392 Scientific Intelligence, Sfc. 



best duty was about 26 millions, by Captain Trevithick, at Wheal 

 Prosper." Which, respectively, of these two classes of contradic- 

 tions does Mr. Taylor wish us to believe as his present opinions ? 



I forbear following him in personalities, as they will neither grace 

 the discussion, nor inform the " public." 



I have the honour to remain, sir, 

 Your very faithful humble servant, 



W. J. Hen wood. 

 1, Morrab Place, Penzance, April 12, 1836. 



III. — Character of Flamsteed, by Mr. Hodgson. 



Since there seems, at the present time, a party inclined to " cry 

 up" Newton at the expense of the first Astronomer- Royal, to whom 

 this country is so much indebted, in face of the most powerful evi- 

 dence, it is pleasing to be able to bring forward proofs of the high 

 character which he held among his unprejudiced contemporaries. 

 Mr. Hodgson, master of the Royal Mathematical School in Christ's 

 Hospital, and a Fellow of the Royal Society, who published an elabo- 

 rate and able " System of the Mathematics," in two vols., in 1723, 

 has given in that book detailed accounts of the labours of Flamsteed. 

 The author notices the " mural arch of near eight foot radius," 

 which " he (Flamsteed) erected at his own expense," and observes, 

 that " his utmost view was to render every thing that he undertook 

 as easy and ready for use as might be, and whose happy genius always 

 rendered his good endeavours successful." How different from his 

 character given by Newton ! Again, he says of the determination of 

 the position of the fixed stars, " this that great astronomer, and 

 most skilful and diligent observator, the late Reverend Mr. Flam- 

 steed, appointed by the royal founder himself, has, after thirty years' 

 indefatigable pains, and constant application to the heavens, happily 

 accomplished ; and has left behind him the largest and most exact 

 catalogue that ever the world was enriched with, containing about 

 3,500 fixed stars, of which 1,000 lie within the Zodiack, to the 

 great honour of the British nation, and the lasting reputation of the 

 author ; a treasure that will render his name valuable to the latest 

 posterity ; and will perpetuate his memory so long as men shall 

 view the heavens, or ships sail upon the ocean." And again, before 

 giving a summary of Flamsteed's works, he observes, as if sensible 

 that he was treading upon delicate ground, but that he had nothing 

 to fear from honest men — " the generous and unprejudiced reader 

 will readily conclude that the frequent mention made of Mr. Flam- 

 steed cannot proceed from any selfish view (since no advantage can 

 arise from praising or flattering the dead), but from a great esteem, 

 grounded upon a just knowledge of the merits of so great a man." — 

 See Hodgson's System, vol. i., pp. 430 — 513.) 



Opinions like these speak volumes^ and throw in the shade the 

 reasonings of those who would still attempt to depreciate the ill-used 

 astronomer. Let it be remembered that Mr. Hodgson was a Fellow 

 of the Royal Society, and that the title was then — what it is not 

 now — an indication of scientific acquirements. 



