84 . REPORT—1896. 
Richmond, and is the property of the Government, from whom the Com- 
mittee hold it at a small rent. They have latterly been permitted to add 
about five acres to their holding. 
The work of the Observatory is very varied, but may be roughly 
divided into 
(1) Routine observation—magnetic, meteorological, and solar. 
(2) Experimental work connected with the routine observations and 
research work generally. 
(3) Standardising of between thirty and forty different kinds of 
instruments, whose number in the gross amounted to 23,000 last year. 
The general heads under which most of these instruments fall are 
(a) Thermometers of all kinds. 
(5) Barometers, anemometers, and all sorts of meteorological apparatus. 
(c) Theodolites, sextants, artificial horizons, compasses, and telescopes. 
(d) Watches and chronometers. 
(e) Photographic lenses. 
Particulars will be found in the annual reports, printed in the 
‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society.’. 
The present work of the Observatory is therefore of a character which 
is strictly consistent with a large portion of the work which would find 
a place in a national physical laboratory. 
Having thus briefly shown what the Kew Observatory now performs, 
it will be convenient to consider what would be— 
(a) The function which a national laboratory should fulfil. 
(6) The system which should be adopted for its control and management. 
(a) Functions.—In addition to the special research work, the scope of 
which we have already partially indicated, the work of the proposed 
institution would include an extension of certain branches of work now 
performed by the Kew Observatory. This work has now for its object 
the verification of standards for instruments of utility in scientific investi- 
gation, but it hardly attempts investigation into the properties of the 
materials of which they are, or should be, composed. An enlargement 
of this work to its proper extent would in the case of many delicate 
standards relieve British investigators from their present dependence 
upon foreign laboratories. Indeed, in the prosecution of research the 
necessity for accurate standards is being daily more and more felt. This 
class of work, as recognised in the Reichsanstalt, comprises, not only com- 
parisons of length, weight, capacity, gravity, sound, light, &c., but varia- 
tions of conditions due to temperature, vibrations, or other causes, as well 
as quality of materials in regard to their uses. It is a class of work. 
which is not touched by the Standards Department of the Board of Trade, 
for this department is restricted by Act of Parliament to the work of 
making standards of length, weight, and capacity, and of such electrical 
quantities as may be of use for trade. 
(6) Management.—The present form of government of the Kew 
Observatory affords a basis upon which the management of the extended 
laboratories might be safely founded. The present government is by a 
paid superintendent, who is controlled by an unpaid committee appointed 
under the Council of the Royal Society. The Committee consists of the 
eading authorities on the special subjects which form the present work 
