34 DR- Bottomley 071 the late 



Society, it may be mentioned that in later life he took 

 an intense interest in the history of the Great Pyramid ; he 

 seemed to think that the builders of it were under some 

 kind of inspiration, and that in the dimensions of certain 

 passages and chambers were contained the most recent and 

 accurate measurements made in physical astronomy, and 

 also some of those numbers which mark epochs in religious 

 history. Some of his calculations were given in a paper 

 read before the Physical and Mathematical Section, but not 

 published, possibly because he did not think it would be 

 suitable for the Society, perhaps because he wished to subject 

 it to further consideration. On enquiry, I am informed that 

 his interest in this work, and in the fulfilment of prophecy, 

 continued to the last. Some of his results were contributed 

 to the International Standard^ published by the International 

 Institute for Preserving and Perfecting Weights and 

 Measures, Cleveland, Ohio ; some of his calculations in 

 connection with this subject remained unfinished. He 

 closed his mortal life October 7th, 1887, in the 73rd year 

 of his age. 



The following opinion of his position as a meteorologist, 

 by one who has laboured in the same field, will form a suit- 

 able preface to an account of his work given to this Society. 

 In an article in Natitre^ Dr. Balfour Stewart states : — 

 '^Baxendell's contributions to meteorology are very impor- 

 tant, and in one branch of the science he may claim to be 

 the pioneer. In 1871, from an analysis of eleven years' 

 observations of the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, he came 

 to the conclusion that the forces which produce the move- 

 ments of the atmosphere are more energetic in years of 

 maximum than in years of minimum sun spot activity. This 

 conclusion has now been confirmed in various directions by 

 other observers. We have heard it objected that Baxendell 

 generalised from a comparatively small number of observa- 

 tions ; but in a question like this such a procedure is essential 



