154 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MORGAN. 



1846. me more in contact with certain parts of our glorious constitution 

 than I could any way stand. 



But I have offered either to do the work of a Vice-President, 

 if Herschel or some other good man will be President, or to 

 take every duty of Secretaryship except the editing of the 

 Monthly Notices and Memoirs. I sent Sheepshanks the following 

 programme, which I amend for your use : 



President : Herschel, absent. Quiet enough when present. 



Acting Yice-President : Capt. W. H. Smyth too fond of 

 cigars and black-puddings, but otherwise a capital quarter- 

 master. 



Secretaries : Rutherford, for the Memoirs. A. De Morgan 

 well enough in his way, but cranky for all miscellaneous work, 

 from wax candles to Council minutes. 



Foreign Secretary : Rev. R. Sheepshanks (composition 

 not wax by any means. A President overdue, but won't dub 

 up ought to go through the court) for the Monthly Notices. 



If Galloway would take Rutherford's place, who wants to get 

 off, we should be in capital force. And we look forward to Hind 

 being a famous man. 



II n'y a que moi qui a toujours raison. 



Think of the above, and see if it won't work. I will work, 

 but in my proper place. The President must be a man of brass 

 a micrometer-monger, a telescope- twiddler, a star- stringer, a 

 planet-poker, and a nebula-nabber. If we give bail that we 

 won't let him do anything if he would, we shall be able to have 

 him, 1 I hope. We must all give what is most wanted, and his 

 name is even more wanted than his services. We can do with- 

 out his services, not without loss, but without difficulty. I see 

 we shall not, without great difficulty, dispense with his name. 

 Kind regards all round. 



Yours truly, 



A. DE MORGAN. 



To Sir John Herschel. 



MY DEAR SIR JOHN, We have just been making our arrange- 

 ments for the Society for the ensuing year, and one thing is 

 that you are not to be asked to do anything, or wished to do 

 anything, or wanted to do anything. But we -want your name, 



1 Herschel (understood). S.E.De M. 



