Sicawei is not an astronomical obser-tory in the trio sense of the word. Tt does possess a small telescope, by means of which the Fathers can photograph or observe the phenomena of the heavens, but the real work of the Institution ik the study of meteorological conditions, and the recording of seismological and magnetic observations. Particular interest attaches to the latter at this time, ax, owing to the advent of the tramways all the magnetic lustraments are shortly to be transferred to Quinsan. By the courtesy of the Director of the Observatory the Shang-i Society of Engineers and Architects will this afternoon have an opportunity of inspecting these instruments, courtesy extended to a representative of this paper afew days ago. Father de Moidrey, who has been at the Observatary for nine years, kindly undertook the office of guide for the occasion. The first visit was to the small building in which the magnetic instruments are housed. In this building there are three rooms, In the smallest isa new and, to the tninitinted, very complicated earth inductor, or dip circle for showing the dip of the ment is levelled galvanometer. It is then revolved by hand, and until it has been adjusted to indicate the exact dip of the magnet the galvanometer registers a current, When no current is discernible the readigs on a dial are read by means of a roscoe. The next room contains instruments for detecting the declination, or variation of the compass. Each instrument is under a glass case, and consists of a magnet about five inches long suspended by a long silk thread or threads. A. inirror_ is attached to each magnet, and any varintion can be read on a scale by means of telescope. By these instruments a declination of one-tenth of " minute can be ascertained, a figare of which the significance can best be understood, when it is realized that mariners: are able only to detect a variation of half degree—three hundred times greater.
There is an air of mystery about the room in the centre of the magnetic observatory. It ix quite dark, entered 18 through four doors, opening through as many walls; the object being to equalize the temperature as far as possible, There are here three more instruments declinometer and vertical and horizontal force magnetometers. They are connected with a clock by long wooden tunnels. The mechanism of the clock causes three rollers, each covered with sensitized paper, to revolve, and a lamp playing on the mirror suspended under each instrument automatically records tion of the magnets on the paper.
This set of instruments has been working since 1877, and day and Original from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.