I should like to recall the
circumstances attending the naming of the planet. Herschel proposed to
call it _Georgium Sidus_ in honour of his patron, King George III., and
as the best way of making his wishes known, wrote the following letter to
the President of the Royal Society, which is printed at the beginning of
the Philosophical Transactions for 1783.

_A Letter from_ WILLIAM HERSCHEL, Esq., F.R.S.,
_to_ Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart., P.R.S.

"Sir,--By the observations of the most eminent astronomers in Europe
it appears that the new star, which I had the honour of pointing out
to them in March 1781, is a Primary Planet of our Solar System. A
body so nearly related to us by its similar condition and situation
in the unbounded expanse of the starry heavens, must often be the
subject of conversation, not only of astronomers, but of every lover
of science in general. This consideration then makes it necessary to
give it a name whereby it may be distinguished from the rest of the
planets and fixed stars.

[Sidenote: _Georgium Sidus._]

"In the fabulous ages of ancient times, the appellations of Mercury,
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were given to the planets as being
the names of their principal heroes and divinities. In the present
more philosophical era, it would hardly be allowable to have recourse
to the same method, and call on Juno, Pallas, Apollo, or Minerva for
a name to our new heavenly body. The first consideration in any
particular event, or remarkable incident, seems to be its chronology:
if in any future age it should be asked, _when_ this last found
planet was discovered? It would be a very satisfactory answer to say,
'In the reign of King George the Third.' As a philosopher then, the
name GEORGIUM SIDUS presents itself to me, as an appellation which
will conveniently convey the information of the time and country
where and when it was brought to view. But as a subject of the best
of kings, who is the liberal protector of every art and science; as a
native of the country from whence this illustrious family was called
to the British throne; as a member of that Society which flourishes
by the distinguished liberality of its royal patron; and, last of
all, as a person now more immediately under the protection of this
excellent monarch, and owing everything