506 Anniversary Meeting. [Nov. 30, 



sideratiou of the most suitable construction and dimensions of a telescope 

 for the desired purpose. This was effected by a correspondence amongst 

 the members of the Committee, passing through the Secretary of the Royal 

 Society, the letters being printed for greater convenience in circulation. The 

 proceedings of this Committee were terminated by a meeting of its mem- 

 bers at the apartments of the Royal Society on July 5, 1853, the Earl of 

 Rosse, President, in the Chair; when the following resolutions were passed : 



" I. That the Committee approve the proposition made by Mr. Grubb, 

 and contained in Dr. Robinson's letter of June 30, 1853, for the construc- 

 tion of a/oM?--foot Reflector. 



" 2. That application be made to Her Majesty's Government for the 

 necessary funds. 



" 3. That the Presidents of the Royal Society and of the British Asso- 

 ciation, accompanied by Dr. Robinson, who was associated with the Earl of 

 Rosse in the former application, and Mr. Hopkins, the President elect of 

 the British Association, be a deputation to communicate with Government 

 respecting the preceding Resolutions. 



" 4. That the Earl of Rosse, Dr. Robinson, Mr. Warren De la Rue, and 

 Mr. Lassell be a Subcommittee for the purpose of superintending the pro- 

 gress of Mr. Grubb' s undertaking." 



No record appears to have been made of the subsequent steps taken by this 

 Committee ; but it is understood that the application was made to the Earl 

 of Aberdeen, who had become First Lord of the Treasury, and that the 

 reply received was that " no funds could be then spared as the country 

 was engaged in the Crimean war ; but that when the crisis then impending 

 was past the matter should be taken up." Lord Aberdeen's retirement 

 from office, and subsequent death, rendered this promise of no avail. 



I must now advert to a circumstance which has exercised a most beneficial 

 influence on the proposition for a southern telescope, and has contributed 

 greatly to bring it to its present advanced stage. Amongst the Members 

 of the Mathematical and Physical Section of the British Association who 

 took part in the discussions relating to the telescope at the Belfast Meet- 

 ing, there was one, Mr. William Parkinson Wilson, Professor of Mathe- 

 matics in Queen's College, Belfast, who was remarked for the deep and 

 earnest interest with which he viewed the subject. Appointed shortly 

 afterwards to the Mathematical Chair in the University of Melbourne, 

 Professor Wilson appears to have been impressed by the suitability of 

 Melbourne for such a telescope, both from its latitude and climate, and 

 from the increasing wealth and public spirit of its inhabitants manifested 

 in the liberal support given to many scientific institutions. Melbourne 

 enjoyed also at that time the great advantage of a Governor, Sir Henry 

 Barkly, whose education and acquirements enabled him to appreciate the 

 importance in such a colony of scientific cultivation. Being appointed 

 Hon. Secretary of the Board of Visitors of the Melbourne Observatory, 



