Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/226

 198 HISTORY OF THE [1870-80 first to show such markings ; and secondly, a magnificent photo- graph of the solar spectrum which reached across the meeting-room. The original spectrum had been found by an interference plate, or grating, with about 17,300 lines to an inch, the machine, with which the lines were ruled having been constructed by himself. Some description of his method of procedure will be found in the report of the meeting in volume 2 of The Observatory Magazine. As a point in the history of Astronomy, it may not be out of place to record here that the first number of that periodical ap- peared in 1877 April, by initiation of, and under the Editorship of Mr. W. H. M. Christie, who had the support of many leading astronomers. The following are extracts from the prospectus issued on a post card early in April : The Observatory. A Monthly Review of Astronomy No. I will be published on April 20. The successive numbers will be forwarded post free to Subscribers on the third Friday of each month. Subscriptions for three months (including postage), three shillings (for the United Kingdom). The Observatory will aim at presenting in a popular form a general review of the progress of Astronomy, and at promoting the activity of observers by affording early intelligence of recent advances in the Science. Contributions have been promised by Captain Abney, Sir G. B. Airy, Col. A. Campbell, Dr. De la Rue, Mr. Dunkin, Mr. J. W. L. Glaisher, Professor A. S. Herschel, Mr. Hind, Mr. Knobel, Mr. Knott, Rev. E. Ledger, Rev. R. Main, Mr. Neison, Professor Pritchard, Professor J. Stuart, Mr. J. M. Wilson. The Gold Medal was not awarded in 1877, though the claims of several persons as recipient were considered at the Council table. Mr. Lockyer was selected as the recipient at the meeting of the Council in December (1876), but the selection was not confirmed at the January meeting. It seems remarkable that Mr. Lockyer should never have received the medal, considering how many times his name had been proposed ; but since a majority of three-fourths of those present is requisite for confirmation, it is not difficult to see that three or four opponents are sufficient to effect their joint purpose. In 1878 the medal was given to Baron Dembowski for his observations of double stars, which branch of Astronomy was being actively followed at the time, as in the Report of the Council in 1877 February on the Progress of Astro- nomy, five of the paragraphs related to double stars. The similar Report for 1878 has notices on four researches on