First Astronomer -Royal. 5 



fore, printed my estimate and gave it to my friends, that 

 they might see what my works were, and how I thought 

 it best to proceed in printing them. 



To screen himself from the just imputation and blame 

 that would probably follow such disingenuous and ungrate- 

 ful practices, he made use of these gentlemen, to whom he 

 had got the inspection of my book of observations ordered 

 by the Prince, and called them the Prince's referees. Of 

 these, Sir C. Wren was then about 70 years of age ; and 

 though he was a skilful person, yet being full of other 

 business, he was sure to have him, who lived in the neigh- 

 bourhood to consent to all his orders, but knew little of 

 the business. Mr. Aston had been fellow of the same 

 [Trinity] College in Cambridge, at the same time with him, 

 knew nothing of the business, lived in the Court, had been 

 my friend and guest at the Observatory, was too much a 

 courtier to withstand any one that had a noble patron in 

 the ministry, and therefore, was taken into the number of 

 referees, sometimes . for special purposes. Dr. Gregory, 

 though he published a piece of astronomy, knew but very 

 little of that part of it that was cultivated here. Nor was 

 Dr. Arbuthnot skilled in it ; but being one of the Prince's 

 physicians, he was taken in to serve Sir Isaac Newton's 

 purposes. He saw what was designed, and testified to me 

 by some expressions, that he approved not such proceed- 

 ings ; promised once to assist me in a particular affair ; and 

 though he met with obstructions, performed it handsomely. 

 With these persons, Sir Isaac Newton began to act his 

 part and carry on his designs. I deal honestly and openly 

 with him, as will appear by the copies of some letters I 

 wrote to him upon several occasions; having no other design 

 but to have my work handsomely printed, and as soon as 

 possible ; for the Prince was very infirm. But I soon per- 

 ceived, that he designed only to hinder the work by delays, 

 or spoil, or sink it, or force me to comply with his humour, 

 and Hatter him, and cry him up as Dr. Gregory and Dr. 

 Halley did. I was forced, therefore, to act with more 

 caution than I had done hitherto, that I might give him no 

 cause of pretensions to stop the progress of the work, to 

 forward which, I used my best diligence and honest endea- 

 vours. I hired one, and employed him to copy specimens 



