In the course of the year 1872, Mr R. H. Scott, F.R.S., suggested to the Meteorological Committee the desirability of carrying out a series of experiments on anemometers of different patterns. This suggestion was approved by the Committee, and in the course of the same year a grant was obtained by Mr Scott from the Government Grant administered by the Royal Society, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the investigation. The experiments were not, however, carried out by Mr Scott himself, but were entrusted to Mr Samuel Jeffery, then Superintendent of the Kew Observatory, and Mr G. M. Whipple, then First Assistant, the present Superintendent.

The results have never hitherto been published, and I was not aware of their nature till on making a suggestion that an anemometer of the Kew standard pattern should be whirled in the open air, with a view of trying that mode of determining its proper factor, Mr Scott informed me of what had already been done, and wrote to Mr Whipple, requesting him to place in my hands the results of the most complete of the experiments, namely, those carried on at the Crystal Palace, which I accordingly obtained from him. The progress of the enquiry may be gathered from the following extract from Mr Scott's report in returning the unexpended balance of the grant.