Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/268

 236 HISTORY OF THE [1880-1920 Soon after the cessation of these attacks on the Gold Medal, the Council was called upon to issue regulations for another prize to be given in the name of the Society. The founder of this prize was Mrs. Hannah Jackson, a daughter of the well-known archi- tect and writer on architecture, Joseph Gwilt.* In 1861 June she announced to the Council of the Society her desire to give 300 new 3 per cent, stock, to the intent that the same might be a reversionary gift to the Royal Astronomical Society, to be held on trust, and the dividends thereof to be given either annually or every two years to " any person writing the best astronomical work or in any other way advancing Astronomy, either by the invention of a new astronomical instrument or by the discovery of any new heavenly body." The gift was to be called the " Hannah Jackson (nee Gwilt) Gift," and the donor wished to receive the interest of the 300 during her life. At the request of the Council, Mrs. Jackson consented to the limit of the term of the accumulation of the interest being extended to seven years ; she also agreed that the gift should consist of a medal, of money, or of both. I The gift was then accepted by the Council and was announced in the Council Report of 1862 February, and by the adoption of this Report the Annual General Meeting was supposed to have adopted the general principle of the award of another medal. Mrs. Jackson died on 1893 December I, after which date the interest was allowed to accumulate for a couple of years. When the question of the new medal was considered by a Committee of the Council, it was at first proposed that the medal be of silver and made from the same die as the Gold Medal, to be inscribed " Hannah Jackson (nie Gwilt) Gift," with name and date. But on second thoughts it was decided that the obverse should show the portrait of William Herschel, and the reverse Urania holding a small armillary sphere ; the medal to be in bronze and three inches in diameter. The medal and money grant to be awarded at intervals of not less than three nor more than seven years. As the Committee had dealt with these matters with great delibera- tion, nearly the whole of the year 1896 had passed before the Society was informed of these arrangements. As it was desired to make the first award of the medal and a cheque in the following February, a Special General Meeting was called for January 8 November Meeting of Council, signed by not less than seven members of Council. But this is merely an expression of opinion, not a bye-law. Gwilt. She was a somewhat eccentric lady, who had a coat-of-arms depicted on her visiting card, over her name. She left a large astronomical scrap-book to the Society's library. f Extract from Council Minutes, 1861 June 14, printed in M.N., 57, 36.
 * F.R.A.S., died 1863. His daughter latterly called herself Mrs. Jackson-