16 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [dec. 5 , 
(6) The hot-water pipe system, heated from the Computing-room 
gas-stove, should he exchanged from the under-Dome-room, into 
the Laboratory, and even have its chief development there ; with 
revolving cowls in place of simple ones on the roof. Incandescent 
electric lighting by gas-engine and dynamo to be introduced at all 
the instruments, because capable of giving light, without oxidizing 
gases, and without sensible and most pernicious heating. 
(7) The front projection and elevating part of the so-called 
Observing chair should be at once removed, together with whatever 
else may prevent the mere back and wheels of the chair traversing 
freely both round and past, or from one side to the other of the 
Declination-axis end, shortened as above, preliminary to the said 
parts being converted into the new observer’s travelling hut. 
(8) All axles, bearings, &c., of both Dome, Equatorial, and Clock 
movement should, without any further loss of time, be taken out of 
their sockets, well cleaned and re-lubricated ; or mischief may take 
place amongst them. 
(9) Both the original proposition of a cylinder chronograph, as 
well as that for a duplicate speculum for the telescope, should he 
realised. 
(10) An engineering opinion to he obtained as to the residual 
strength of the neck of the Declination axis, considering the holes 
cut into it by its maker, but not required on the Astronomer’s 
herein proposed method of working. 
(11) The toothed spur wheels of Lift to be replaced by endless- 
screw wheels, as being safer from accidental “ stripping of teeth ” 
under heavy loads. 
(12) All the recommendations of the Government Committee of 
1879, except such as the Astronomer may agree to dispense with, 
should be fully and faithfully carried out, before the new works 
treated of in the first part of this paper are commenced upon. 
(13) And if by that time Government may have decided to 
rebuild the Eoyal Observatory, Edinburgh, on a better site, in a 
more modern manner and supply it with new instruments, as recom- 
mended by their Commission in 1876, taking however the Equa- 
torial with them to a larger Dome, — then aU the said new works 
should still be carried on there, omitting only the shortening of the 
Declination Axis, which will be better to be kept of its present full 
