Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy Part 23

_Sir George Biddell Airy, K.C.B.

&c., &c., &c., Royal Observatory, Greenwich._

"The Astronomer Royal (Sir George B. Airy) having announced his intention of shortly retiring from his position at the Royal Observatory, the following resolution proposed by Professor J. C. Adams, and seconded by Professor G. G. Stokes, was then unanimously adopted and ordered to be recorded in the Minutes of the Proceedings.

"The Board having heard from the Astronomer Royal that he proposes to terminate his connection with the Observatory on the 15th of August next, desire to record in the most emphatic manner their sense of the eminent services which he has rendered to Astronomy, to Navigation and the allied Sciences, throughout the long period of 45 years during which he has presided over the Royal Observatory.

"They consider that during that time he has not only maintained but has greatly extended the ancient reputation of the Inst.i.tution, and they believe that the Astronomical and other work which has been carried on in it under his direction will form an enduring monument of his Scientific insight and his powers of organization.

"Among his many services to Science, the following are a few which they desire especially to commemorate:

_(a)_ "The complete re-organization of the Equipment of the Observatory.

_(b)_ "The designing of instruments of exceptional stability and delicacy suitable for the increased accuracy of observation demanded by the advance of Astronomy.

_(c)_ "The extension of the means of making observations of the Moon in such portions of her orbit as are not accessible to the Transit Circle.

_(d)_ "The investigation of the effect of the iron of s.h.i.+ps upon compa.s.ses and the correction of the errors thence arising.

_(e)_ "The Establishment at the Observatory and elsewhere of a System of Time Signals since extensively developed by the Government.

"The Board feel it their duty to add that Sir George Airy has at all times devoted himself in the most unsparing manner to the business of the Observatory, and has watched over its interests with an a.s.siduity inspired by the strongest personal attachment to the Inst.i.tution. He has availed himself zealously of every scientific discovery and invention which was in his judgment capable of adaptation to the work of the Observatory; and the long series of his annual reports to the Board of Visitors furnish abundant evidence, if such were needed, of the soundness of his judgment in the appreciation of suggested changes, and of his readiness to introduce improvements when the proper time arrived. While maintaining the most remarkable punctuality in the reduction and publication of the observations made under his own superintendance, he had reduced, collected, and thus rendered available for use by astronomers, the Lunar and Planetary Observations of his predecessors. Nor can it be forgotten that, notwithstanding his absorbing occupations, his advice and a.s.sistance have always been at the disposal of Astronomers for any work of importance.

"To refer in detail to his labours in departments of Science not directly connected with the Royal Observatory may seem to lie beyond the province of the Board. But it cannot be improper to state that its members are not unacquainted with the high estimation in which his contributions to the Theory of Tides, to the undulatory theory of Light, and to various abstract branches of Mathematics are held by men of Science throughout the world.

"In conclusion the Board would express their earnest hope, that in his retirement Sir George Airy may enjoy health and strength and that leisure for which he has often expressed a desire to enable him not only to complete the numerical Lunar Theory on which he has been engaged for some years past, but also to advance Astronomical Science in other directions."

ADMIRALTY, _27th October, 1881_.

SIR,

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you, herewith, a copy of a Treasury Minute, awarding you a Special Pension of _1100_ a year, in consideration of your long and brilliant services as Astronomer Royal.

I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, ROBERT HALL.

_Sir G.B. Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., &c., &c.

The White House, Croom's Hill, Greenwich._

Copy of Treasury Minute, dated 10th October, 1881:

My Lords have before them a statement of the services of Sir George Biddell Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., who has resigned the appointment of Astronomer Royal on the ground of age.

Sir George Airy has held his office since the year 1835, and has also, during that period, undertaken various laborious works, demanding scientific qualifications of the highest order, and not always such as could strictly be said to be included among the duties of his office.

The salary of Sir G. Airy as Astronomer Royal is _1200_ a year, in addition to which he enjoys an official residence rent free, and, under ordinary circ.u.mstances he would be ent.i.tled to a pension equal to two-thirds of his salary and emoluments.

My Lords, however, in order to mark their strong sense of the distinction which, during a long and brilliant career Sir George Airy has conferred upon his office, and of the great services which, in connection with, as well as in the discharge of, his duties, he has rendered to the Crown and the Public, decide to deal with his case under the IXth Section of the Superannuation Act, 1859, which empowers them to grant a special pension for special services.

Accordingly my Lords are pleased to award to Sir George Biddell Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., a special Retired Allowance of _1100_ per annum.

THE WHITE HOUSE, CROOM'S HILL, GREENWICH, _1881, October 29_.

SIR,

I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of October 27, transmitting to me, by instruction of The Lords Commissioners of Admiralty, copy of a Treasury Minute dated 1881 October 10, in which the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury are pleased to award to me an annual retired allowance of _1100_ per annum.

Acknowledging the very liberal award of the Lords Commissioners of Treasury, and the honourable and acceptable terms in which it is announced, I take leave at the same time to offer to Their Lords.h.i.+ps of the Admiralty my recognition of Their Lords.h.i.+ps' kindness and courtesy in thus handing to me copy of the Treasury Minute.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very obedient Servant, G.B. AIRY.

_The Secretary of the Admiralty,_

From the a.s.sistants of the Royal Observatory, with whom he was in daily communication, whose faithful and laborious services he had so often thankfully recognized in his Annual Reports to the Board of Visitors, and to whom so much of the credit and success of the Observatory was due, he received the following address:

ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, _1881, August 11_.

DEAR SIR,

We cannot allow the official relation which has so long existed between yourself and us to terminate without expressing to you our sense of the admirable manner in which you have, in our opinion, upheld the dignity of the office of Astronomer Royal during the many years that you have occupied that important post.

Your long continued and varied scientific work has received such universal recognition from astronomers in all lands, that it is unnecessary for us to do more than a.s.sure you how heartily we join in their appreciation of your labours. We may however add that our position has given us opportunities of seeing that which others cannot equally well know, the untiring energy and great industry which have been therein displayed throughout a long and laborious career, an energy which leads you in retirement, and at fourscore years of age, to contemplate further scientific work.

We would ask you to carry with you into private life the best wishes of each one of us for your future happiness, and that of your family, expressing the hope that the days of retirement may not be few, and a.s.suring you that your name will long live in our remembrance.

We are, dear Sir, Yours very faithfully, W.H.M. CHRISTIE, EDWIN DUNKIN, WILLIAM ELLIS, GEORGE STRICKLAND CRISWICK, W.

C. NASH, A.M.W. DOWNING, EDWARD W.

MAUNDER, W.G. THACKERAY, THOMAS LEWIS.

_Sir G.B. Airy, K.C.B., &c., &c., Astronomer Royal._

ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, _1881, August 13_.

MY DEAR MR CHRISTIE, and Gentlemen of the Royal Observatory,

With very great pleasure I have received your letter of August 11. I thank you much for your recognition of the general success of the Observatory, and of a portion of its conduct which--as you remark--can scarcely be known except to those who are every day engaged in it: but I thank you still more for the kind tone of your letter, which seems to shew that the terms on which we have met are such as leaves, after so many years' intercourse, no shadow of complaint on any side.

Reciprocating your wishes for a happy life, and in your case a progressive and successful one,