232 
TEMPEL’s CoMET 1899 ¢ (1873 II.). 
Ephemeris for 12h. Paris Mean Time. 
1899. R,A. Decl. Br. 
h m. Ss. ive a 4“ 
July6 ... 20 22 29°7 Sift Wh" 1) 
Pe 23) A ALTE Wney aL 8 5)027) 3/008 
Sa. 24 593 12 4 37 
Ons 26 13°6 12 31 29 
TOmy-c: Cah Pals) | task, UB GOL Ti 
PL ice 28 VAle2, em OLS e27 02 ieee 2O 
120 + 2075405) ety 5159 
13H. ZOMG Te 7 :ON es. Anh 22 
Hotmes’ Comer (182 III.).— 
Ephemeris for 12h. Greenwich Mean Time. 
1899. R.A. Decl. Br. 
heen ss. a i 
July 7 1 $7 534 - +2517 1 
9 2 MONS6200 ee 25 ¢5 037, 0°0386 
II 3 585 eee 20 204 
13 as A Ot 
15 9559 .. 273428  0°:0398 
17 eee Bee a 8 26 
19 15 44° ven ord eTa 
21 2 18 35'5 . +2915 53 0'0412 
Maxima OF Mira.—Mr. A. A, Nijland, of Utrecht, com- 
municates to Astr. Nach. (Bd. 149, No. 3576) an account 
of his observations of Mira during the apparition in 1898. 
During the period extending from August 9, 1898, to March 5, 
1899, sixty-one observations of magnitude were obtained. The 
light curve being plotted from these gives the time of maximum 
as October 4, 1898, this being very close to the predicted time 
given by Chandler in his third catalogue. The following table 
shows the observed and calculated times of the last three 
maxima :— 
Observed Calculated Retard- Magni- Period. 
maximum. Chandler III. ation. tude. 
Days. Days, 
1897 Jan. II 1896 Dec. 13 29 3°70 oe 
1897 Nov. 26 1897 Nov. 9 17 3°24 ore 
1898 Oct. 4 1898 Oct. 6 —2 2°91 2 
THE NEw ALGOL VARIABLE IN CyGNUS.—Harvard College 
Observatory Circular (No. 44) contains the results of a detailed 
examination of all the Draper memorial plates covering the 
region of the variable star BD + 45°°3062, discovered by Mdme. 
Ceraski at Moscow (see NATURE, vol. lx. p. 114). Altogether 
195 plates show the star, on 170 of which it is at its full bright- 
ness, while 20 show it below its normal magnitude. A full 
discussion of these plates resulted in the determination of the 
period of the variable to be 
4d. 13h. 45m. 2s. 
It is noticeable that the variation in brightness of this star 
amounts to about three magnitudes, and therefore exceeds that 
of any Algol star hitherto discovered. Like all other Algol 
stars, its spectrum is of the first type. A table showing the 
times of minima for the remainder of the year is included in 
the Czrcular. 
THE HOUSING OF THE OFFICES OF THE 
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 
‘THE history of the negotiations which have taken place be- 
tween the Government and the Senate of the University 
of London, relating to the proposal of the Government to pro- 
vide accommodation for the University in the Imperial Institute 
building, is contained in the subjoined extracts from the Report 
of the Special Committee appointed by the University to confer 
with representatives of the Treasury and of the Imperial Institute 
upon the matter. 
At a meeting of the Senaté held on December 7, 1898, a 
letter from Sir Francis Mowatt to the Vice-Chancellor (Sir 
Henry Roscoe) was read, stating that it had been suggested to 
the Cabinet that an arrangement might be possible by which 
an adequate and dignified home for the University of London 
could be provided in the Imperial Institute buildings, subject 
NO. 1549, VOL. 60] 
NAGORE 
[JuLy 6, 1899 
to some extension and internal alterations, if terms could be 
offered which would be acceptable to the authorities of the 
Institute. 
The terms submitted to the Senate of the University are as 
follows :— 
““The Government will provide adequate and suitable ac- 
commodation for the University of London, as constituted by 
the Act of last Session, in the buildings of the Imperial Insti- 
tute, such accommodation to include examination rooms and 
laboratories either in the building itself or in a new building 
to be erected immediately adjoining it. 
““The Government will undertake the entire cost of the up- 
keep and maintenance of the buildings, including their protec- 
tion from fire. : 
‘“*The works necessary for providing the acccmmodation in 
the Institute buildings, corresponding to that now enjoyed by 
the University in Burlington Gardens—and including the new 
laboratories—will be put in hand at once; and the head- 
quarters and offices of the University, as at present constituted, 
will be transferred from Burlington Gardens as soon as possible 
after the new accommodation is ready for their reception. 
‘©The accommodation in the Institute buildings required for 
the teaching side of the University will be prepared in antici- 
pation of the date at which the provisions of the Act of last 
Session come into full operation, 
‘« 4 Committee consisting of representatives of the University, 
the Treasury, and the First Commissioner of Works, should be 
appointed forthwith to inquire and report as to the necessary 
alteration and adaptation of the Institute buildings for the 
purposes of the University.” 
After a brief statement of the scope and object of this offer, 
the discussion upon the proposals was adjourned. There 
seemed to be some uncertainty in the minds of certain of the 
Fellows as to the precise terms upon which the proposed joint 
occupation of the buildings of the Imperial Institute were to be 
arranged as between the Government on the one hand and the 
University and the Imperial Institute on the other. It was felt 
that if a statement could be made upon certain points raised in 
the discussion such statement would be of signal service in 
clearing away any misapprehension which might have arisen. 
The following inquiries were therefore sent to Sir Francis 
Mowatt, and, with the replies, were read at a meeting of the 
Senate on February 1 :— 
“‘1, Is it to be understood that the Government proposes to 
take over the whole of the present building of the Imperiab 
Institute for the use of (a) the University of London, (4) the 
authorities of the Imperial Institute ? 
“2, Will the University (in case the proposals are carried 
out) be the tenants of the Government under identical con- 
ditions as to fixity of tenure, maintenance, &c., as heretofore in 
Burlington Gardens ? 
‘© 3. Is it understood : 
‘«(a) That the University will become possessed for its sole 
use of so much of the Institute buildings as the Government 
shall decide, after communication with the University of 
London, to be sufficient for its present and prospective 
accommodation ? 
“¢(6) That the University shall have the first use of such 
halls, corridors, galleries, as are necessary for carrying on its 
work of examination ? 
“¢(c) That all concerts and other entertainments in the In- 
stitute are to be abolished ? 
“*(¢) That a suitable entrance to the University portion of 
the building will be provided after due communication with the 
architect ? : 
“‘(e) That all educational work of University character 
carried on within such portion of the building handed over 
to the Institute authorities shall be under the direct contro} 
of the University ? 
*«(f) That proper accommodation will be provided for the 
University examinations in practical science either in the 
Imperial Institute buildings or in others to be built outside as 
may be decided on after further discussion ?” 
The reply, dated Christmas Day 1898, was as follows :— 
‘Tt is not the intention of the Government that any of the 
three parties should enter on the proposed inquiry with their 
hands tied. Their sole wish is that the University, the Institute, 
and the Treasury should meet and discuss whether azy, and, if 
any, what arrangement is possible, under which the University 
could be suitably housed, and under suitable conditions, in the 
a 
