* * *

In this year (1862, June 9th) Airy received the Honorary Degree of
LL.D. in the University of Cambridge. He was nominated by the Duke of
Devonshire, as appears from the following letter:

LISMORE CASTLE, IRELAND,
_April 19th, 1862_.

MY DEAR SIR,

It is proposed according to usage to confer a considerable number of
Honorary Degrees on the occasion of my first visit to Cambridge as
Chancellor of the University.

I hope that you will allow me to include your name in that portion of
the list which I have been invited to draw up.

The ceremony is fixed for the 10th of June.

I am, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
DEVONSHIRE.

_The Astronomer Royal_.

* * * * *

Airy's reply was as follows:

ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH,
LONDON, S.E.
_1862, April 21_.

MY LORD DUKE,

I am exceedingly gratified by your communication this day received,
conveying a proposal which I doubt not is suggested by your Grace's
recollection of transactions now many years past.

I have always been desirous of maintaining my connection with my
University, and have in various ways interested myself practically in
its concerns. It would give me great pleasure to have the connection
strengthened in the flattering way which you propose.

I had conceived that alumni of the University were not admissible to
honorary degrees; but upon this point the information possessed by
your Grace, as Chancellor of the University, cannot be disputed.

I am, my Lord Duke,
Your Grace's very faithful servant,
G.B. AIRY.

_His Grace
The Duke of Devonshire_.

* * * * *

There were in all 19 Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Laws conferred on
the 9th of June, including men of such eminence as Armstrong, Faraday,
and Fairbairn.

1863

In this year there were several schemes for a Railway through the
lower part of Greenwich Park, the most important being the scheme of
the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company. In reference to this
scheme the Report to the Visitors states "I may say briefly that I
believe that it would be possible to render such a railw