The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-03 00:00:00

THE. LIVERPOOL COMPASS COMMITTEE.

The following letter from the Board of Trade, and
raport from Professor Airey, were exhibited in the Under-
writers' rooms, yesterday. They bear most gratifying and
important testimony to the value of tha labors of the
compass committee, and of their ab:e aad indefatigable
seeretary, Mr. W. W. Rundell ; and we 'cordially congra-
tulate both him and Ulm on so flattering a recognition of
their services

"Royal Observatory. Greenwich, London, S .E.,
1857, March 21.
'Sir,—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of March 14, accompanying the Report of the Proceed-
ings of the Liverpool Compass Committee for the year
1856,' and requesting that I would transmit to the Lords
of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade any observa-
tions which I may have to offer upon it. In reply, I have
to say, that I have perused the report, and have the
honour to offer the following remarks upon it :
" 2. This report is by very far the most important docu-
ment, in reference to he difficult subjects of iron ships,
the change of magnetism, the correction of the compass,
and the adjustment of the correcting apparatus, that has
yet appeared. It does more to remove doubt on several
important points (I would particularly cite the influence of
the position of the ship while building, the occasional rapid
change of magnetism in a short time after launching, and
the general slow change afterwards) than all the discussions
which have previously taken place ; and, generally speaking,
it explains more completely the difficulties, moral and
physical, attending this subjects than all other papers known
tome:
" 3. I think it very desirable that this report should be
printed.
"4. r did remark that, in page 34, the compass
' committee' allude •to a probable early termination of
their labours. It may be well that, at no distant time,
their operations should be closed ; but I trust that they
may be continued sufficiently long to enable the.
committee to receive, and use, the observations to which
they allude as expected from ships now at sea.
" 5. If (as I understand) some pecuniary aid from the
government is practically necessary, to enable the com-
mittee to continue their investigations, I think that it
-ought to be given.

6—l beg leave particularly to invite the attention of
the Board of Trade to the remarks on pages 32 and 33,
as to the difficulties attending the action of a quasi
private committee, and, as to the advantage of using the
authority and organisation of the Board Of Trade for
equivalent inquiries.
" 7—And, generally, I would submit for consideration,
whether it is not proper that a knowledge of the method
of correcting the compass, and adjusting the correcting
apparatus, should not be required in the captains of iron
ships.

"I return herewith the report.--I have, &e.,
(Signed) •' G. B. AIREY.
" T. H. Farrer, Esq."

"Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade,
Marine Department, Whitehall, Ist April 1857.
am directed ,by the Lords of the Committee
of Privy Council for Trade to transmit to you, with
reference to my letter of the 14th ultimo, the accompa-
nying copy of a letter which my lords have received from
Professor Airey, containing his observations upon the
report of the Liverpool Compass Committee for the past
year; and I am to request that you will acquaint the
committee that my lords concur. with Professor Airey as
to tile value of that report, and the importance of making
its contents public; and that it is their lordships'inten-
tion to, have the report, together with Professor ,Airey's
letter, printed and laid before parliament..
" I am further to state, thatony lords will continue - for
another year the grant of one hnndred pounds towards the
expenses necessary to enable the committee to prosecute
,their enquiries.

"As regards the remarks at pages 32 and 33 of the
repost, to which Professor Airey alludes, my lords are of
opinion that, independently of the difficulty arising from the
want of powers to enforce the making of the returns
suggested by the committee, there are other considerations
which would, so far as this department is concerned, render
it difficult .at. present to take, steps, for procuring such
returns from shipmasters.
"The question, however, is deserving of consideration
and will be borne in mind.

`• The question how far it may make the correction and
adjustment of compasses and compass apparatus a part
of the examination of masters and mates in the merchant
service, appears also to be one of great importance, though
the matter does not appear to my lords at the present
time to admit of immediate action.—T am, sir, your
obedient servant. " 'l'. li. FARRER.
" W. W. Rundell, Esq., 40, Tower buildings East,
Liverpool."

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By British and Irish illagnetie Telegraph.]

MOLDAVIA.

. JASSY, MARCH 18.
The firman for the installation of the new Kai-
mailian was read to day. The greatest tranquillity
prevailed.