COUNCIL FOR 1857. 
13 
of tlie last four months several meetings have been held there 
for the purpose of exciting an interest in the study of Practical 
Astronomy. Mr. Nohle^ from whom this Report of the Ob¬ 
servatory proceeds, expresses a wish that the number of mem¬ 
bers attending these meetings should be increased, a wish in 
which the Council entirely concur. 
From Lady Chatterton, as executrix of her late sister. 
Miss Atkinson, has been received a most valuable bequest, the 
portrait of her late father, James Atkinson, Esq. Mr. Atkinson 
was a surgeon of high professional eminence in this city, 
active and liberal in all public undertakings, and one of the 
Founders of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. To the 
citizens of York, this portrait will have a great additional 
interest, from its being the work of their eminent fellow-citizen, 
"William Etty, R. A., and an admirable specimen of his skill 
in a department of his art, in which his pencil was rarely 
employed. The celebrity which Mr. Etty attained as a painter 
has shed lustre over his native city; his simple manners and 
amiable temper have endeared his memory to many of our 
members who were his private friends; York was the chosen 
retreat of his declining years; he took a lively interest in the 
success of our Society, which early enrolled him among its 
Honorary Members; and his last resting place, selected by 
himself, is almost within the walls of our venerable Abbey. 
In the new arrangements consequent upon the enlargement of 
the Museum the Council hope to find a place for this portrait, 
where it may be at once secure from injury, and open to the 
view of every Visitor to the Museum. The Meeting will no 
doubt cordially join in a vote of thanks to Lady Chatterton for 
carrying into effect the wishes of her sister. 
It was announced in the last Report that the Council 
intended to make an Exhibition of objects of Natural History 
and Antiquity, in the Society’s Museum and Grounds, during 
the Agricultural Meeting in the month of August. The 
weather after the first day was exceedingly unfavourable, and 
the pecuniary results consequently much smaller than had been 
hoped for, amounting only, after all expenses were paid, to 
about £18. It was visited, however, by several thousand 
