Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/211

 1870-80] ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 183 taken by the Hydrographer will be learned from the following extract from a letter by him (see Ast. Reg., vol. 11, p. 224) : Enthusiasts no doubt there are who, however accomplished they may be as astronomers, are wanting and cannot but be deficient on many subjects which it is as necessary to take into account as astronomy in a question of this kind ; and hence we are told to send to the Antarctic Continent and to visit a variety of small rocky islets interspersed over the Southern Ocean at distances from each other varying from 1000 to nearly 4000 miles, many of which are actual myths, while on those which do exist it is certain that there is no anchorage for a ship, and that even landing would be generally impossible. In the supplementary number of the Monthly Notices, Mr. Proctor published a chart of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions which are suitable for observing the Transit of Venus in 1874, and in the accompanying letterpress wrote the following paragraph : The chart requires no explanation beyond perhaps the remark that the islands in the less-known regions have been taken from ordinary atlases (after comparison of several), in preference to the Admiralty charts ; because, after certain withdrawals from opinions expressed in December 1868, one naturally feels doubtful about Admiralty statements which would appear to be variable according to official requirements. It did not seem well to insert any island, or group of islands, in the chart with some such note as " Here, if convenient to those in authority, there is an island," or " this group of islands can be regarded as a reality or a myth as may be required," and so on. Mr. Proctor, it will be remembered, was Secretary of the Society at this time and, temporarily, Editor of its publications, because Professor Cayley, who was the actual Editor, was President of the Society. The supplementary number was therefore com- pletely under his control,* as this, unlike others, does not receive the direct sanction of the Council, and it was naturally considered that he had made unworthy use of the opportunity thus presented to him. Mr. Proctor left England in October to deliver a course of lectures in America, and at the November Meeting of the Council a letter was read from him resigning the Secretaryship of the Society. Mr. Ranyard was chosen to fill the office pro tern., and Sidereal Universe," illustrated by folding plates, and another by Mr. Waters, similarly illustrated, appeared in the same number. He thought it necessary to say that none of these charts had been engraved at the expense of the Society.
 * A long paper by Mr. Proctor, " Statement of Views respecting the