of somewhat similar type. "Application has been made to a nobleman, of nearly equal rank," writes Baily to J. Herschel on March 11, "who is less dependent on the opinion of others, and who is more fitted for the situation." But apparently the reply was unfavourable, for on March 19, Herschel wrote to Babbage asking, "Has the Marquis of Abercorn been suggested? I can't say, Sir X.Y. seems to me a very proper man. Lord Lansdowne may do very well. If we want rank, why should not the Duke of Gordon, one of our members, be applied to? Here is a queer problem of chances which leads to such diabolical series as resist hitherto all my attempts to find their law. A and B toss up—they play double or quits—In n games what is the probability that the stake will attain 2i x original stake." And so the great and versatile man passes from the problems of the moment to those of more permanent interest. Ultimately it was decided not to elect a new President until the end of the year, and then Sir William Herschel, already a Vice-President as we have seen, accepted the higher Chair, though, on the understanding that he should not be called up for active service. A letter of John Herschel to Babbage shows that a tentative proposal of the same kind had been made by the Council in April 1920, but at that time his father was unwilling to take the office even under the conditions proposed.
When, shortly afterwards, he died full of years and honours, Colebrooke, who had often represented him in the Chair, was elected his successor.
The new Society being now fairly launched, let us see how they began work.
The Meetings.
For accounts of the meetings of the Society nowadays we should go to the Monthly Notices or to the more informal records of discussion in The Observatory magazine. But neither of these sources of information exist for the early years. The latter is a comparatively recent institution; the Monthly Notices extend back only to 1827, and though something can be done to extend them to 1820, as will presently be shown, even then they are but meagre. We are thrown chiefly on the Minutes and a few brief contemporary references; and the general impression created is one of admiration for the hardihood of those who lived through the early meetings. Apparently it was the custom to read the papers pitilessly through, and a long paper might extend over more than one meeting. The St. James's Chronicle of 1820 May 13-16, records (in a scrap preserved by Dr. Lee) as follows:—
Astronomical Society.—The first meeting of this Society was held a few days ago at the house of the Geological Society, Bedford
