Report of the Kew Observatory Committee. 349 



tory, to carry out the final arrangements for the installation of the 

 gas thermometer. 



CoUwiatm' Magnets. — A critical and experimental paper dealing with 

 the data obtained in the verification of collimator magnets at the 

 Observatory during the last forty years was prepared by the Superin- 

 tendent, and has been published in the Koyal Society's ' Proceedings.' 



Discussion on Platinum Thermometry. — A discussion on platinum 

 thermometry having been arranged for the British Association meeting 

 at Dover, Dr. Harker attended, with the Committee's approval, and 

 in concert with Dr. Chappuis gave a summary of their joint work at 

 Sevres. 



Professor Carey Foster and Mr. Shaw also took part in the debate 

 as well as the Superintendent, who had been instructed by the Com- 

 mittee to attend. 



Compass-testing Regnlations. — In consequence of representations by 

 Mr. J. White, of Glasgow, the regulations for the testing of ships' com- 

 passes have been revised. In this process the Committee had the 

 advantage of the advice of Lord Kelvin and Captain Creak, whose 

 views were laid before a sub-committee appointed for the purpose. 



At the request of the Danish Legation, the methods employed at the 

 Observatory for the verification of compasses, sextants, and naval tele- 

 scopes were shown to Commander Clausen, of the Royal Danish Navy, 

 who has charge of the verification of naval instruments at Copenhagen. 



National Physical Laboratm'y. — Parliament having, on the motion of 

 Her Majesty's Ministers, voted a sum of money for the establishriient 

 of a National Physical Laboratory, to be under the management of a 

 committee nominated by the Council of the Eoyal Society, the Royal 

 Society have drawn up, and the Government have approved, a scheme 

 for the organisation of the Laboratory. In accordance with this 

 scheme, the Kew Observatory is incorporated with the National 

 Physical Laboratory, and becomes part of the organisation thereof as 

 from the 1st January, 1900. The Kew Observatory Committee as 

 hitherto constituted ceases to exist at the same date, and its property 

 is to be transferred to the Royal Society. The work of the Observa- 

 tory will, however, proceed as heretofore, and will be carried on by 

 the existing staff. 



The scheme of organisation already mentioned constitutes an Execu- 

 tive Committee as the authority having the immediate management of 

 the National Physical Laboratory, and this Committee includes at 

 present six members of the Kew Observatory Committee. The scheme 

 also provides for the appointment of a Director, who, subject to the 

 authority of the Executive Committee, is to have sole control and 

 direction of the officials of the National Physical Laboratory and of 

 the work done within it. Mr. R. T. Glazebrook, F.R.S., has been 

 appointed to this office. 



