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began to devote himself entirely to astronomy. He became a Fel- 

 low of the Astronomical Society in 1834, and of this Society in 

 1830. Though often actively engaged in our behalf, and serving 

 on the Council in 1832, his pursuits led him towards the Astrono- 

 mical Society, of which he was always one of the most active of 

 the executive body. His leisure, and his desire to help the young 

 astronomer so long as he wanted advice and guidance, gave a 

 peculiar value to his services, and a peculiar utility to his career. 



Mr. Sheepshanks resided in London till about 1842, when he 

 removed to Reading, where he. died of apoplexy, August 4, 1855. 

 There is much reason to suppose that his life was shortened by his 

 laborious exertions in the restoration of the standard scale. - 



Though an ardent politician of the school of opinion which had 

 to struggle for existence during the first half of his life, but gradu- 

 ally became victorious in the second, he never took any public part 

 in a political question, except that of the Reform Bill. He was one 

 of the Boundary Commissioners appointed in 1831 to fix the boun- 

 daries of boroughs under the new system of representation. His 

 reading in politics and history was extensive, especially in military 

 matters, with which he was very well acquainted ; both ancient and 

 modern tactics, from the best sources, having formed a portion, and 

 no inconsiderable portion, of his studies. To this must be added 

 literature and poetry, to which he was much attached : he never 

 abandoned classical reading, and those who knew him best were 

 often surprised at the extent to which he had cultivated modern 

 literature. 



But his subject was astronomy, and his especial part of that sub- 

 ject was the astronomical instrument. His reputation among astro- 

 nomers on this point, and the articles which he contributed to the 

 'Penny Cyclopaedia,' may allow us to regret that he did not draw up 

 a full treatise on a matter which he had so completely fathomed. 



Mr. Sheepshanks was engaged in active efforts on several special 

 occasions, to which we make brief allusion. In 1828 he joined 

 Mr. Airy in the pendulum operations in Cornwall, and suggested 

 some of the most important plans of operation. In 1828 and 1829 

 he was active in the establishment of the Cambridge Observatory. 

 In 1832 he was consulted on the part of the Admiralty, with refer- 

 ence to the edition then preparing of Groombridge's Circumpolar 



