Life of John Bevls, M.D. F.R.S. &c. 249 



to engrave them whose name was John Neale*, and who, 

 after he had received several hundred pounds of the sub-r 

 scriplion, became a bankrupt : by this means the work fell 

 into the hands of Neale's creditors, and was at length put 

 under the protection of the court of chancery, so that tlic 

 author could never afterwards enjoy the fruit of great la- 

 bour f. V/lvat was still worse, the subscribers to this ex- 

 cellent work, having been thus disappointed, supposed that 

 Dr. Bevis had some connection with Neale in his miscon- 

 duct; which being told him, he felt himself' so much cha- 

 grined by it, that he never spoke of this rmj)!casant busi- 

 ness during the remainder of his life, v.ithout fechng him- 

 self in some degree atfected. Mr. Horscfall, v'lhom he left 

 his executor, and who was very fond of astrorsnmv, used 

 every means in his powt-r to forward the suit after the doc- 

 tor's decease : he even offered to give up his own interest in 

 the affair, to bring it to a final conchision, that the work 

 might be published ; but to no purpose. Very great pains 

 had been taken with it ; and, besides tlie previous labour, 

 many whole days were spent by the side of tl-.e engraver, to 

 see that every star was laid down in its proper position. 

 At the commencement of the suit there was very little to 

 finish for the press, all the plates being ready. 



Dr. Bevis was the author of a great many works, which 

 have been well received by the ])ublic ; but his modesty 

 would not permit him to take the merit of them to himself J. 

 It is to him we are indebted for the publication of the cele- 

 brated Dr. Halley's astronomical tables, with whom he 

 ■was intimately acquainted. Thev were left from the year 

 1725 till his death in the hands of the printer, where, per- 

 haps, they might have shared the same late as the atlas be- 

 fore mentioned, had not Dr. Bevis taken ihem up, and by 

 supplying the neccssarv auxiliary tables, aud precepts to 

 iise then), biought them to light in the vear 1749§. 



In Mr. Thomas Simpson's Essays, p. to, are given prac- 



* This John Neale published a pamphlet containing- some improvements 

 in the barometer. 



•f- Lalande says that the doctor showerl him the proofs when he vas in 

 Enp^land in the year 17fi:?, at which time they were stil! ia custody, but that 

 M. Messier had a sot of thein. {/htr. vol. i. p. 24ii, Rd edit.) 



\ Heath says, p. ii34 of his Royal Aslrotiomer, that Gael Morris was the 

 precept waiter to Dr. Halley's tables. Possibly Ci. Morris niight assist Dr. 

 J5evis, or actually write them imder his inspection; but tlitrc is no doubt 

 that Dr. Btvis was the rt,spons!I)!e person conct rncd. 



§ Dr. Halley expected lo brint^ the theory of the moon to a %TtAtcv .state 

 .of perfection, and the publica'.ioii of the tables was delayed for tjjat p.irpose. 

 M. de rir.ie, with whom Dr. Halley as well as Dr. Bevii corresponded, has 

 ^ublibhecj two curious hnters oji the history a.id 'hcorv of thi'ie tables. 



tieal 



