Eptiome of the electro-meteorological and magnetic observations, experiments, etc. made at the Kew Observatory / [Sir Francis Ronalds].

  • Ronalds, Francis, Sir, 1788-1873
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Eptiome of the electro-meteorological and magnetic observations, experiments, etc. made at the Kew Observatory / [Sir Francis Ronalds]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    For the convenience of reference, the subject shall be divided into heads corresponding- with the Five MSS. Volumes, entitled, “ Kew Electro- meteorological Observations and Experiments,” being the annual Journals produced at the yearly meetings of the British Association during the same,period. But other documents in my possession have been con¬ sulted also. 1st. Vol. In October, 1842, some regular observations were commenced at the Kew Observatory, of a Barometer, an ordinary Thermometer, a pair of Six’s maximum-and-minimum thermometers, a Daniel’s hygrometer, and a Mason’s wet-bulb hygrometer, which Instruments had been depo¬ sited, before my attendances there began, at the north window of the east (or quadrant) room, where they have from that time to the present, been constantly employed. A chronometer of Mr. Dent, was also there, and has been always used to note Greenwich mean time. In November, 1842, I described particularly my plan or project for erecting on, and in, the equatorial apartment of the Observatory an elec¬ trical Conductor on the principle of that which I had formerly invented, and described.* In this plan or project I also suggested the employ¬ ment of some additional apparatus necessary, or subservient, to the pro¬ secution of electro-meteorological observations and experiments, (and adverted to a scheme for exposing a very large extent of wire, or wire- gauze, to the action of dew, &c. &c. with a view to some other new elec¬ trical experiments, &c.). In the earlier part of 1843 I made some drawings of the alterations and constructions required for converting the equatorial apartment of the ob¬ servatory into an Electrical observatory; and other drawings of the re¬ quired electrical apparatus, viz. the principal Conductor, with its glass support and heating apparatus, its voltaic collecting lantern, its glass Voltaic Electrometers (as first employed), a Henley’s electrometer (apud Volta), my new Discharger (or spark-measurer), gold-leaf Distinguisher, and improved gold-leaf Electroscope, &c. &c.; and the execution of these alterations, constructions, and instruments was superintended by myself at Kew, and (at Mr. Newman’s) at Somer’s Town. They were completed and brought into use in June, 1843. Before the 1st of August, 1843, I added to the above collection, a Lind’s Anemometer, my improved Wind-vane, my Rain-and-vapour-guage, an eight-haired Saussure’s Hygrometer, my improved resinous plate Elec¬ trograph, (the three last coming from Chisvpck, on loan), and a Goujon’s galvanometer was sent in by Professor Wheatstone. In May, 1844, my balance Anemometer was constructed and brought into use, after finding the Lind’s and Guyot’s not sensible enough. In June, 1844, the glass Voltaic electrometers above mentioned, were discarded, and the improved instruments now employed were substi¬ tuted. The journal of Electro-meteorological observations maybe said to have properly commenced on the 1st of August, 1843, and all the instruments hitherto mentioned were more or less employed in the observations. It ends, in this Volume, on July 31, 1844. In arranging the form of it, I adhered as nearly as the new circumstances would admit to that of the * In my “ Descriptions of an Electrical Telegraph, and of some other electrical appa¬ ratus.” 8vo. Lond. 1823.