee and Bombay.—­The first examination of Navy telescopes was made for the Admiralty.  —­Hoch’s Paper on Aberration appeared in the Astronomische Nachrichten.  This (with others) led to the construction of the water-telescope several years later.—­In September I wrote in the Athenaeum against a notion of Sir H. James on the effect of an upheaval of a mountain in changing the Earth’s axis.  In October I had drawn up a list of days for a possible evagation of the Earth’s poles:  but apparently nothing was done upon them.

“In this year I was a good deal occupied for the Lighthouse Commission.  On Feb. 21st Admiral Hamilton (chairman) applied to me for assistance.  In April I went to Chance’s Factory in Birmingham on this business.  In May I made my report on the Start Lighthouse, after inspection with the Commission.  In June, with my son Hubert, I visited the Whitby Lighthouses, and discovered a fault of a singular kind which most materially diminished their power.  This discovery led to a general examination of lighthouses by the Trinity Board, to a modification of many, and to a general improvement of system.  On June 25th I reported on the Lights at Calais, Cap de Valde, Grisnez, South Foreland, and North Foreland.  In August I had been to the North Foreland again, and in September to Calais and the Cap d’Ailly.  In October I went with my son Hubert to Aberdeen to see the Girdleness Lighthouse.  On Nov. 10th I made a General Report.

“This was the year of the great total solar eclipse visible in Spain.  At my representation, the Admiralty placed at my command the large steamship ‘Himalaya’ to carry about 60 astronomers, British and Foreign.  Some were landed at Santander:  I with many at Bilbao.  The Eclipse was fairly well observed:  I personally did not do my part well.  The most important were Mr De La Rue’s photographic operations.  At Greenwich I had arranged a very careful series of observations with the Great Equatoreal, which were fully carried out.”