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There was； however； another ground on which I had weakly anticipated a different result；but those who occupy official situations； rendered remarkable by the illustrious names of their predecessors； are placed in no enviable station； and； if their own acquirements are confessedly insufficient to keep up the high authority of their office； they must submit to the mortifications of their false position。 I am sure； therefore； that the President and officers of the Royal Society must have sympathized MOST DEEPLY with me； when they felt it their duty to propose that the Society over which Newton once presided； should refuse so trifling an assistance to the unworthy possessor of the chair he once filled。
In reply to my application to the President and Council； to be allowed a copy of the Greenwich Observations； I was informed that； 〃The number of copies placed by government at the disposal of the Royal Society； was insufficient to supply the demands made on them by various learned bodies in Europe； and； consequently； they were unable； however great their inclination； to satisfy the wishes of individual applicants。〃 Now I have spent some time in searching the numerous proceedings in the council…books of the Royal Society； and I believe the following is the real state of the case：
In 1785； Lord Sidney； one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State； wrote to the Council a letter； dated Whitehall； March 8； 1785； from which the following is extracted：
〃The King has been pleased to consent； that any copies of the Astronomical Observations； made at the Observatory of Greenwich； （and paid for by the Board of Ordnance； pursuant to His Majesty's command； of July 21； 1767；） which may at any time remain in the hands of the printer； shall； after you have reserved such copies as you may think proper as presents； be given to the said Nevil Maskelyne； in consideration of his trouble in the superintending the printing thereof。 I am to signify His Majesty's pleasure； that you do； from time to time； give the necessary orders for that purpose； until His Majesty's further commands shall be communicated to you。
Soon after this letter； I find on the council…books：
〃Ordered； That sixty copies of the Greenwich Observations； last published； be retained as presents； and that the rest be delivered to the Astronomer Royal。〃
It is difficult to be sure of a negative fact； but in searching many volumes of the Proceedings of the Council； I have not discovered any revocation of this order； and I believe none exists。 This is confirmed by the circumstance of the Council at the present day receiving precisely the same number of copies as their predecessors； and I believe that in fact they do not know the authority on which the right to those sixty rests。
Supposing this order unrevoked； it was clearly meant to be left to the discretion of the Council； to order such a number to be reserved； 〃from time to time；〃 as the demands of science might require。 When； therefore； they found that the number of sixty copies was insufficient； they ought to have directed the printer to send them a larger number； but when they found out the purpose to which the Astronomer Royal applied them； they ought immediately to have ordered nearly the whole impression； in order to prevent this destruction of public property。 If； on the other hand； the above order is revoked； and we really have no right to more than sixty copies； then； on discovering the Observations in their progress towards pasteboard； it was the duty of the Council of the Royal Society； as visitors of the Royal Observatory； immediately to have represented to Government the evil of the arrangement； and to have suggested； that if the Astronomer Royal have the right； it would be expedient to commute it for a liberal compensation。
Whichever be the true view of the case； they have taken no steps on the subject； and I cannot help expressing my belief； that the President and Council were induced to be thus negligent of the interests of science； from the fear of interfering with the perquisites of the Astronomer Royal。
It is； however； but justice to observe； that the injury already done to science； by the conversion of these Observations into pasteboard； is not so great as the public might have feared。 Mr。 Pond； than whom no one can be supposed better acquainted with their value； and whose right to judge no man can question； has shown his own opinion to be； that his reputation will be best consulted by diminishing the extent of their circulation。
Before I quit the subject of the Royal Observatory； on which much might be said； I will just refer to the report by a Committee of the Royal Society that was made relative to it； some years since； and which； it is imagined； is a subject by no means grateful to the memory of any of the parties concerned in it。 My object is to ascertain； whether any amendments have taken place in consequence。 To one fact of considerable importance； I was myself a witness； when I was present officially at a visitation。 At that time； no original observations made at the transit instrument were ever preserved。 Had I not been an eye witness of the process of an observation； I should not have credited the fact。
SECTION 7。
OF THE ROYAL MEDALS。
At a period when the attention of Government to science had not undergone any marked change； a most unexpected occurrence took place。 His Majesty intimated to the Royal Society； through his Secretary of State； his intention to found two gold medals； of the value of fifty guineas each； to be awarded annually by the Council of the Royal Society； according to the rules they were desired to frame for that purpose。
The following is the copy of Mr。 Peel's letter：
WHITEHALL； December 3d； 1825。
SIR；
I am commanded by the King to acquaint you； that His Majesty proposes to found two gold medals； of the value of fifty guineas each； to be awarded as honorary premiums； under the direction of the President and Council of the Royal Society； in such a manner as shall； by the excitement of competition among men of science； seem best calculated to promote the object for which the Royal Society was instituted。
His Majesty desires to receive from the President and Council of the Royal Society their opinion upon the subject generally of the regulations which it may be convenient to establish with regard to the appropriation of the medals； and I have； therefore； to request that you will make the necessary communication to the Council of the Royal Society； in order that His Majesty's wishes may be carried into effect。
I have the honour to be； &c。 &c。 （Signed） R。 PEEL。
Nothing could be more important for the interests of science； than this gracious manifestation of His Majesty's concern for its advancement。 It was hailed by all who were made acquainted with it； as the commencement of a new era； and the energies which it might have awakened were immense。 The unfettered nature of the gift excited admiration； whilst the confidence reposed in the Council was calculated to have insured the wavering faith of any less…gifted body。 Even those who； either from knowing the MANAGEMENT of the Society； or from other grounds； doubted