COUNCIL FOR 1857. 13 



of the last four months several meetings have been held there 

 for the purpose of exciting an interest in the study of Practical 

 Astronomy. Mr. Noble, from whom this Report of the Ob- 

 servatory proceeds, expresses a wish that the number of mem- 

 bers attending these meetings should be increased, a wish in 

 which the Council entirely concur. 



From Lady Chatterton, as executrix of her late sister. 

 Miss Atkinson, has been received a most valuable bequest, the 

 portrait of her late father, James Atkinson, Esq. Mr. Atkinson, 

 was a surgeon of high professional eminence in this city, 

 active and liberal in all public undertakings, and one of the 

 Founders of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. To the 

 citizens of York, this portrait will have a great additional 

 interest, from its being the work of their eminent fellow-citizen, 

 William Etty, R. A., and an admirable specimen of his skill 

 in a department of his art, in which his pencil was rarely 

 employed. The celebrity which Mr. Etty attained as a painter 

 has shed lustre over his native city ; his simple manners and 

 amiable temper have endeared his memory to many of our 

 members who were his private friends ; York was the chosen 

 retreat of his declining years ; he took a lively interest in the 

 success of our Society, which early enrolled him among its 

 Honorary Members ; and his last resting place, selected by 

 himself, is almost within the walls of our venerable Abbey. 

 In the new arrangements consequent upon the enlargement of 

 the Museum the Council hope to find a place for this portrait, 

 where it may be at once secure from injury, and open to the 

 view of every Visitor to the Museum. The Meeting will no 

 doubt cordially join in a vote of thanks to Lady Chatterton for 

 carrying into efiect the wishes of her sister. 



It was announced in the last Report that the Council 

 intended to make an Exhibition of objects of Natural History 

 and Antiquity, in the Society's Museum and Grounds, during 

 the Agricultural Meeting in the month of August. The 

 weather after the first day was exceedingly unfavourable, and 

 the pecuniary results consequently much smaller than had been 

 hoped for, amounting only, after all expenses were paid, to 

 about £18. It was visited, however, by several thousand 



