whose talents and assiduity are so well known. This measure was thus announced to the general meeting of the Society, on the 8th Feb. 1828:
“Among the great and lamented losses which the Society has sustained in the course of the last year, is that of the late Colonel Mark Beaufoy; the latter days of whose existence we recollect with a melancholy pleasure to have been cheered and gratified by the highest mark of this Society’s approbation, in the award of their medal for his Astronomical Observations. His son. Lieutenant George Beaufoy, R.N., has, with the utmost liberality, placed his deceased father’s astronomical instruments into the possession of this Society. * * * * The surest criterion of the utility of a donation is its immediate and effective practicable application. That of Lieutenant Beaufoy was scarcely announced to the Council, when an application was made to them by one of our members, Captain Smyth, R.N. (justly distinguished for his knowledge of the resources of practical astronomy), for their loan, which was immediately accorded; and the Council have the high satisfaction of being able to announce to you, that the instruments in question are at this moment (with the exception of one of the clocks) mounted in the best manner, in a regular observatory established by Captain Smyth, at his residence at Bedford, for their express reception, and already in actual use hi celestial observation. The Council, though not unaware of the general nature of Captain Smyth’s astronomical views, purposely forbear from publicly stating at present the course of observations in which be purposes to engage; being desirous to leave his meritorious exertions as far unfettered as possible by any public pledge – and trusting rather to his high character and well-known zeal, talent, and activity, than to any express stipulation, that the means thus placed in his hands will be exerted for the advancement of astronomical science.”
Captain Smyth’s services to the profession were not terminated by his retirement to Bedford; a paper on the advantages of a museum, known to have been written by him, appeared in the “United Service Journal” for Sept. 1829, and excited great attention, both in the army and navy. This he afterwards followed up by a letter to the editor of that periodical; which we cannot but copy here:
“Sir,– I am requested by my friend, Commander Henry Downes, whose intrepidity has already introduced him upon your pages, to make an offer if his services towards the founding of a United Service Museum. His words are,–
“‘It is with much pleasure that I have read, since my return from Africa, the spirited leading article of the 8th Number of the new Journal,
