Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/219

 1870-80] ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 191 Verrier for his theories of the four great planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and for his tables of Jupiter and Saturn founded thereon. The address was, very appropriately, delivered by Professor J. C. Adams, the President, but M. Le Verrier, who was in temporary ill-health, was not present. The elections of Officers and Council of the Society in the succeeding years were marked by the exhibition of considerable factious spirit. It is unnecessary to give a detailed account of these disputes ; the following will suffice : In the list prepared by the Council of officers proposed for election in 1877 February, Captain Abney was proposed as Secretary, with Mr. J. W. L. Glaisher, in the places of Mr. Dunkin and Mr. Ranyard, the former of whom was retiring by his own desire. Abney at this time held a paid post in connec- tion with the Science and Art Department at South Kensington, as Inspector of Local Schools ; and South Kensington and all its connections were anathema to the party in the Council who were considered the opposition. An alternative balloting list was issued, in which (without his knowledge) Mr. W. H. M. Christie and Mr. Ranyard were proposed as Secretaries. On the ballot being taken it was found that Glaisher and Ranyard were the elected Secretaries, and that Abney was not chosen in any capacity. The circum- stances of his rejection were peculiar. Some Fellows at the meeting voted for him as a member of Council and not as Secretary, and though he received 49 votes for the Secretaryship, and 16 as member of Council, he was considered not to be elected a member of the governing body, but had to give way to Captain Noble, for whom only 47 votes were cast. The anomaly caused consider- able comment, and some attempt was made to amend the Bye-laws to prevent its recurrence, by declaring that votes given for an office should count as votes for the Council. A Special General Meeting was held after the ordinary meeting in 1877 June, at which this and some other alterations in the Bye-Laws were to be considered. But as a clear month's notice had not been given, and the Fellows were therefore unable to propose amendments, it was decided after a somewhat stormy discussion to defer the matter till the next Annual Meeting. When this came round the Council withdrew the proposed alteration, and no such amendment of the Bye-Laws has ever been made. But it has since then been assumed, and agreed by vote in 1878 February, that votes for an office should be taken as votes for a seat on the Council. In the Annual Report of the Council in 1877 February it was announced that Mr. R. C. Carrington had bequeathed to the Society the sum of 2000 Consolidated Annuities. Also that