68 Memoir of the late Francis Baity, Esq., F.R.S., ^c. 



defining the number and mode of appointment of the visitors, 

 and placing this Society on a similar and equal footing with 

 the Royal Society in the discharge of that important duty. 

 This change was made at Mr. Baily's suggestion, with the 

 entire concurrence, however, of the then President of the 

 Royal Society, as to its expediency, on the occasion of the 

 demise of the crown by the death of George IV., which ren- 

 dered a new warrant necessary. The new system has been 

 found to work admirably well, and to have secured a perfect 

 harmony of feeling between the visitors and the eminent indi- 

 vidual who now fills the post of Astronomer Royal, as well as 

 entire confidence in the recommendations and suggestions of 

 that body on the part of Government. Aware, as all are now, 

 of the fatal and soporific influence of routine in public institu- 

 tions, they have only henceforward to guard against the oppo- 

 site extreme; to which end, they cannot do better than take 

 for their guide and example that admirable combination of 

 energy, gentleness and judgement, which distinguished Mr. 

 Baily, no less on every public occasion than in his conduct as 

 a visitor, in which capacity, imder both the old and the new 

 system of visitation, he was an invariable attendant, being 

 never absent during a period of twenty-eight years from any 

 meeting but the last. 



About the end of June 1841, an accident happened to him 

 which had very nearly proved fatal. Crossing Wellington 

 Street for the purpose of taking some MSS. to a printer, a 

 deafness, which had for some years been increasing on him, 

 rendered him unaware of a rider recklessly urging his horse 

 to furious speed, who either did not see him or was unable to 

 pull up. In consequence a collision took place, and Mr. Baily 

 received a stunning fall, accompanied with a severe scalp- 

 wound. So violent, indeed, was the shock, that he lay for a 

 whole week senseless, and for an equal period after his life 

 was considered in imminent danger. His sound and excellent 

 constitution, however, carried him through it, and no ill con- 

 sequences remained. By the end of September he was en- 

 abled to resume the observations of the Cavendish experiment, 

 which this unfortunate occurrence had interrupted, and a few 

 weeks' residence in the country completed the cure. 



On the 8th of July, 1842, he was gratified by the observa- 

 tion of a phaenomenon which it had from his youth upwards 

 been one of his most ardent wishes to witness, viz. a total 

 eclipse of the sun. To this he looked forward, indeed, with 

 a curiosity peculiarly intense ; having, on the occasion of the 

 annular eclipse of May 15, 1836, which he travelled to Scotland 

 to observe, and which he succeeded in observing under very 



