ABSTRACT
In 1854, the Kew committee of the British association were requested by government to recommend a form of barometer suited for the marine observations, which were then about to be commenced by the admiralty and the board of trade. Barometers when in use at sea are slung in gimbals, and suspended from arms at least a foot long, so as to be perfectly free to assume the vertical position under every movement of the ship, and at the same time to keep clear of the bulkhead against which the arm is fastened. Various contrivances have been resorted to for rendering the arm and gimbals elastic, so as to yield to sudden jerks. Experience proves that a simple straight arm of well-hammered brass has sufficient spring for the purpose.
