Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/30

 16 HISTORY OF THE [1820-30 stolid obstinacy of the Germans should have triumphed over it. In the N.A. for 1916 the Superintendent has abandoned Baily's notation for the German. Turning to different matters, in 1823 February it was reported to the Council that Tulley had completed a 2-in. O.G. from glass by Guinand of Neufchatel, which Dollond had found satisfactory. [The spelling of such names in the Minutes varies considerably.] A Committee of Gilbert, Herschel, and Pearson was thereupon authorised to purchase similar glass " on account of the Society " to an amount not exceeding 100 : but it was reported in April that the maker had no adequate supply of the glass. Tulley's telescope was purchased by Baily for 14 guineas, after others had declined it (May 9). In November a further supply of glass from Guinand was reported : viz., 3 pieces of flint glass, 2 amorphous, and one as a disc for a 7i-in. O.G. This disc was put into the hands of Tulley and Dollond, and ultimately Tulley fashioned an O.G. of nearly 7 inches aperture which Dr. Pearson purchased, giving 200 to Tulley, and paying 20, i6s. 6d. + 700 francs for the glass to Guinand. A report on the whole transaction is printed in Mem. R.A.S., 2 9 507 ; but neither this brief summary of facts which to-day seem unimportant nor the report mentioned can convey an adequate idea of the time and thought spent by the Council, at many meetings, in this attempt to obtain better re- fracting telescopes. They were grievously disappointed at Tulley's charge of 200, and told him so, pointing out what a discourage- ment it was to further work. It was only the kindly generosity of Dr. Pearson which smoothed over an awkward situation. BEFORE THE BEGINNING Let us now, before following the history of our Society further, turn back to some circumstances attending its inception. In the Memoirs of Augustus De Morgan (sect. iii. p. 41) the following remarks of Sir John Herschel are quoted : The end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries were remarkable for the small amount of scientific move- ment going on in this country, especially in its more exact depart- ments. . . . Mathematics were at the last gasp, and Astronomy nearly so I mean in those members of its frame which depend upon precise measurement and systematic calculation. The chilling torpor of routine had begun to spread itself over all those branches of science which wanted the excitement of experimental research. The foundation of our Society was thus associated with an awakening from this deplorable state of affairs. We must be careful to note the qualifying phrase with regard to Astronomy ;