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VII. On the Visitation of Greenwich Observatory: ivifh a Copy 

 of the New Warrant. 



HPHE annual visitation of the Royal Observatory at Green- 

 * wich has, for nearly 150 years, been confided to the 

 Council of the Royal Society and to such other persons as 

 they might from time to time invite for that purpose, by virtue 

 of the King's warrant directed to them at the commencement 

 of every reign. His present Majesty, however, has been pleased 

 to make a totally new arrangement on this subject. But, 

 before we enter on the cause of this alteration, we would re- 

 mark that when this annual visitation was first established, 

 Flamsteed was greatly offended ; inasmuch as he considered 

 that the Council of the Royal Society (with whom he was not 

 on the best terms) was thus set over him as a sort of spy upon 

 his actions. It has however been silently acquiesced in by his 

 successors ; but, whatever importance it might at a more early 

 period have possessed, it has gradually declined from its ori- 

 ginal object, and ceased to answer the purpose for which it 

 was designed ; for little or no business was done at the meet- 

 ing : and if any matter requiring consideration was brought 

 forward, it was always turned over to the Council of the Royal 

 Society, where it was usually lost sight of, and altogether for- 

 gotten or neglected. 



A representation of these circumstances was made in the 

 proper quarter; and His present Majesty has been pleased to 

 appoint a new set of Visitors; and has at the same time en- 

 larged the powers hitherto granted to that body. By this 

 warrant (which is dated last month) the President of the Royal 

 Society, and five individuals nominated by him, together with 

 the President of the Astronomical Society, and five individuals 

 nominated by him, added to the Savilian Professor of Astro- 

 nomy at Oxford, and the Plumian Professor of Astronomy at 

 Cambridge, are now appointed the regular and permanent 

 Visitors of the Royal Observatory. As many of our readers 

 may be desirous of perusing this scientific document, we here 

 insert it verbatim. 



" William R. 



" Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas, 

 our Royal predecessor King George the Fourth did by war- 

 rant under his Royal sign manual, bearing date the nine- 

 teenth day of May, in the first year of his reign, constitute and 

 appoint the President, and in his absence the Vice-President, 

 of the Royal Society for the time being, together with such 

 others as the Council of the said Royal Society should from 

 time to time think fit, to be regular Visitors of the Royal Ob- 



E 2 servatory 



