THE Astronomer Royal (Sir George B. Airy) in liis recent report states—amongst other in- teresting subjects—that the mean temperature of 1880 was 49-4 deg., being O'l deg. above the average of the preceding 39 years. The highest temperature was 87-5 deg. on May 26, and the lowest I7'2 deg. on January 27. The mean temperature was below the average, 5 • 3 deg. in January, and 4-0 deg. in October; and above the average, 2-4 deg. in February, 2-7 deg. in March, 2-6 deg. in September, and 3-4 deg. in December; in other months it differed little from the average. Part of the month of January, 1881, was, as regards cold, especially severe.

The mean temperature of the period, January 12 to 26, was only 24-2 deg., or 14-7 deg. below the average; the temperature fell below 20 deg.

on 10 days, and rose above the freezing-point only on three days. The highest temperature in this period was 35 • 3 deg.; the lowest 12-7 deg. On January 18, there was a very severe snowstorm, with violent easterly gale. The mean daily motion of the air in 1880 was 281 miles, being 2 miles greater than the average.

In January the mean daily motion was 147 miles below the average, in September 68 below, and in November 61 above. The greatest daily motion was 954 miles on March 2, and the least 33 miles on January 29. The number of hours of bright sunshine during 1880 was 1,214, which is about the same as the average of the four years for which we have a record. The Green- wich time ball has been regularly dropped automatically at 1 h. on every day throughout the year, with the exception of six days when the violence of the wind made it imprudent to raise the ball, and eight days when the severe frost prevented, and one day when there was ' accidental failure. As regards the Clock of " Big Ben," Westminster, its errors have been under 1 sec. on 31 per cent, of the days of observation, between 1 sec. and 2 sec. on 47 per cent, between 2 sec. and 3 sec. on 18 per cent., and between 3 sec. and 4 sec. on 4 per cent.

The distribution of time signals to all parts of the country continues to be made by means of the chronopher at the central office of the Post Office telegraphs. In connexion with this system the proposal to establish an hourly signal at the Start Point should be borne in mind. Sir George Airy proceeds: "It is known to all persons familiar with chronometers that rates of the chronometers obtained while the ships are actually in voyage would possess remarkable value. We possess the power of giving facility for obtaining these to a large part of our mer- cantile navy by exhibiting a time signal at every hour at Deal (where the necessary appa- ratus already exists) and on the Start Point.

I have several times brought this proposal, as regards the Start, before the Government, but unsuccessfully. Next—and I approach this subject with grief—we have entirely abandoned the longitudes of the Atlantic, which have been cleared away before our eyes by the scientific enterprise of another nation. The Pacific, bear- ing those vast and important colonies, almost entirely British, is equally neglected; though so much is ready that the mission of a single officer would quickly establish all. The same aspiring nation which has mastered the Atlantic is now bent, as I understand, on adding to its scientific dominion the Pacific. I think this is not honourable to our nation.".