THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 43 



perity of the Society during the years in which Mr. De 1831. 

 Morgan filled this place was due' to his incessant energy 

 and effort, and to his steady judgment at difficult junctures. 



His work at the Society brought him into immediate Astrono- 

 contact with all its transactions and with all concerned in Society. 

 them, and as he never left London, and was known to be 

 always at hand, much more than the routine duties of an 

 honorary secretary would have fallen to his share, even if he 

 had not voluntarily taken them upon himself. He drew up 

 documents, wrote letters, and arranged for the meetings and 

 the publication of memoirs. His obituary notices, written 

 as one after another of his fellow- workers left the world, 

 are biographical photographs, taken with a skill that 

 makes the sunlight bring out all the finest as well as the 

 most characteristic lines of the face. 



In the year 1831, the second of Sir James South's 

 presidency, a royal charter was granted to this Society. 

 It was made out in the name of the President, owing to a 

 legal formality, which would have involved greater expense 

 to the Society if others of the Council had been included. 

 But though no mention of differences of opinion appears 

 on the minutes of the Society, there was certainly any- 

 thing but unanimity as to the manner of receiving this 

 grant, for Mr. De Morgan has preserved the following 

 letter from Captain, afterwards Admiral Smyth, in answer 

 to the requisition officially made for another Council meet- 

 ing to re-discuss the question. The style of the formal 

 letter contrasts strongly with the friendly effusions to the 

 6 Esteemed Sec.' and f Dear Mentor ' of after times : 



In answer to the requisition for a Council to meet on Satur- 

 day next to re-discuss the subject of the charter, I regret to say 

 that indispensable occupations prevent my attendance ; but, I 

 must add, if leisure were at my command I should still strongly 

 object to being called away from employment on account of the 

 whims of an individual. 



I consider the point in question to have been already as well 

 considered as the true spirit of our association requires ; that 

 any objection that has been started is more specious than valid ; 



