KOYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 271 



in 1859, from Camden Street to Adelaide Road, the 1861. 

 distance made it difficult for him to be in London late 

 at night, on account of the necessity before mentioned 

 of his leaving home early in the morning. His resigna- 

 tion was received with regret. The meetings of this 

 friendly Club had been a great pleasure to him, but 

 he had latterly been unable to join them. His friend 

 Mr. De la Rue, then treasurer and secretary, wrote : 

 ' Regret was universally expressed at the announcement 

 of your retiring, and also because it recalled to mind 

 how little you had been with us of late. The members 

 could not reconcile themselves to the withdrawal of a 

 name so intimately connected with the Club for the 

 last thirty years, and you were immediately proposed 

 as an honorary life member. I have to announce to 

 you that you were elected by acclamation, and that the 

 Club hope that you will dine with them whenever your 

 leisure and inclination permit of your doing so ; and this 

 wish I endorse on my own account most heartily.' I do 

 not think he ever found leisure, however much he might 

 have had inclination, to dine with his old friends again. 



During this and the following year occurrences took Election of 

 place which affected his happy relations with the Society, president! 

 though not with the friends who continued to belong 

 to it. In the year 1861, six members of the Council 

 determined to place Dr. Lee, of Hartwell House, in the 

 President's chair. Dr. Lee was a respectable and esti- 

 mable man, who, by the maintenance of a private observa- 

 tory, had shown great interest in Astronomy ; but he was 

 himself more of an antiquarian than a scientific man, 

 and, but for his wealth, would not have been eligible as 

 President. It was the manner of proposing the candidate 

 at a packed meeting, and the canvass for his election by 

 his supporters, in place of the open election by which, 



who assembled after the meeting. Their entertainment consisted of 

 cofiee, cigars, sometimes a bowl of punch, and always much friendly 

 talk. 



