sense, of the modifications of Magnetism; a careful attention to these is likely to prove useful to the world, and conducive to the material prosperity of the Observatory:  and these ought not to be banished from our system.’—­In September I prepared the first specification for the building to carry the S.E.  Dome.—­In September, learning that Hansen’s Lunar Tables were finished in manuscript, I applied to Lord Clarendon and they were conveyed to me through the Foreign Office:  in October I submitted to the Admiralty the proposal for printing the Tables, and in November I learned that the Treasury had assented to the expense.—­Lieut.  Daynou’s eclipses and occultations for longitudes of points in South Africa, observed in 1854 and 1855, were calculated here in this year.—­On Feb. 16th I made my first application to Sir C. Wood (First Lord of the Admiralty) for assistance to C. Piazzi Smyth to carry out the Teneriffe Experiment:  grounding it in part on the failure of attempts to see the solar prominences.  He gave encouragement, and on Mar. 18th I transmitted Piazzi Smyth’s Memorial to the Admiralty:  on May 2nd the Admiralty authorized an expense of L500.  I drew up suggestions.—­The Sheepshanks Fund:  After the death of my friend Richard Sheepshanks, his sister Miss Anne Sheepshanks wished to bestow some funds in connection with the University of Cambridge, Trinity College, and Astronomy, to which his name should be attached.  There must have been some conversation with me, but the first letter is one from De Morgan in August.  In September I had a conversation with Miss Sheepshanks, and sent her my first draft of a scheme, to which she assented.  On Sept. 30th I wrote to Whewell (Master of Trinity) who was much trusted by Miss Sheepshanks:  he consented to take part, and made some suggestions.  There was further correspondence, but the business did not get into shape in this year.—­In connection with the Correction of the Compass in Iron Ships:  I discussed the observations made in the voyage of the Royal Charter.  On Feb. 13th I proposed to the Admiralty a system of mounting the compasses with adjustable magnets, and it was ordered to be tried in the Trident and Transit.—­In February I reported to the Admiralty that the Deal Time-Ball had been successful, and I proposed time-balls at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Sheerness.  There was much correspondence in various directions about Portsmouth and Devonport, and in March I went to Devonport and specially examined Mount Wise and the Devonport Column.—­I had correspondence with Sir Howard Douglas about the sea breaking over the unfinished Dover Pier.  I have an idea that this followed evidence given by me to a Harbour Commission, in which I expressed as a certainty that the sea will not be made to break by a vertical wall.”

Of private history:  “I returned from Playford on Jan. 18th.—­From June 16th to August 5th I was, with my son Wilfrid, on an expedition to South Italy and Sicily:  on our return from Sicily, we remained for three days ill at Marseilles from a touch of malaria.—­On Dec. 22nd I went to Playford.—­In acknowledgment of the pleasure which I had derived from excursions in the Cumberland Passes, I made a foot-bridge over a troublesome stream on the Pass of the Sty Head.”