142 Mr Baily's Account of 



ter which should warrant expressions of this kind from Newton ; 

 and Flamsteed'*s reply to him (sec p. 168), was written in a very 

 diiferent style. " I would not think (says he) you would be un-r 

 willing our nation should have the honour of furnishing you 

 with so many, and good, observations for this work (the lunar 

 theory) as were not (I speak it without boasting) to be had else* 

 where. . . . I thought not that it could be any diminution 

 to you, since you pretend not to be an observer yourself.* . . . 

 You will pardon me this freedom, and excuse me when I tell 

 you, if foreigners come and trouble you it is not my fault, but 

 those who think to recommend themselves to you, by advancing 

 the fame of your works as much as they possibly can. ... I 

 wonder that hints should drop from your pen, as if you looked 

 on my business as trifling-, you thought it not so, surely, when 

 you resided at Cambridge ; its property is not altered. . . . 

 The works of the Eternal Providence, I hope, will be a little bet- 

 ter understood, through your labours and mine, than they were 

 formerly. Think me not proud for this expression ; I look on 

 pride as the worst of sins ; humility as the greatest virtue. This 

 makes me excuse small faults in all mankind, bear great injuries 

 without resentment, and resolve to maintain a real friendship 

 with ingenious men, to assist them what lies in my power, with- 

 out the regard of any interest, but that of doing good by oblig- 

 ing them.'' Flamsteed immediately wrote also to Dr Wallis to 

 request him to withdraw the harmless but offensive paragraph.^- 

 This short but unexpected correspondence appears to have 

 terminated all amicable relations between Newton and Flam- 

 steed ; and from this period we must consider their friendship 



ceived Newton's requests as if they were idle intrusions, in which the interests 

 of science were but slightly concerned. This inference, however, now falls to 

 the ground, and the erroneous impression cannot be too speedily removed. 

 The history of the whole affair will be found in the Appendix, No. 35, 46. 



• Newton himself confesses this, in his letter inserted in page 151, where 

 he says, " All the world knows I make no observations myself, and there- 

 fore I must of necessity acknowledge their author ; and if I do not make a hand- 

 some acknowledgment, they will reckon me an ungrateful clown." 



-f- Dr Wallis likewise wrote to Newton on the subject already stated ; and in 

 my late visit at the Eaii of Portsmouth's, to inspect the Newton MSS., I 

 found the original letter, from which the above mentioned paragraph in page 

 xxxiii is extracted, and which is inserted in the addenda. 



