i6 
HISTORY OF THE 
[1820-30 
stolid obstinacy of the Germans should have triumphed over it. 
In the N.A. for 1916 the Superintendent has abandoned Baily’s 
notation for the German. 
Turning to different matters, in 1823 February it was reported 
to the Council that Tulley had completed a 2-in. O.G. from glass 
by Guinand of Neufchatel, which Dollond had found satisfactory. 
[The spelling of such names in the Minutes varies considerably.] 
A Committee of Gilbert, Herschel, and Pearson was thereupon 
authorised to purchase similar glass “ on account of the Society ” 
to an amount not exceeding £100 : but it was reported in April 
that the maker had no adequate supply of the glass. Tulley’s 
telescope was purchased by Baily for 14 guineas, after others had 
declined it (May 9). In November a further supply of glass from 
Guinand was reported : viz., 3 pieces of flint glass, 2 amorphous, and 
one as a disc for a 7|-in. O.G. This disc was put into the hands 
of Tulley and Dollond, and ultimately Tulley fashioned an O.G. 
of nearly 7 inches aperture which Dr. Pearson purchased, giving 
£200 to Tulley, and paying £20, 16s. 6d. + 700 francs for the glass 
to Guinand. A report on the whole transaction is printed in 
Mem. R.A.S., 2 , 507 ; but neither this brief summary of facts 
which to-day seem unimportant nor the report mentioned can 
convey an adequate idea of the time and thought spent by the 
Council, at many meetings, in this attempt to obtain better re 
fracting telescopes. They were grievously disappointed at Tulley’s 
charge of £200, and told him so, pointing out what a discourage 
ment it was to further work. It was only the kindly generosity 
of Dr. Pearson which smoothed over an awkward situation. 
Before the Beginning 
Let us now, before following the history of our Society further, 
turn back to some circumstances attending its inception. In the 
Memoirs of Augustus De Morgan (sect. iii. p. 41) the following 
remarks of Sir John Herschel are quoted :— 
The end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth 
centuries were remarkable for the small amount of scientific move 
ment going on in this country, especially in its more exact depart 
ments. . . . Mathematics were at the last gasp, and Astronomy 
nearly so—I mean in those members of its frame which depend 
upon precise measurement and systematic calculation. The 
chilling torpor of routine had begun to spread itself over all those 
branches of science which wanted the excitement of experimental 
research. 
The foundation of our Society was thus associated with an 
awakening from this deplorable state of affairs. We must be 
careful to note the qualifying phrase with regard to Astronomy :