146 Reviews, and Notices respecting New Books. 
« Tt has been surmised that Flamsteed’s aversion to Halley arose 
from the libertine conduct and infidel opinions* which the latter en- 
tertained, and took no pains to conceal. We have no evidence of this.” 
«« Flamsteed’s charges are exaggerated to a degree that at the 
present time makes them appear almost ludicrous.’’—Edinb. Rev. 
exxvi. p. 363. 
To this more might be added from the records of the time in proof 
of Flamsteed’s bad disposition and disingénuousnesst, of which what is 
called his piety cannot be received as an extenuation, as it appears 
to have consisted in claiming the Deity as his partisan in all his 
quarrels. Nor can his belief in judicial astrology be lost sight of, 
nor his journey to Ireland to be touched for the benefit of his dis- 
eased body by a gentleman, ‘‘ whose gift,” he tells us, ** was of God.” 
How great is our astonishment, then, to find the Edinburgh Re- 
viewer, after giving such a low estimate of Flamsteed’s character, 
so inconsistent, or so far mystified by the ‘leperous distilment ° of 
the Quarterly, as to call on us to credit the uncorroborated assertions 
of such a person, in opposition to the uniform testimony of Newton's 
distinguished contemporaries! During a very long life, no man ever 
was more the object of general interest and of close observation. If 
the letters of ill-conditioned persons are brought to light, what can 
we expect to find in them but complaints and calumnies? The 
Quarterly tells us for our consolation, that if we have lost a New- 
ton, we have, forsooth, gained a Flamstezd! The Edinburgh goes 
so far as to favour us with an hypothesis to account for the origin 
of the mistaken opinion which has hitherto prevailed that Newton 
was a man of great moral worth! namely, that all the traditions of 
his moral character are derived from no other source than the Eloge 
of Fontenelle, who had his information solely from Mr. Conduit, a 
relation of Newton, and the inheritor of his property ! Can anything 
be more ludicrous ? 
We shall conclude with citing the character which is given of 
Mr. Whewell by another writer in the same Number of the Edin- 
burgh Review. 
«« Mr. Whewell has already, by his writings, approved to the world, 
not only his extensive acquirements in mathematical and physical 
science, but his talent as a vigorous and independent thinker. To 
a narrower circle, he is known as the principal public tutor of the 
principal college of his University; and in this relation, his zeal, and 
knowledge, and ability have concurred in raising him to an enviable 
eminence. Though more peculiarly distinguished by his publications 
in that department of science so exclusively patronized by the Uni- 
versity, he has yet shown at once his intelligence and liberality, by 
amplifying the former circle of studies pursued in the college under 
his direction; and, in particular, we are informed that he has ex- 
erted his influence in awakening a new spirit for the cultivation of 
* Tt appears that Newton sometimes gravely and kindly expostulated with 
Halley upon the latter subject: Flamsteed reviled him, and calumniated his 
moral character. 
+ See his conduct with regard to Hooke, in the Royal Society, Nov. 2, 
1681, and Feb. 15, 1682, when he attempted to escape the disgrace due to 
his confident ignorance by a low fraud. 
