Page:History of the Royal Astronomical Society (1923).djvu/58

 42 HISTORY OF THE [1820-30 like that of the Society itself, was embarrassed by a Royal death. Volume 1 opens with the February meeting 1827, and the Philosophical Magazine contains no reference to a January meeting. The minutes of Council show that it was not held in consequence of the death of the Duke of York. The Council met at four o'clock, and the President (Baily) "announced that in consequence of the death of the Duke of York, he had deemed it necessary to put off the ordinary meeting, which was to have taken place this evening (1827 January 12), and had in conse- quence given the earliest notice thereof to the members through the medium of the public newspapers, the ' Times,' ' Post,' 4 Chronicle,' and ' Courier,' and further stated that he had not postponed the meeting of the Council, it being absolutely necessary that Auditors should be appointed without delay, and the Report prepared for the Annual General Meeting in February." Colby and Sheepshanks were accordingly appointed auditors, and the President and Secretaries requested to prepare the Report. In these days the appointment of auditors is no longer a matter for Council, but for the Fellows generally : and the Report is prepared without any special request. THE MEDALS In 1826 February a somewhat distressing situation was reported to the Council. A number of medals had been struck (at the Mint, as was decided in 1823 December) from the dies for future use, and should be in their possession, but could not be traced, the deficiency being no less than three gold and seventeen silver medals. Mr. Millington (who had been Secretary at the time of the receipt of the medals, but had since resigned) had been written to more than once, but no reply had been received from him. However, the alarm was needless. By the next meeting of Council the dilatory correspondent had replied that he had indeed in his possession the " silver proof " medal which had acted as pattern, but that the others would probably be found " in the place in which they were deposited " : and although this was not further specified in the Minutes, possibly for prudential reasons, the missing medals were produced and laid on the Council table. The Council in their relief did not forget to direct formal application to be made to Mr. Millington for the proof medal, which was ultimately also recovered. Comparison of one medal with another revealed some difference in weight : thus two gold medals were found to have a mean weight of 2 oz. 2 dwts. 12 gr., whereas one previously awarded to Mr. Babbage had weighed 2 oz. 7 dwts. 20 gr., the difference of