CORRESPONDENCE, 1836-46. 155 



and when you hear the precise state of things I hope you will 184G. 

 see that you can give it, and can see that you will give it. 



Baily, as you know, was the fly-wheel of the Society ; there 

 was an inexhaustible fund of momentum in him, which he im- 

 parted as wanted, and to the amount wanted. Since his death 

 there is nobody of whom we can say that he is always good for 

 D V ; D being the duties of any office, and V the amount of 

 them which the holder happens to discharge. And we find it 

 necessary to put our shoulders to the wheel, and to bestir 

 ourselves. 



Certain persons wanted to make me President, which I posi- 

 tively refused, holding that to appoint a person who has never 

 promoted astronomy otherwise than as promoting mathematics 

 is indirectly doing so (there wants a word more strong than 

 indirectly, and less strong than directly say ^ directly and in- 

 directly) would be ToW (direct and indirect) confession of 

 weakness. But I have proposed a plan of administration which 

 I am sure of as to the working part, and which I hope you will 

 sanction as to the proemium. Seriously, it is a dignus vindice 

 nodus. 



President: Sir J. Herschel. No duties. If he likes to 

 attend anniversary meetings all the better, but nobody expects 

 even this, except quite convenient. Work all parcelled out. 

 None left for him. Name the thing wanted. 



Acting 1 Vice- President : Captain Smyth. Will do it with 

 pleasure ; ascertained. 



Secretaries : Galloway takes the printing of the Memoirs. 

 Consents if the plan holds. Has been Sec. some years. 



De Morgan takes the routine management of the Society, all 

 but Memoirs and Monthly Notices. Has had eight years of 

 routine, Memoirs, and Notices, all three, and would not meddle 

 with it again except for the conviction that the Society would 

 go to pieces forthwith if something energetic were not done at 

 once. On condition that the President is a man of practical 

 astronomy. 



Foreign Secretary : Sheepshanks. Takes the Monthly Notices. 

 Has had the Secship. for the last year. 



Assistant Secretary : Williams. Seems a working man, but 

 new. 







1 Includes making up a party for the cigar divan after every 

 dinner. 



