2X2 
Correspondence . [March, 
was only intended to help to draw public attention to the proposed 
erecftion of a monument to Dr. Halley in St. Helena, which pro- 
position was first mooted in the pages of “ Nature, on January 
2Qth 1880. Being absent from London, and unable to consult 
the “ Philosophical Transactions,” &c., I expressly asked assist- 
ance from Prof. Pritchard, the Savilian Professor in whose hands 
the Halleian papers have been since 1875, i.e ., over four years 
since. I was emboldened to do this from the great courtesy I 
had experienced from other astrorfomers, who heartily have ap- 
proved of my friend Mr. Gill’s scheme ; but the Professor of 
Astronomy at Oxford did not answer my letter. 
I judged that a former and early friendship had existed between 
Flamsteed and Halley, from the latter having been employed to 
settle an amicable discussion between the second Astronomer- 
Royal, or rather King’s Astronomer, and Cassini, according to 
the account given in the “ Encyclopaedia Britannica ” (ed. 1828). 
I shall be only too happy to have more mistakes and errors 
pointed out in my account of Halley, as the more notice attracted 
to the memory of the great man the better, and my intended 
obiedt will have been accomplished. The Astronomer-Royal has 
signified his approval of the scheme, which will shortly be carried 
out. — I am, &c., 
The Writer of the Article. 
PS. Anyhow attention has now been drawn to the inexcusably 
long time during which Prof. Rigaud’s materials have been de- 
layed from publication by the Rev. Chas. Pritchard. The public 
have been very patient, but the scientific world has a right to 
demand the fulfilment of the expeaations held out in 1875. 
