416 Life of the Rev. John Flamsteed, [Dec. 



world. He, therefore, (desparing of any assistance from 

 the King) resolved to make a large mural arc, at his own 

 expense, notwithstanding the " narrowness of his salary." 

 The instrument was completed in the course of the year ; 

 yet, from the coarseness of the workmanship, it lay by him 

 for the next year ; but, on the following, he brought it very 

 near the pole ; fixed it there, and divided the limb beyond 

 the pole. This was an arc of 140°, so contrived that all the 

 stars which are visible in our horizon might be observed on 

 it with the same index. The fault of the instrument was, 

 that in many parts of the limb the index did not apply 

 closely to it, in consequence of its warping; but he con- 

 ceives that this would not prejudice his observations to any 

 extent. Desirous of continuing his researches, he observes, 

 *' May the Author of the Universe, the all wise disposer of 

 the Heavenly bodies, assist me in the undertaking. May 

 He grant me health and leisure to accomplish it, and render 

 my ideas of his works agreeable to the Prototype, that man- 

 kind may have the use, and He the glory of my labours." 



In 1683 he contrived and built a mural arc of so many 

 degrees that it might take in all the stars that passed be- 

 tween the pole and the south intersection of the meridian 

 and horizon, and likewise the pole star itself under the pole, 

 (that is of about 130° in the limb) and fixed it on a wall. 

 With this instrument he took the distances of the sun and 

 planets from the vertex, till the autumn of 1686. 



After the death of Sir Jonas Moore, in 1679, and the 

 King, in 1684, he lost all hope of any allowance for instru- 

 ments, and was made uneasy by persons desiring to have 

 his observations published. 



In 1687 he completed his Catalogue of 130 fixed stars. 

 Then his father died, and left him some property. The 

 first use he made of this increase to his estate was to build 

 a strong mural arc, as he had long before designed. 



He communicated his intention to Lord Dartmouth, 

 Master of the Ordnance, who kindly assured him that 

 what he had laid out would be re-paid by the Office. His 

 servant, Staff'ord, who had the care of the work, died in 

 1688, and was succeeded by A. Sharp, an excellent geome- 

 trician, ready calculator, and a most expert and curious 

 mechanic. In autumn, Sharp set to work on the arc, 



