1888-9 George Darwin ; Alexander Her sc be I 449 



intention, and to settle in Cambridge in 1873. There he 

 employed himself in literary as well as scientific pursuits, 

 gradually moving into those regions of research into the 

 early history of our planet with which his name will ever 

 be associated. In 1883 he was elected Plumian Professor 

 of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy. The Royal 

 Society, which had elected him a Fellow in 1879, awarded 

 him a Royal Medal in 1884. He took much interest in one 

 or two of the Society's Committees, served on the Council, 

 and had he lived a year longer would not improbably have 

 been chosen President. The Copley Medal was awarded to 

 him in 1911. He died on 7th December, 1912, to the deep 

 regret of a wide circle of friends whom his genial nature had 

 drawn around him. 



Professor Alexander Herschel was the son of Sir John 

 F. W. Herschel. After his education at Cambridge he 

 obtained a lectureship in Natural Philosophy at the Ander- 

 sonian College, Glasgow, which after a few years he resigned 

 in order to become Professor of Physics and Experimental 

 Philosophy in the University of Durham, at the College of 

 Science in Newcastle-on-Tyne. He devoted much time to 

 the study of luminous meteors, which he pursued with 

 ardour and success by personal observation of the heavens 

 for more than half a century. 



1889. In 1889 the Anniversary Meeting was held on 

 June 27th, when twenty-two members were present, Sir 

 William Bowman taking the chair. The statement by the 

 Treasurers showed the expenditure to have been 66 us. 7d., 

 and that a balance of 71 135. 6d. was carried forward. 

 The subscription for the year 1889-90 was fixed as of 

 late at i. The twelve dinners held during the past 

 session had been attended by 150 persons, of whom 131 

 were members and 19 visitors. The largest number at 

 any dinner was, as usual, at the Anniversary, when 24 

 attended, the smallest attendance was six, the average 

 being 12.5. 



As all reference to the bill of fare at the dinners had for 

 many years been rigidly excluded from the registers, 



2F 



