other to a point in the neighbourhood of Dartford.  Each wire is to be connected at its two extremities with the Earth.  The angle included between the general directions of these two lines is nearly a right angle.’—­’The Kew unifilar magnetometer, adapted to the determination of the horizontal part of terrestrial magnetic force in absolute measure, was mounted in the summer of 1861; and till 1862 February, occasional observations (14 in all) were taken simultaneously with the old and with the new instrument.  The comparison of results shewed a steady but very small difference, not greater probably than may correspond to the omission of the inverse seventh powers of distance in the theoretical investigation; proving that the old instrument had been quite efficient for its purpose.’—­Great efforts had been made to deduce a law from the Diurnal Inequalities in Declination and Horizontal Force, as shewn by the Magnetic observations; but without success:  the Report states that ’The results are most amazing, for the variation in magnitude as well as in law.  What cosmical change can be indicated by them is entirely beyond my power of conjecture.’—­’I have alluded, in the two last Reports, to the steps necessary, on the English side, for completing the great Arc of Parallel from Valencia to the Volga.  The Russian portion of the work is far advanced, and will be finished (it is understood) in the coming summer.  It appeared to me therefore that the repetition of the measure of astronomical longitude between Greenwich and Valencia could be no longer delayed.  Two Assistants of the Royal Observatory (Mr Dunkin and Mr Criswick) will at once proceed to Valencia, for the determination of local time and the management of galvanic signals.’—­’I now ask leave to press the subject of Hourly Time Signals at the Start Point on the attention of the Board, and to submit the advantage of their addressing the Board of Admiralty upon it.  The great majority of outward-bound ships pass within sight of the Start, and, if an hourly signal were exhibited, would have the means of regulating their chronometers at a most critical part of their voyage.  The plan of the entire system of operations is completely arranged.  The estimated expense of outfit is L2017, and the estimated annual expense is L326; both liable to some uncertainty, but sufficiently exact to shew that the outlay is inconsiderable in comparison with the advantages which might be expected from it.  I know no direction of the powers of the Observatory which would tend so energetically to carry out the great object of its establishment, viz. “the finding out the so much desired Longitude at Sea."’—­The attention of the Visitors is strongly drawn to the pressure on the strength of the Observatory caused by the observation of the numerous small planets, and the paragraph concludes thus:  ’I shall, however, again endeavour to effect a partition of this labour with some other Observatory.’—­A