Item 58 - Letter from John Herschel

Collingwood - The director of the Russian magnetic observatories has suggested to Edward Sabine the 'propriety of a magnetic congress to be held at the British Association of Science meeting. All the major figures from around Europe would be invited to 'consider the propriety of continuing the observations beyond the end of 1845 and whether there be any occasion for altering or modifying the plan of the observations'. Sabine wants JH to write to all the relevant parties to this effect. JH does not want to do this until he has had the opinions of WW and the other members of the magnetic committee of the BAAS as well as the view of George Airy.