Royal Astronomical Society. 6t 



tations of fixed stars by the moon ; a transit of Mercury ; places of 

 Encke's and Biela's comets ; and finally, between 5000 and 6000 

 observations of declination. So large a mass of work would have 

 been sufficiently creditable under the most advantageous circum- 

 stances ; but when we call to mind that he had to contend with all the 

 difficulties incidental to a new and imperfectly organized establish- 

 ment, where no assistance was to be obtained from artists, and with 

 a notoriously unmanageable instrument, it will be easily admitted 

 that it would be difficult to overrate the zeal, perseverance and skill, 

 with which he laboured to discharge the duties which had been in- 

 trusted to him. But the merit of accumulating so large and valuable 

 a mass of observations, great as it must be dlowed to be, is com- 

 pletely thrown into the shade by comparison with that which is due 

 to the persevering industry with which he laboured in their reduction, 

 and in deducing from them the results we shall presently have oc- 

 casion to mention. 



When Mr. Henderson accepted the appointment to the Cape 

 Observatory, it was no doubt anticipated (probably even by himself) 

 that his residence there would be of some considerable duration. 

 These anticipations were not realized, for in May 1833 he resigned 

 the office, and shortly after returned to Europe. The reasons which 

 induced him to take this step were fully stated by him in his letter 

 of resignation addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty. After 

 briefly alluding to the exertions necessary to carry their lordships' 

 instructions into eiFect, he went on to say, that not only did the state 

 of his health render him unable much longer to support the requisite 

 labour, but that the observatory, considered as a place of residence, 

 laboured under so many disadvantages, and required a mode of life 

 so different from that to which he had been accustomed, that he 

 found it impracticable to remain longer ; and being thus unable to 

 perform the duties, he felt it to be incumbent on him instantly to 

 resign the situation. But with that regard for the interests of science, 

 and that kindness of disposition so eminently characteristic of him, 

 he added, that on his return home he would proceed, with the sanc- 

 tion of their lordships, to the task of reducing the observations and 

 of extracting from them the results they were intended to afford ; 

 expressed his sense of the efficient aid he had received from his as- 

 sistant. Lieutenant Meadows ; modestly proffered such assistance as 

 his experience might enable him to give to his successor ; and con- 

 cluded by recommending the state of the observatory to their lord- 

 ships' consideration. 



Had his state of health permitted him to continue his observations 

 satisfactorily, there can be little doubt that the inconveniences of 

 which he complained would in due time have been removed, or at 

 least have become supportable ; but he had been made aware before 

 he left England, that his physicians already apprehended the germa 

 of that disease which eventually proved fatal to him, and under the 

 depressing influence of this knowledge, aggravated by separation 

 from all his friends, and his family to whom he was tenderly attached 

 — and by his complete isolation — his spirits gave way, and he be- 



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