6 Life of the Rev. John Flamsteed, 



of the several parts of the work, but could not get them 

 printed off, till March 22nd, 1704. In the mean time, Sir 

 Isaac Newton appointed a meeting of his referees, March 5 

 following, Mr. Churchill was not there; but Sir Isaac, 

 with Dr. Arbuthnot, Dr. Gregory, and Mr. Aston, dined at 

 Churchill's; and a fortnight after, Mr. Aston told me of it 

 (for I dined not with them), and that all things were then 

 agreed but paper. Now, I understood that Mr. Churchill 

 was to be the undertaker ; he had been recommended for 

 that purpose, by one that I took to be my friend, without 

 my knowledge, for I did not conceive that we had any need 

 of one, and so did some of the gentlemen of the society. 

 But, Sir Isaac Newton was resolved to make friends at my 

 cost. For, as he ordered the matter, the undertaker was 

 here to reap the sole advantage of all my labours and great 

 expenses : and he was so confident of it, that when I inti- 

 mated it to him, he answered boldly, " The Prince would 

 reward me for them," however, there was no receding ; for 

 then Sir Isaac Newton's criers up, would have clamoured, 

 " that I hindered the printing of my own works myself." 

 To avoid that imputation I was silent, though I complained 

 oft to some friends in private, but never did any thing 

 whereby it might appear I allowed him. At this meeting, 

 on the 5th of March, the specimens of the undertaker's 

 printing were produced, but found to be ill done. I got 

 others done very well, and paid the printers myself. 



June the 11th following, Dr. Gregory and myself, with 

 Mr. Churchill, dined at Sir Isaac Newton's, when they 

 agreed to give Mr. Churchill £1. 14s. per sheet. They 

 signed the agreement, but I would not, although they urged 

 me much, I desired to be excused ; for it was plain to me, 

 that he designed not the good of the impression or my 

 advantage, but to make him a friend of a great name, by 

 obliging a person I never had any acquaintance with, and 

 enriching him at my cost. This point being over, I was in 

 hopes that the press should have been set to work imme- 

 diately ; for I had about 50 sheets of observations made 

 with the sextant ready copied, and the rest of that sort 

 would easily be finished before these could be printed off. 

 But I found myself deceived ; we were as far off from 

 printing, as if no such bargain had been made. 



