.\STKONO:\lV IN WANSTEAD. 1 57 



In token of the high esteem and honour hi which lie was held, 

 we find that in August, 1721, when the Savilian Professorshi[) of 

 Astronomy in the University of Oxford ijecame vacant by the death 

 of Dr. Keill, Lord Chancellor Parker was desirous of appointing Dr. 

 Pound, considering him " the fittest man perhaps in Europe," but 

 the offer was declined by the doctor, as it would have involved the 

 giving up of his quiet life and Church prefermeat. 



Though other applicants came forward, the Rev. James IJradley, 

 his sister's child, was ultimately appointed Professor. He, for some 

 years, had been helping his uncle in ol!ser\ations, had caught his 

 enthusiasm, and spent most of his time at ^Vanstead ; helping even 

 in clerical work, so as to be resident here. No doubt his appoint- 

 ment was greatly helped by a letter of Martin Foulkes (afterwards 

 President of the Royal Society) to Archbishop Wake, dated 4th 

 September, 1721, in which he says : " He has lived for some years 

 ,vith his uncle, Mr. Pound, of W'anstead, where he has had great 

 opportunities of joining to his theory the practical part of astronomy, 

 n which he has made himself very eminent, having prepared for the 

 )ress accurate tables of the satellites of Jupiter, with some other 

 , ;urious pieces ; and I am satisfied his being Professor will do honour 

 Jmd service to the science. I shall only take the liberty of adding, 

 j hat he is perfectly approved, and will be entirely recommended by 

 iMr Isaac Newton, whom your (Irace knows for the great judge of this 

 j;ort of learning." 



The Bradleys came of an old family, settled as far back as the 

 lourteenth century at Bradley Castle, Durham. A branch of these 

 lettled near Cirencester; one of the descendants, William Bradley, 

 vas married in 1678 to Jane Pound, and James Bradley, namesake 

 )f his uncle, was their third son. He was born at Sherbourne, 

 Gloucester, about 1692. After instruction at the Northleach 

 Grammar School, he went to Balliol College, Oxford, 15th March, 

 [710-11, being then (according to the matriculation books) in his 

 nghteenth year. He became B.A. in 1714, and M.A. 1717. In 

 his year he caught the smallpox, and it was Dr. Pound who then 

 ook care of him. 



The earliest of Bradley's recorded observations are dated 1715 

 age twenty-three), and in the Phil. Trans., xxx , Halley published 

 wo of Bradley's, made in 17 17 and 1718. He then describes him 

 P- 853) as '* eruditus juvenis, qui simul ingenio et industria pollens 

 lis studiis [)romovendis aptissimus natus est " : and again in the vol. 



