Papers concerning discussions on the corrections of compasses on iron ships. The volume includes A. Smith's 'deviation of the compass in iron ships'; horizontal vibration experiments; a memorandum and suggestions by Airy and T.H. Farrer on educating masters and mates in the use of compasses; a letter to 'The Times' on the logs of the 'Anglo-Saxon'; deviations of compasses on the 'Great Eastern'; E. Hopkins' ideas on the demagnetization of ships, found in the 'Shipping and Mercantile Gazette'; material on J. Gray's patent floating compass; and papers and correspondence on the House of Commons inquiry into the deviation of compasses. The correspondents include F.J.O. Evans, R. Fitzroy, Lord Rosse, E. Sabine, J.T. Towson, J. Woolley, Lord Wrottesley, J. Washington, T.H. Farrer and J.J. Astrand.