698 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



ASTRONOMY 



David Gill, Man and Astronomer: Memoirs of Sir David Gill, K.C.B., H.M. 

 Astronomer (1879-1907) at the Cape of Good Hope. Collected and 

 arranged by George Forbes, F.R.S. [Pp. xii + 418, with 14 portraits 

 and illustrations.] (London : John Murray, 1916. Price12j.net.) 

 SHORTLY before his death, Sir David Gill was able to see the publication of his 

 epoch-making work, A History and Description of the Cape Observatory, in which 

 he related the growth of the Cape Observatory from its smallest beginnings to its 

 present position as the formost observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. That 

 volume contained the best possible account of his own scientific work, and the 

 task of his biographer has been materially lightened by the fact that it has, 

 accordingly, not been necessary for him to refer to Gill's scientific work except 

 in so far as it throws light upon his character. The result is a volume which will 

 be read by the general reader with almost as much interest as by the student of 

 astronomy. Gill was a man who in his life had a singular talent for attracting 

 friendship, and Prof. Forbes, one of his life-long friends, has succeeded in giving 

 us such a human picture that as we read we feel the charm of the man ; the reader, 

 on reaching the end of the book, will almost feel that he knew Gill. His simplicity 

 of character, his untiring enthusiasm, his force of purpose, his boundless energy 

 for work, his happy married life, his friendships, his sympathy and appreciation for 

 the efforts of others, and also his limitations are all portrayed. Gill was not only 

 a great astronomer, he was a great man. 



The way in which Gill came to devote his life to astronomy is typical of the 

 man. His father had a remunerative business as a clockmaker in Aberdeen ; 

 in obedience to his father's wishes, but against his own inclinations, which already 

 leaned towards astronomy, he learnt his father's trade and settled down as manager 

 of his father's business. His interest in astronomy had been first stimulated by 

 Clerk Maxwell, under whom he studied in Aberdeen, and who, though not a 

 brilliant lecturer, had the true teacher's gift, the power of stimulating the 

 enthusiasm of his students. Gill in those days commenced observing with a 

 small telescope, and developed a scheme for supplying the town of Aberdeen 

 with the correct time. When later Lord Lindsay founded his observatory at 

 Dun Echt and asked Gill whether he would become its director, Gill at very 

 great pecuniary sacrifice accepted the offer gladly, his decision being backed 

 up by his wife. The years which he had spent as a watchmaker were not really 

 wasted, for he had acquired a mechanical knowledge which later became in- 

 valuable to him when at the Cape it was sometimes necessary to make alterations 

 or modifications to the delicate mechanism of some of his instruments, alterations 

 which could not have been trusted to any local mechanic, and which would other- 

 wise have necessitated the parts being sent for repair to Europe with a resulting 

 delay of several months. 



How Gill within the course of a few years rapidly became one of the foremost 

 astronomers in the world, and how he came to be appointed Her Majesty's 

 Astronomer at the Cape, must be read in this book. The Cape Observatory at 

 that time was in a deplorable condition ; it was in a forlorn spot, the grounds 

 were neglected, only a rough muddy road led up to it, and the instrumental 

 equipment was very poor. It was a splendid opportunity for Gill, and one which he 

 was not slow to seize. Gradually the observatory was transformed : the site was 

 enclosed, trees planted, a good road was made and houses built for the assistants ; 

 from its former desolate condition it was transformed into a pleasant place of 

 labour, and became a happy colony with Gill as its genial chief, taking a personal 



