First Astronomer-Royal. 1 1 



given by me; but upon my complaint at the first, and 

 afterwards, without any solicitation of mine at all, let it go 

 on again. I happened once to visit the press when he was 

 there, and took the opportunity to show him how ill the 

 compositor had placed the types of the figures, and how 

 much awry to the lines to which they belonged (sheet K k k, 

 p. 224). He put his head a little nearer to the paper, but 

 not near enough to see the fault, (for he is very near sighted) 

 and said, making a slighting motion with his hand, " Me- 

 thinks they are well enough." This encouraged the printer 

 in his carelessness ; the sheet was printed off, and the fault 

 not mended ; and caused me to be more watchful over the 

 printer. For now it was plain to me that the referee, as 

 he called himself, was not displeased with the faults he com- 

 mitted ; and the undertaker never concerned himself about 

 them. He was sure of certain gains by his paper and press 

 work, and some more probably than we were aware of. 



The printing of the sextant observations being finished, 

 I expected the press should have gone on after Christmas, 

 with the volume of observations made with the mural arch, 

 which were double the number of the other. But Sir Isaac 

 Newton had put a full stop to the press, though he knew 

 very well that the copy was ready, fairly transcribed, on 

 175 sheets. What excuse he made for it I know not; for 

 none of his confidants would acquaint me. 



In the meantime I had complained to one of the referees, 

 who was often at Court, and waited frequently on the Prince 

 of my ill usage ; that care was taken of the undertaker and 

 printer, but that none was taken to re-imburse me in the 

 entertainment and pay of three calculators, and in tran- 

 scribing the copy for the press, which came to more than 

 £173, though I accounted nothing for my own and my 

 servants' attendance on the press. He was ashamed of it; 

 promised it should be redressed ; and, I am apt to think, 

 procured a meeting to be appointed on the 20th March 

 following, which was notified to me, and I was then desired 

 to bring with me what I had more by me ready for the press. 

 The press had now stood three months, by Sir Isaac New- 

 ton's only procurement. For to keep all things wholly in 

 his own power he had brought in an undertaker who was 

 useless to the business, and served only to spoil the work, 



