Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/238

 208 HISTORY OF THE [1870-80 details about the taking of solar photographs, but contains the following paragraph : As has been already explained, the Committee were appointed as a temporary measure to prepare the way for something of a more permanent and systematic nature, and it is to aid them in this work that the Indian observations have been asked for. What shape the research may permanently take it is impossible at the present time to predict. The light in which the appointment of this Committee and its support by the Government was regarded by certain Fellows of our Society is clear from the account of the proceedings at the Annual General Meeting in 1881 February, when a motion, the text of which is given below, was proposed by Sir Edmund Beckett. The requisite notice was signed by Lord Crawford, Sir Edmund Beckett, Mr. Ranyard, Mr. G. P. Bidder, Captain Noble, and Mr. Barrow. Sir E. Beckett, in making the proposition, distinctly stated that he was not the originator of the movement. That a Meeting be held at the Society's rooms of the Members thereof, and such other persons as like to attend, to consider the question of the Endowment of Research by the Government ; and that the Astronomer Royal be requested to take the Chair at that Meeting. The discussion on this motion took precedence of the reading of the Council Report by special resolution, and turned almost entirely on the question whether it was or was not ultra vires for the Society to hold a meeting for a purpose not definitely astro- nomical. Mr. Christie and Mr. De la Rue were among those who opposed the motion in this sense. It is clear from the reported speeches that there was considerable animus underlying this whole matter. In course of seconding the motion the Earl of Crawford said, " I will not go into any question of past or future party fights. I would advocate payment for results as much as you like ; but I do not think it is desirable in the interests of science, not only in this country but everywhere else, that men should be placed in a position with a fixed salary and really answerable to nobody for what they have to do." This seems to represent the feeling of the opposition. The motion was amended to read : " That a meeting be held at the Society's rooms of members thereof to consider the question of the Endowment of Research by the Government," and carried, with a further resolution that the Council should fix a day for such a meeting. In consequence thereof the Secretaries issued a notice on March 21, calling a Special General Meeting on 1881 April i to consider this question, when the resolutions which