“ Newton and Flamsteed,”’ by the Rev. W. Whewell. 141 
this could not make its way at once. No man of Newton’s standing 
(I believe) thoroughly accepted his views: Halley was sixteen, David 
Gregory nineteen years his junior. In England this acceptance of 
the theory required half a generation, in France and Germany 
more than a whole generation. And during this interval, the re- 
sult of the struggle depended upon the accordance of the theory 
with the best observations, which the Greenwich ones undoubtedly 
were. Upon these observations, then, depended a greater stake in 
the fortune of science than was ever before at hazard, and this New- 
ton knew well. How then can one be surprised at the earnestness 
and importunity with which he begs for Flamsteed’s observations ; 
and tries to soothe a jealousy and reserve which appear to have 
shown themselves at an early period? 
“As for your observations, you know I cannot communicate them to 
any body, and much less publish them, without your consent. But if 1 
should perfect the moon’s theory, and you should think fit to give me leave 
to publish your observations with it, you may rest assured that I should make 
a faithful and honourable acknowledgment of their author, with a just cha- 
racter of their exactness above any others yet extant. Inthe former edition 
of my book, you may remember that you communicated some things to me, 
and I hope the acknowledgments I made of your communications were to 
your satisfaction: and you may be assured I shall not be less just to you for 
the future. For all the world knows that I make no observations myself, 
and therefore I must of necessity acknowledge their author: and if I do not 
make a handsome acknowledgment, they will reckon me an ungrateful 
clown.— Account of Flamsteed, p. 151. 
«« This the Reviewer has quoted ; but he has not quoted what 
immediately follows, striking as it is. 
“And, for my part, I am of opinion that for your observations to come 
abroad thus with a theory which you ushered into the world, and which by 
their means has been made exact, would be much more * for their advantage 
and your reputation, than to keep them private til] you die or publish them, 
without such a theory to recommend them. For such theory will be a de- 
monstration of their exactness, and make you readily acknowledged the ex- 
actest observer that has hitherto appeared in the world. But if you publish 
them without such a theory to recommend them, they will only be thrown 
into the heap of the observations of former astronomers, till somebody shall 
arise that, by perfecting the theory of the moon, shall discover your obser- 
vations to be exacter than the rest. But when that shall be, God knows: I 
fear, not in your life-time, if I should die before it is done. For I find this 
theory so very intricate, and the theory of gravity so necessary to it, that I 
am satisfied it will never be perfected but by SomzBopy WHO UNDERSTANDS 
THE THEORY OF GRAVITY AS WELL OR BETTER THAN I po,—p. 151-152. 
“<I have several times,” observes Mr. Whewell, “in reading this 
passage, felt a kind of terror at the peril to which the success, or 
at least the speedy success, of the greatest of physical truths is here 
represented as exposed.” He justly adds, 
«« With this consciousness of being in possession of such a truth, 
while Flamsteed’s records of his observations contained the only 
language in which it could be made generally convincing, we ma 
easily imagine that Newton could not help urging the publication 
and employment of the observations, in a manner which excited no 
* Erroneously printed “worse ” in the work. 
