Of private history: There was the usual short visit to Playford at the
beginning and end of the year.--"From June 27th to August 10th I was
travelling in the North and West of Scotland with my wife, my youngest
son Osmund, and my daughter Annot."

* * * * *

In this year the offer of Knighthood (for the third time) was made to
Airy through the Rt Hon. Sir George C. Lewis, Bart. The offer was
accepted on Feb. 12th, 1863, but on the same day a second letter was
written as follows:

_1863, Feb. 12_.

DEAR SIR,

I am extremely ignorant of all matters connected with court
ceremonial, and in reference to the proposed Knighthood would ask
you:--

1. I trust that there is no expense of fees. To persons like myself of
small fortune an honour may sometimes be somewhat dear.

2. My highest social rank is that given by my Academical Degree of
D.C.L. which I hold in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. In
regard to costume, would it be proper that I should appear in the
scarlet gown of that degree? or in the ordinary Court Dress?

I am, Dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully,
G.B. AIRY.

_The Right Honourable
Sir George C. Lewis, Bart.,
&c. &c. &c._

To this letter Sir G.C. Lewis replied that the fees would amount to
about _L30_, an intimation which produced the following letter:

ROYAL OBSERVATORY, GREENWICH, S.E.
_1863, Feb. 19th_.

DEAR SIR,

I have to acknowledge your letter of yesterday: and I advert to that
part of it in which it is stated that the Fees on Knighthood amount to
about _L30_.

Twenty-seven years ago the same rank was offered to me by Lord John
Russell and Mr Spring Rice (then Ministers of the Crown), with the
express notice that no fees would be payable. I suppose that the usage
(whatever it be) on which that notice was founded still subsists.

To a person whose annual income little more than suffices to meet the
annual expenses of a very moderate establishment, an unsought honour
may be an incumbrance. It appears, at any rate, opposed to the spirit
of such an honour, that it should be loaded with Court Expenses in its
very creation.

I hope that the principle stated in 1835 may serve as precedent on
this occasion.

I am, dear Sir,
Your very faithful servant,