338 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2»<» S. IX. May 5. '6P. 



May it not have been the case that Henry 

 Lawes contemplated a publication of some of his 

 Airs in 1645, and that his friend Milton, hearing 

 of his intention, promised him a poetical contri- 

 bution to prefix to it, but that by the time he had 

 carried his promise into execution, Lawes, influ- 

 enced by the unfavourable state of the times, 

 doubtless, also, by the death of his brother Wil- 

 liam, who was killed at the siege of Chester in 

 the same year — probably not long before the 

 sonnet was written * — deferred his intended 

 publication, and took no further steps towards it 

 until loused into action bv the unauthorised pub- 

 lication of Playford in 1G52; and that in the 

 meantime, having determined on putting forward 

 the Choice Psalmes of himself and his brother, and 

 being in possession of Milton's sonnet, he was 

 induced to print it with that work, suppressing 

 so much of the title as stated it to have been 

 written " on the publication of his aires." 



The number of those who feel an interest in 

 whatever is connected with the writings of Milton 

 is so large, that I doubt not but that anything 

 which can be offered in elucidation of tbis subject 

 would be generally acceptable. W. H. Husk. 



GLEANINGS FROM THE RECORDS OF THE 

 TREASURY. — No. III. 



We still continue the consideration of astro- 

 nomical subjects : — 



" My Lord Duke, 



" I did myself the honour this morning of culling at 

 your door, with an intent to lay before your Grace the 

 inclosed copy of a Memorial which I believe will be pre- 

 sented (from the Royal bociety) to thee Lords Commis- 

 sioners of the Treasury at their next meeting : But 

 finding that your Grace was out of town, I take the 

 liberty of sending it herewith ; in order that your Grace 

 may be apprized of the contents of the Memorial before 

 it be delivered in at the Board. 



" The Memorial itself sufficiently shews that the Mo- 

 tives, on which it is founded, are the Improvement of 

 Astronomy and the Honour of our Nation; which seems 

 to be more particularly concerned in the exact observa- 

 tions of this rare Phasnomenen, that was never observed 

 but only by one Englishman; and the time of its return 

 computed, ami the proper Places and manner of observing 

 it, together with the uses to be made of these observa- 

 tions, marked out and illustrated by another Englishman 

 (Dr. Halley) in the last century. 



" It might therefore afford too just a ground to other 

 countries to reproach this nation (not inferior to any 

 other in every branch of Science and Litterature, and 

 more particularly in Astronomy), if, while the French 

 King is sending observers not only to Pondicherrie and 

 the Cape of Good Hope but also to" the Northern Part of 

 Siberia, and the Court of Russia is doing the same to the 

 most Eastern confines of the Greater Tartary (not to 

 mention the several observers that are going to various 

 places og the same errand from different Parts of Europe), 



* Chester was surrendered to the Parliamentary forces 

 on 3rd February, 1645, only six days prior to the date of 

 the sonnet. 



England should neglect to send any Observers to such 

 Places as are proper for the purpose, and subject to the 

 Crown of Great Britain. 



" This is expected from us by foreign Countries; be- 

 cause the use, that may be derived from this Phaenonienen, 

 will be proportionate to the number of distant places 

 where proper observations can be made of it. And the 

 Eoj-al Society, being extremely desirous of satisfying the 

 general expectations of the VVorld in this respect, have 

 thought it incumbent upon them to lay this matter be- 

 fore your Grace, who is so great a Patron of Learning, 

 and to request your effectual intercession with his Ma- 

 jesty, that He would be graciously pleased to enable them, 

 in such manner as he shall think proper, to accomplish 

 this their desire, and to answer the expectation of the 

 World ; which, as the Memorial sets forth, would be at- 

 tended with an expence very disproportionate to the 

 narrow circumstances of that Society. 



" But were the Society in a much more affluent state, 

 it would surely tend greatly to the Honour of His Ma- 

 jesty and the Nation in general, that an expence of this 

 sort designed to answer the universal expectations of the 

 world, and to prpniote Science, should not be born by a 

 particular set of private persons. 



"The Royal Society therefore flatter themselves, that 

 through His Majesty's (their Patron's) great goodness, 

 and his remarkable regard for the honour and credit of 

 the Nation ; and through your Grace's kind intercession 

 for that purpose; their hopes will not be frustrated. 



"But I must farther add that no time is to be lost; 

 and that it is necessary for us to be honoured with His 

 Majesty's answer as soon as ma}' be ; Since the proper pre- 

 parations must be immediately set about, in order to 

 prevent the Observers arriving too late at the respective 

 places of their destination, which a little delay might 

 occasion. 



" I am, with the greatest respect, 

 " My Lord Duke, 

 " Your Grace's 



" Most humble and 



" Most obedient Servant, 



" Macclesfield." 

 " S* James's Square, 



" Saturday, 5" 1 July, 1760. 

 " His Grace the Duke of Newcastle." 



" To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of 

 his Majesty's Treasury. 



" The Memorial of the President, Council, and Fellows 

 of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural 

 Knowledge, 



" Humbly Sheweth 



" That whereas the French and other Courts of Europe 

 are now sending proper persons to proper places in vari- 

 ous parts of the world, to observe for the Improvement of 

 Astronomy, the Transit of Venus over the Sun, which 

 will happen on the Sixth of June next; 



" And whereas this Nation is more immediateh' con- 

 cerned in this Event, predicted in the last Century by an 

 Englishman, Doctor Halley, his Majesty's late Astrono- 

 mer Royal, and observed but once before since the VVorld 

 began, and then only by another Englishman, the Inge- 

 nious Mr. Horrox; 



" And whereas the expences of this most laudable 

 undertaking, in which the honour of this Nation is thus 

 principally concerned ; appear upon an Estimate of the 

 Charges thereof to be near Eight Hundred pounds, if 

 only two persons be sent, with the necessary Instruments, 

 to the Island of Saint Helena; and if the like number be 

 also sent to Bencoolen, which is very much to be desired, 

 will amount in the whole to near double that sum ; the 



