Zoological Societies of Dublin; an LL.D. of the University of Aberdeen, and a Knight of Denmark; and as regards the Institution of Civil Engineers, the words of its able Secretary, Mr. Charles Manby, will best show the estimation in which he was held by our civil brethren. "He became connected with this Institution, as an Associate in 1820, and was transferred to the class of Honorary Members in the same year. He was much attached to many Members of the Society, very frequently attended the meetings, took part in the discussions, was always ready to afford information or assistance, and at every annual meeting the Council had the pleasing task of recording General Colby's unceasing attention and liberality, in procuring for and presenting to the Library, the Ordnance Maps, and many other valuable documents, as soon as they were published." On quitting the Survey, he retired to the Continent and devoted himself to the education of his sons, residing partly in Germany and partly in Belgium, but at length the unsettled aspect of affairs abroad induced him to return home, when with little or scarcely any warning, the Spirit, yet active, was summoned from the Body, yet firm and hale, and on the 2nd October, 1852, in the 69th year of his age, whilst amidst his loving and mourning family, at New Brighton, near Liverpool, he passed from the scene of so much bodily and mental exertion to rest and peace eternal. Whilst living, General Colby received none of those honourable distinctions which so many prize Y 314 MEMOIR OF MAJOR-GENERAL COLBY. far above pecuniary emolument; but it is gratifying to think that the Government has, since his death, recognized his great claims on the Public, and awarded to his widow a life pension. My task is now completed, and I hope that I have been successful in setting before my brother officers a faithful picture of the services and character of a man who so long and so ably conducted the great surveys of this country. In my early connection with the Irish survey I was his chosen assistant and confidential adviser, and it was then I learnt to appreciate his accurate knowledge, his sound judgment, his untiring energy and consummate skill, and above all, his unbounded liberality in imparting to me and others the stores of his own knowledge. In the later period of my connection he was estranged in feeling towards me; but as I now look back at the past from a more distant point of view, I cannot doubt that there were faults on both sides. In short, I was once his favoured disciple, and feeling that the early kindnesses and services I received from him far outweigh the later harshness, which at the time I deemed injustice, I am proud to have had the opportunity of recording my respect for the memory of a man towards whom, when living, I had always felt and expressed affection. J. E. P. 1822 1838 269-281 199 223, 307 14 25, 105 81 60 119 131 .... with Sector at Dunkirk and Lauenburg...100, 101 Observatories of Pisa and Florence.... of Greenwich and Paris... Observatory of Edinburgh............ Office Arrangements Pendulum Experiments by Messrs. Arago and Humboldt by Biot ........... 96 81 262 85 163 .......... 284 237 Compensation... Plumbline, Deflection of the Ramsden's Theodolite 21, 24, 118, 257, 283 Refraction 136, 210 Reichenbach's Repeating Theodolite Richmond, Duke of Rodiguez, Don ............................ 31, 45 Roy, M. General Sappers Scale of the Down Survey. 181 English Survey Signals 85, 92 .... Surveying, Mode of Troughton Soldiers employed on the Survey. Surveys in 1745, &c........ ...... Theodolite for Irish Survey Trigonometrical Survey, first Account of Yolland, Col........... Zach, Baron, on Base Measurements C. A. Macintosh, Printer, Great New-street, London. ........................... 55, 224 109 163 16 199 286 35 272, 283, 286 280 295 |