1835.] First Astronomer- Royal. 337 



had left on that day month before. For God's providences 

 in this journey His name be praised. Amen, Amen. 



Being returned I was visited by my friends, I being so 

 discomposed by my journey that I was not very fit to appear 

 at court that day, yet had I not been so ill but that riding 

 on a dull horse (who trotted hard) betwixt Holmeschapel 

 and Congleton, I was a little galled. For I would not use 

 that practice, which an Irish gentleman reported who had 

 his horse's back galled always when he was ridden by one 

 of his boys ; at which wondering, he by chance meets his 

 said boy, who was a natural Irishman, riding upon his galled 

 horse with his breeches hanging buttoned upon his neck ; 

 of which inquiring of him the reason, he answered it was 

 because the horse should not gall him, but by that means 

 the rider escapes and the horse is galled himself. This 

 story I could not omit, because such passages are not usual 

 among the English, to whom this scarce was known. 



Not long after my return I added an appendix to my 

 Mathematical Essays, which I had left in the hands of my 

 friend W. Litchford, and intended for him, and I gave it 

 him when I had finished it. I added to it the projection of 

 an universal dial, and a catalogue of seventy of the fixed 

 stars, with their right ascensions, declinations, longitudes 

 and latitudes, to the year 1701 ; which I had composed by 

 the Tychonic places, and allowing the annual procession of 

 the fixed stars 50". 



I also proceeded to perfect the calculation of the solar 

 eclipse, which should happen June 22d, 1666, in the morning, 

 according to the Caroline Tables, in which I noted some 

 incongruities and difficulties of calculation I now remember 

 not ; only I found by his tables at Derby, 



In the eclipse of the sun June 21st 1666 or 22d, mane 



Digiti eclip. 7° 28' ad Aust. 

 In the winter following I was indifferent hearty and my 

 disease was not so violent as it used to be at that time for- 

 merly. But whether through God's mercy I received this 



VOL. II. z 



