The central physical observatory of Russia

The completion of fifty years of activity and usefulness by the Central Physical Observatory of Russia has been deemed by its director, General Rykatchew, a fitting occasion to give a general history of its work during that period. The Part I before us begins with an account of what had been accomplished in the fields of meteorology and terrestrial magnetism prior to the establishment of the Central Physical Observatory, shows the gradual development of that institution from the small beginnings of Kupffer at the University of Kazan, and details its work under the direction of Kupffer from 1849 to 1865, and of Kämtz for the next three years.