TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 463 



ing of Flamsteed's works. This correspondence embraces a 

 variety of subjects ; but the principal, the most novel, and the 

 most interesting is the account of the repeated difficulties and 

 impediments which delayed and almost prevented the printing 

 of the Historia CceJestis. 



The date of the first letter, in the present collection, is 

 February 6th, 1701-2, at which time it appears that Flam- 

 steed was preparing to publish his work, which was not com- 

 pleted till twenty-four years afterwards, being six years after 

 his decease. He commenced the publication at his own cost 

 and risk ; but after he had expended a considerable sum 

 of money, the subject was mentioned to Prince George of 

 Denmark, who undertook to defray the expense of bringing 

 out the work : and here his troubles began ; for, in the first 

 place, the Prince declined the publication of the maps, which 

 Flamsteed considered the most important part, and such as, 

 in his opinion, would tend most to the "glory of the work;" 

 and secondly, the committee of the Royal Society, to whom 

 the superintendence of the business was intrusted, appear, from 

 the whole tenor of these letters, to have thrown every obstacle 

 in the way to prevent the progress of the printing. It is not 

 directly stated who were the members that formed that com- 

 mittee, but it is evident from the correspondence that Newton 

 and Halley formed a part of it ; and Flamsteed can never touch 

 on this subject (and it forms a prominent portion of his letters,) 

 without expressing his opinion, in no very courteous language, 

 of their unfriendly and hostile conduct towards him. 



It was in 1704 that the Prince offered to undertake to defray 

 the expenses of the printing ; but so many impediments were 

 thrown in the way (oftentimes frivolous and vexatious,) that it 

 was not till the end of the year 1707 that the first volume only, 

 the least interesting part of the woi'k, was completed. Before 

 the second volume was commenced, the committee required 

 Flamsteed to deposit in their hands a duplicate copy of the 

 Observations, as well as of his Catalogue, which he accord- 

 ingly did, sealed up. New causes for delay, however, were 

 brought forward, and before the second volume was sent to 

 the pi'ess Prince George died. During the whole of this time 

 Flamsteed had received only £125 towards the expenses of the 

 work ; and as he saw no prospect of any further support from 

 Government, he resolved to wait for better and more favour- 

 able times. 



He then demanded from the committee the return of the ma- 

 nuscript Observations and Catalogue which he had deposited 

 in their hands, which request they appear to have refused. 



