BOARD OF LONGITUDE. 339 



surrounded by a family by whom he was adored, May 

 10, 1829, barely at the age of fifty-six. Examination 

 showed that he suffered from ossification of the aorta. 



of the case, and the somewhat different relative position occupied by 

 the parties in England to that in which they might stand in France. 

 It may be right very briefly to point out a few particulars in the case 

 which are necessary for forming a correct impression of it. The 

 Board of Longitude, originally instituted, as its name implied, for one 

 specific object, which it was considered had been sufficiently attained, 

 was in 1818 remodelled by Act of Parliament, when Dr. Young was 

 appointed secretary to the Board and superintendent of the Nautical 

 Almanac; the late Mr. F. Baily, whose eminence in astronomical 

 science may perhaps be dated from that event, strongly pointed out 

 the numerous defects of the Nautical Almanac ; this led to some con- 

 troversy of rather a sharp nature between himself and Dr. Young, 

 who defended the existing system; other astronomers joined in the 

 desire for these and even more extensive improvements, all which 

 (with one slight concession) were steadily opposed by Dr. Young, 

 Among these advocates for reform were several members of the Board 

 itself, who urged them at its meetings. There was also a very preva- 

 lent impression, even among its own members, that the Board was 

 not well constituted, and might have been capable of much better 

 service to the nation if its functions were less restricted and the selec- 

 tion of its members placed on a better footing. In other quarters im- 

 pressions unfavourable to its utility were prevalent ; and it can hardly 

 be matter of surprise that when the Board was itself divided in opin- 

 ion, the public or the legislature should entertain doubts of its utility, 

 or even hostile feelings towards it. What were the precise notions of 

 the government, or the machinations by which they were influenced, 

 it is impossible to say; but it is certain that in 1828, chiefly through 

 the influence of Mr. Croker, its dissolution was determined upon and 

 carried by Act of Parliament without any opposition being attempted. 

 Instead, however, of an enlarged Board with increased powers, three 

 scientific advisers of the Admiralty were appointed, of whom Dr. 

 Young was one, retaining the superintendence of the Nautical Alma- 

 nac ; a system which has been since remodelled in accordance with 

 the report of a committee appointed out of the Astronomical Society. 

 Dr. Young appears all along to have been affected only by the per- 

 sonal acrimony of some of the attacks upon himself in relation to the 

 editorship of the Nautical Almanac, and not at all by any feeling for 

 the Board of Longitude, as Arago would regard it. 



