314 Dr Robertson on soirie Mistakes relating to Dr Bradleys 
led by the passages herein quoted, relating to the publication of 
Bradiey’’s astronomical observations, and also relating to certain 
manuscripts left by Harriot, the celebrated mathematician. 
In the year 1812, Dr Thomson published his History of the 
Royal Society ; and in pages 344-345. of the work, he concludes 
his account of Dr Bradley, with saying, He left behind him 
an immense number of astronomical observations, in thirteen fo- 
lio volumes, which were presented to the University of Oxford 
in 1776, on condition of their being printed and published, — a 
condition, however, not yet complied with.” 
Now, the truth is, that the first volume of Dr Bradley’s ob- 
servations, edited by the late Dr Hornsby, Savilian Professor of 
Astronomy, was published in 1798; and, in the preface, he 
gave an account of the causes which delayed its appearance. 
Being unable, on account of bad health, to extend his superin- 
tendence to what remained, the Delegates of the Clai'endon Press 
requested me to undertake the task. To this I assented, and 
the second volume was published in 1805. In this volume, the 
Greenwich Observations are continued, from the date at which 
the first ends, not only to the time of Dr Bradley’s death, but 
even to that of Mr Bliss, his immediate successor as Astrono- 
mer-Royal. 
In No. LI. art. 2. of the Edinburgh Review, when speaking 
of Baron de Zach, it is said : ‘‘ Several years ago he visited Eng- 
land, and resided there for a considerable time. He lived much 
in the family of Lord Egremont ; and we owe to him the dis- 
covery of several unpublished MSS. of Harriot, one of the ablest 
and most inventive mathematicians of the age in which he lived. 
These the Baron found among the papers of the nobleman just 
named. They have since been consigned to the care of the 
University of Oxford ; and are now, we have no doubt, in the 
progress toward publication.” 
The belief implied in the conclusion of what has been quoted, 
ought not to have been entertained ; for the manuscripts in 
question had been examined at Oxford, had been declared to be 
unfit for publication, and had been returned to the nobleman to 
whom they belonged, more than sixteen years before the Edi^i-- 
burgh Rcviexv had arrived at No. LI. 
