^2 Royal Astronomical Society. 



from theliessons of a master, and had no encouragement from exam- 

 ple, yet, in a town which could boast of being the birth-place of 

 Ivory, and in which Dr. Small, the expositor of Kepler, had so long 

 resided, it may be supposed there would prevail, among the better- 

 informed classes of the inhabitants, some general sentiment of respect 

 for proficiency in astronomy and mathematics, which might not be 

 without its influence on a mind possessing a peculiar aptitude for 

 such studies. However this may he, the fact deserves to be re- 

 corded, as an instance of what may be done under circumstances ap- 

 parently the most adverse, that it was while employed as an attor- 

 ney's clerk in a provincial town, that he laid the foundations of that 

 extensive acquaintance with astronomy for which he became after- 

 wards so distinguished. 



Having gone through a six years' apprenticeship, Mr. Henderson, 

 at the age of twenty-one, repaired to Edinburgh for the purpose of 

 completing his legal education and obtaining professional employ- 

 ment. He first obtained a situation in the law office of a Writer to 

 the Signet, where his intelligence and abilities were remarked by 

 Mr. (now Sir James) Gibson Graig, who became his steady patron 

 and friend, and by whose recommendation he was appointed secre- 

 tary, or Advocate's clerk, to the celebrated John Clerk, afterwards 

 one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Scotland, under the title 

 of Lord Eldin. On Lord Eldin's retirement from the bench, he was 

 for some time private secretary to the Earl of Lauderdale ; an office 

 which he relinquished for the more profitable appointment of secre- 

 tary to the Lord Advocate (Jeffrey). In these successive employ- 

 ments, he passed the twelve years from 1819 to 1831 ; and it may 

 be remarked that, although of a subordinate nature, they were such 

 as would only be entrusted to a person of acknowledged abilities, 

 and one whose character for fidelity, discretion, and general intelli- 

 gence, was already established. It is probable that they allowed 

 him considerable intervals of leisure, but in no other respect were they 

 favourable for scientific pursuits ; and, indeed, it may be regarded as 

 one of the most remarkable features in his history, that while en- 

 gaged in the discharge of multifarious and active duties, in a line of 

 life so foreign to astronomy and physical science of any kind, he 

 should not only retain his tastes for the liberal studies he had com- 

 menced at the Dundee Academy, but find leisure to make so many 

 new and important acquisitions. 



Soon after he became resident in Edinburgh his astronomical 

 acquirements procured him introductions to Professors Leslie and 

 Wallace, Captain Basil Hall, and other distinguished persons, by 

 whom his talents were quickly appreciated, and who afl^orded him 

 every encouragement to persevere in his scientific pursuits. At 

 that time the small observatory on the Calton Hill, belonging to 

 the Astronomical Institution of Edinburgh, was placed under the 

 charge of Professor Wallace, who, finding in Mr. Henderson a per- 

 son to whose hands the instruments could be safely entrusted, al- 

 lowed him free access to them, and thereby gave him an opportu- 

 nity of acquiring a practical knowledge of a subject which he had 



