Copy of Treasury Minute, dated 10th October, 1881:
My Lords have before them a statement of the services of Sir George
Biddell Airy, K.C.B., F.R.S., who has resigned the appointment of
Astronomer Royal on the ground of age.
Sir George Airy has held his office since the year 1835, and has also, during that period, undertaken various laborious works, demanding scientific qualifications of the highest order, and not always such as could strictly be said to be included among the duties of his office.
The salary of Sir G. Airy as Astronomer Royal is £1200 a year, in addition to which he enjoys an official residence rent free, and, under ordinary circumstances he would be entitled to a pension equal to two-thirds of his salary and emoluments.
My Lords, however, in order to mark their strong sense of the distinction which, during a long and brilliant career Sir George Airy has conferred upon his office, and of the great services which, in connection with, as well as in the discharge of, his duties, he has rendered to the Crown and the Public, decide to deal with his case under the IXth Section of the Superannuation Act, 1859, which empowers them to grant a special pension for special services.
Accordingly my Lords are pleased to award to Sir George Biddell Airy,
K.C.B., F.R.S., a special Retired Allowance of £1100 per annum.
* * * * *
THE WHITE HOUSE,
CROOM'S HILL, GREENWICH,
1881, October 29.
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of October 27, transmitting to me, by instruction of The Lords Commissioners of Admiralty, copy of a Treasury Minute dated 1881 October 10, in which the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury are pleased to award to me an annual retired allowance of £1100 per annum.