Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/16



of that passage in page 5 which you had struck out of the MS., but which I thought was too excellent to be thus discarded. On the whole I think the Address admirably adapted to its purpose, and I have no doubt it will be read with pleasure and profit by every lover of Astronomy.

The proof has been finished only this morning, and I have ordered 250 copies to be struck off this afternoon, in order that they may be dried to-morrow; and, after lying in the press on Monday, be ready for distribution on Tuesday. Had I waited for the return of the enclosed proof, the whole of that time would have been lost; and I think it of material consequence to circulate them as soon as possible. Some will be sent to Scotland, and there will be scarcely time to receive an answer prior to the general meeting, if the printing had been delayed.

However I have thought it better to send you the enclosed copy, in order that you might inspect it prior to its publication: so that, if it did not meet your entire approbation, it might be reprinted, with any alterations you may think advisable. For my own part (and I speak also the opinion of many of the members), I think it cannot be mended.

I shall be obliged by an answer, as early as convenient, addressed to me at the Stock Exchange; and at the same time you will be good enough to inform me, by what conveyance it would be most advisable to forward such copies of the Address and of the Circular as you may wish for distribution.

With my compts. to Sir William and Lady Herschel, believe me, yours truly, Dr Sir,

5 o'clock.—I have waited till the last moment, expecting the printer to send me a copy of the Address; but, being disappointed, I have despatched this letter without it: to know whether you would prefer seeing it before it is circulated; or whether I shall forward them as at first proposed?

On the Monday, Baily was able to send a dozen copies of the Address, but he probably did not get the approval for which he hoped; for though Sir John's reply has not been preserved, the following sentences from a letter to Babbage dated 1820 February 2, sufficiently indicate his views on the printing of the Address.

Baily made sad work of that scrawl of an address I left with him—it was, to be sure, in great measure my fault, but here and there he has totally inverted the sense of it and made me say what my soul abhors. However, it is the address of the whole Committee, and nonsense distributed among so many will lie lightly on each. However, if you have any copies by you still undistributed, do in pity strike out the word "not" in page 8 line 12 in them before you send them abroad.

To identify the offending passage it is necessary to refer to a copy of the octavo pamphlet in which the Address originally