By T. 8. Maskelyne. yi «188 
the stars omitted in Flamsteed’s catalogue; and she alludes to 
many kind invitations to go to Greenwich, though she only once 
j paid a visit of a week there, occupying her time almost excusively 
in astronomical work. Dr. Maskelyne showed his esteem and 
appreciation of her services by having her “‘ Index to Flamsteed’s 
Observations’? printed, and by making her a present of a biaocular 
and night-glass, for which service and honour she thanks him 
warmly in letters, dated Slough, September, 1798, and January, 
— 1800. 
_ He had been Astronomer Royal for seventeen years before any 
mention is made of his meeting W. Herschel (at Bath), and it was 
not till a year later (in 1782) that Herschel took his telescope to 
Greenwich, and compared it with the greatly inferior instruments 
which were, at that time, all Dr. Maskelyne had to work with, 
and Herschel, in a letter to his sister, says that “ Dr. Maskelyne in 
public declared his obligation to me for introducing the high powers.” 
_ Although a close prisoner to his work at the observatory he spent 
part of every year at his Purton home (which he inherited on the 
death of his brother), and his notebooks show the interest he took 
in his country affairs—one note of more general interest than the 
est being, after a meeting of the county of Wilts to augment the © 
mi itia, April 14th, 1794, he “ ordered Messrs. Coutts to subscribe 
20 guineas for me at Messrs. Hoare’s.” 
- He died the 9th February, 1811, aged 79 years, at the observatory, 
he ving been Astronomer Royal forty-seven years, and was buried 
in’ Purton Church, leaving an only child, Margaret, who subse- 
quently married Mr. Anthony M. R. Story, afterwards (in 1845) 
_ Story-Maskelyne. 
The portrait of Dr. Maskelyne, presented by his widow to the 
Royal Society, was painted by Vanderpuyl in 1785. 
_ The crayon portrait at Basset Down, executed in 1804, together 
a) 
"Said to have been painted. by Vanderburgh—but the name is spelled 
Vanderpuyl in Dr. Maskelyne’s account books; he gave £25 10s. to the artist 
for the portrait and frame on 19th November, 1785, and the same sum for a 
mtrait of his wife on May 24th, 1786. 
