His holiday movements in the portion of the year up to August 16th consisted in his winter visit to Playford, from which he returned on Jan. 24th: and a subsequent visit to Playford from June 7th to 18th.
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The following correspondence relating to Airy's retirement from office testifies in a remarkable manner to the estimation in which his services were held, and to the good feeling which subsisted between him and his official superiors.
10, DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, June 6, 1881.
DEAR SIR GEORGE AIRY,
I cannot receive the announcement of your resignation, which you have just conveyed to me, without expressing my strong sense of the distinction you have conferred upon the office of Astronomer Royal, and of the difficulty of supplying your place with a person of equal eminence. Let me add the expression of my best wishes for the full enjoyment of your retirement from responsibility.
I remain, dear Sir George Airy,
Faithfully yours,
W.E. GLADSTONE.
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ADMIRALTY, June 10th, 1881.