1835.] First Astronomer- Royal, ^ 



Catalogue of the fixed stars; for which I was now furnished 

 with a stock of observations, sufficient for a beginning. In 

 order to which the following year I made new tables for 

 finding the sun's true place. But I found myself soon 

 deceived : for instead of saving me labour, this brought 

 more upon me. Mr. Newton frequently called upon me 

 for new observations of the moon : whilst some of his crea- 

 tures in town cried up his success in correcting the lunar 

 theory ; but said not one word of his obligations or debt to 

 the Royal Observatory. And one of them publicly gave 

 out that all my pains would be well employed to so serve 

 him. When I demanded therefore the performance of his 

 promise, I was put off with excuses and delays, and some- 

 times even with injuries. Nevertheless, I continued to 

 supply his demands, as my other employment of observing 

 (that I might enlarge my stock for carrying on my Cata- 

 logue) would permit: for, at the same time, I had the resti- 

 tution of the sun's motions, besides my night-work, on my 

 hands. 



This request of Mr. Newton for more observations, caused 

 an intercourse of letters between us, wherein I imparted to 

 him about 100 more of the moon's places ; which was more 

 than he could reasonably expect from one in my circum- 

 stances of constant business and ill health. The year 

 following (1695) I was ill all the year with a periodical 

 head-ache : which was carried off in September by a violent 

 fit of my dreadful distemper, the stone. In the mean time, 

 frequent letters passed between me and Mr. Newton, who 

 ceased not to importune me (though he was informed of my 

 illness) for more observations ; and with that earnestness 

 that looked as if he had a right to demand them ; and had 

 about 50 more imparted to him. But I did not think my- 

 self obliged to employ my pains to serve a person that was 

 so inconsiderate as to presume he had a right to that which 

 was only a courtesy. And I therefore went on with my 

 business of the fixed stars ; leaving Mr. Newton to examine 

 the lunar observations over again : which had he done, he 

 had found that he needed not be so importunate for new,— 

 the old would have been sufficient for the purpose and de- 

 sign for which I had imparted them to him. I was there- 

 fore forced to leave off my correspondence with him at that 



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