*© Newton and Flamsteed,” by the Rev. W. Whewell. 145 
warrant was obtained from the Queen, in December, 1710, consti- 
tuting the President (Newton) of the Royal Society, and whoever 
else the Council should think fit, Visttors of the Observatory ; au- 
thorizing them to demand of the Astronomer, ‘ within six months 
after the year shall have expired,’ a copy of the annual observations, 
to direct such observations to be made as they should think fit, and 
to inspect the instruments, and report on their state to the Board 
of Ordnance. Flamsteed, who saw clearly that he would now be 
placed more at the mercy of Newton’s party * than ever, complains 
loudly of this measure—insinuates that nobody knew his business 
but himself—and tells us he was worse used than the ‘ noble Tycho, 
who had no visitors of his observatory appointed over him.’ 
“«« He also remonstrated against the appointment to the Secretary 
of State (St. John), but was ‘ answered haughtily, the Queen would 
be obeyed.’ He even drew up a petition to the Queen, in one of 
the clauses of which he prays, 
««That I maynot have the President of the Royal Society, nor any of their 
Council, set over me as visitors, nor suffered to prescribe to me what obser- 
vations to make, since they know little of my business, and will but incom- 
mode me in my progress, and obstruct me; as some of them have done for- 
merly ; but that such of the nobility or gentry that are skilful in mathematics, 
together with the principal officers of your Majesty’s Ordnance, that have been 
founders of my studies, may have the inspection and care of the Observatory.’ 
“ The idea of seeking among the nobility and gentry for visitors 
who should know more of his business than Newton and Halley, 
with the Council of the Royal Society, may be allowed to be origi- 
nal; but we suspect the qualification on which Flamsteed would 
have set most value, would have been a disposition to allow him to 
manage his business in his own way. At all events he seems to 
have had no very high opinion of the Royal Society, of which he 
thus writes ina letter to Sharp: ‘ Our Society decays, and produces 
nothing remarkable, nor is like to do it, I fear, while ’t is governed 
by persons that either value nothing but their own interests, or un- 
derstand little but vegetables, and how, by making a bouncing noise, 
to cover their own ignorance.’ ”—p. 383. 
Halley, however, the Edinb. Reviewer adds, “ was better ac 
quainted with llamsteed’s business, that is, with practical astrono- 
my, than any other individual ; and hence Flamsteed’s anxiety, of 
which some amusing instances occur, to keep him in ignorance of 
what he was doing. 
** Flamsteed, as our extracts have made evident, entertained a 
most exalted opinion of his own importance, and the superiority of 
his knowledge of astronomy, Halley commenced his scientific ca- 
reer as an astronomer, and by making a catalogue of stars; and 
therefore from the first was placed in a situation of direct rivalry 
with him. He had likewise acquired, by the versatility of his pur- 
suits and employments, a large share of popular fame, of which 
Flamsteed appears to have been not a little envious.”—p. 393. 
The Quarterly asserts that Halley was “ low and loose in his con- 
duct, andashameless infidel.” On this subject the Edinburgh says : 
{* These are unfair expressions of the Reviewer, calculated to create a 
prejudice.—Eprr. | 
Third Series. Vol. 8. No. 45. Feb, 1836. R 
