He says that he would gladly destroy one-half of the meridian instruments of the world, by way of reform.

I told him that my reform movement would be to bring together the astronomers who had no instruments and the instruments which had no astronomers.
"Mr.Airy is exceedingly systematic.

In leading me by narrow passages and up steep staircases, from one room to another of the irregular collection of rooms, he was continually cautioning me about my footsteps, and in one place he seemed to have a kind of formula: 'Three steps at this place, ten at this, eleven at this, and three again.' So, in descending a ladder to the birthplace of the galvanic currents, he said, 'Turn your back to the stairs, step down with the right foot, take hold with the right hand; reverse the operation in ascending; do not, on coming out, turn around at once, but step backwards one step first.' "Near the throne of the astronomical autocrat is another proof of his system, in a case of portfolios.

These contain the daily bills, letters, and papers, as they come in and are answered in order.

When a portfolio is full, the papers are removed and are sewed together.