<JHAP. vi.] An Hon. Member of the R. A. Society. 227 



on the other, submits, that while the tests of astronomical 

 merit should in no case be applied to the works of a woman 

 less severely than to those of a man, the sex of the former 

 should no longer be an obstacle to her receiving any ac- 

 knowledgment which might be held due to the latter. ' And 

 your Council therefore recommends this meeting to add to 

 the list of honorary members the names of Miss Caroline 

 Herschel and Mrs. Somerville, of whose astronomical know- 

 ledge, and of the utility of the ends to which it has been 

 applied, it is not necessary to recount the proofs " * 



May 28th, 1828. 



DEAR AUNT, 



.... Before this reaches you, you will have got it 

 [the medal]. Pray let me be well understood on one point. 

 It was none of my doings. I resisted strenuously. Indeed, 

 being in the situation I actually hold,t I could do no 

 otherwise. The Society have done well. I think they 

 might have done better, but my voice was neither asked 

 nor listened to. 



I ought to mention that it became a matter of discussion 

 at the Royal Society whether one of the Royal medals for 

 the year should not be adjudged to you, but the rule limiting 

 the time within which those medals must be granted being 

 precise, it could not be done without a violation of principle. 



I have sent by Mr. G. a few copies of a work of mine on 

 Light, for you to distribute. I shall by the next oppor- 

 tunity (possibly by this) send some copies of a third cata- 

 logue of double stars, completing the first 1,000. The 

 nebulae are advancing rapidly ; I have got about 1,500 re- 

 observed. 



Your affectionate nephew, 



J. F. W. HERSCHEL. 



* " Motions were then made for passing these several resolutions, and the 

 same were carried unanimously." Monthly Notices, vol. iii. p. 91. 

 t Of President. 



Q 2 



