Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/19

1820-30] recording observations—hundreds of which remain blank to this day. But the observational programme was, as already mentioned, only one of the considerations put forward in the Address: others were the collation and publication of observations already made or to be made; the education of observers; the determinations of position on our earth; the improvement of lunar tables; the establishment of relations with foreign astronomers, who may be elected Associates; the diffusion of information; the computation of orbits; the formation of a library; and the proposal of prize questions.

Besides the Address, there were "regulations" (which ultimately became our "Bye-Laws ") to be made before the first meeting on February 8. The death of the King on January 29 threw a cloud over this first meeting, so that after reading the Regulations, making some slight changes in them, resolving that they should be printed, as also the Address "with such alterations as [the Committee] may think proper" (wherein we probably catch a reflection of Sir John Herschel's grievances), it was decided to defer any but pressing business to "some future day out of respect to the memory of his late Majesty, whose funeral had not yet taken place." Under the circumstances it was creditable that twenty-one members attended this meeting: and the number of those who had formally joined the new Society was reported as forty-seven. The "future day" was fixed as February 29, when twenty-eight attended, including the Duke of Somerset, who was unanimously elected President. The Vice-Presidents were Colebrooke, Groombridge, Sir William Herschel, and the Astronomer Royal (Pond); Treasurer, Dr. Pearson; Secretaries, Babbage, Baily, and John Herschel (Foreign); and Council, Col. Beaufoy, Capt. Colby, Olinthus Gregory, T. Harrison, D. Moore, E. Troughton; while A. Baily, D. Moore, and C. Stokes were appointed Trustees. The roll of membership was by that time eighty-three. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the Geological Society for the hospitality of their rooms for these early meetings, and to Daniel Moore for his good offices as chairman: and so far all had gone well.

But at the next meeting a blow fell: Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Royal Society, had induced the Duke of Somerset to decline the Presidency. It seems to have been quite unexpected, for Baily did not write about it to Sir John Herschel until March 11, the day after the meeting, and the Duke's letter is dated March 9, the day before. But apparently Sir Joseph Banks had been at work in various directions. Baily writes:—

A similar attack was made by Sir Jos Banks on the Astronomer Royal, who, if report be true, made a very spirited reply. As a