A CATALOGUE OF FLAMSTEED'S MANUSCRIPTS.
In arranging the following volumes of MSS, I have endeavoured, as much as possible, to keep the several subjects distinct and separate: and, although this end could not, from the circumstances of the case, be strictly accomplished, yet I trust that the plan which has been adopted will facilitate the inquiries of those who may hereafter have occasion to examine the several volumes. The arrangement is nearly in the following order: viz. those volumes which contain,
1. The original entries of observations.
2. The copies of such observations.
3. The various catalogues.
4. Letters and other documents relating to Flamsteed's history.
5. Detached memoirs and papers on various subjects.
6. Subsidiary tables used in his computations.
7. Computations of various kinds.
8. Miscellaneous papers.
9. Manuscripts by other hands.
Vol.1. Entitled by Flamsteed "Minutes, or first notes of Observations:" being those made with the Sextant, from April 11, 1676, to October 29, 1679, both inclusive. Small quarto, bound in vellum.
These observations (as well as those in the subsequent volumes, unless otherwise expressed) are entered chronologically, and not collectively as in the first volume of the Historia Cœlestis. Under the date of August 31, 1678, he states that he went to Derby for about a month, on account of a dangerous illness with which he was seized: and that during his absence Dr. Halley had made some observations which Flamsteed says are described in another little book, of a few pages; and for the insertion of which, blank pages have been left in the present book. I have not been able, however, to discover either the little book, or the observations. Under the date of July 30, 1679, there is the following entry: "Ego in puteo subterraneo transitum observavi lucidæ in capite Draconis proprius ad verticem quam Faber viderit Junii 20, cum meridiem media nocte strinxerit." This is the only notice, that I find recorded, of his having made use of the well for observations. At the end of the Observations there is the following entry: "The second book, from Decem. 1, 1678, to Feb. 19, 1684, is detained in the hands of Sir Is. Newton." On the last page of the book is a Catalogue of 18 principal stars, reduced to the year 1677, which he used in his astronomical computations. In this volume there is frequent mention made of his two clocks; one of which is designated by its long pendulum, and the other by its short pendulum: I apprehend therefore that they were not both two-seconds pendulums. Halley's name is frequently mentioned as having made observations.
Vol 2. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Sextant, from November 1, 1679, to February 15, 1684, both inclusive. Quarto, bound in leather.
In the first page of this book Flamsteed has written the following memorandum: viz. "Librum hunc, postquam detinuisset fere 12 annos, remisit Newtonus Eq. mense Octobri exeunte anni 1716." At the end of the book there are some observations of the Tides at Greenwich; and also of the pinch-water at the Tower, which latter cost him £10 to obtain : also an account of Disbursements for repairs, &c. at the Observatory in 1677-82: also an account of the angles of various objects seen from the Observatory: also a list of stars whose intermutual distances are to be taken for parallax. Besides the two clocks mentioned in the preceding volume, we have allusion here made to horologium majus, horologium ambulatorium, horologium axiculare; mention is also made of a spring pendulum, and a pivot pendulum, but nothing from which we can learn any description of them. Halley's name is here also frequently mentioned as having made observations.
Vol 3. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Sextant, from February 19, 1684, to September 3, 1689, both inclusive. Quarto, bound in leather. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Libri tertii observationum pars prior."
In the first page of this book Flamsteed has written the following memorandum: viz. "Commoda Eq. N. Feb. 27, 1715-16, recepi post multas frivolas excusationes et fictas morarum vel pretextas causas, misso J. C. ad petendum July 15, 1715, cum libro 1o observationum Grenovicensium, post 9½ annorum captivitatem." Under the date of August 18, 1688, he has also made the following note: viz. "Vesp. venit Ds. Sharp, ut mihi ab observationibus adjutor et minister esset."
Vol 4. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Mural Arc, from September 12, 1689, to January 17, 1691, both inclusive. Quarto, bound in leather. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Fixarum Planetarumque observationes Arcu Murali habitæ, &c."
This book was originally bound up with the preceding one, in one volume, as the pages are continued from one volume to the other. The pages of the present volume are numbered at the foot. Under the date of October 31, 1690, Flamsteed mentions his having added a new clock. Under the date of November 4, 1690, he has written the following memorandum: "Hora 10h 10m per horologium, Minister meus per biduum et 3 fere menses, A. Sharpius me reliquit ut mathematica Londini doceret." At the end of the book there is a collection of the observations of Polaris, and some computations of the latitude: also a small table of the errors of the mural arc, in azimuth; also a logarithmic table of the distances of Jupiter from the sun also some incomplete tables of Jupiter.
Vol 5. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Mural Arc, from January 17, 1691, to January 14, 1694. Quarto, bound in leather. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Diarium Observationum Cælestium, &c."
At the beginning of the book there is a short table of the errors of the mural arc, arising from the sinking of the wall, during the years 1691-4; against which Flamsteed has written the following note: "His erroribus usus fui in Apographis observationum quas in manus Di. J. Newtoni, ut prælo propediem committerentur credidi March 20, 1707-8." This table differs from that which is given in page 297 of the same volume. Under the date of October 23, 1692, is a memorandum of his marriage, which has been copied in page 61 of the present work. I would here remark that there are two leaves cut out of this book; one containing pages 68 and 69 (which is noticed in page 350 of the present work), and the other containing pages 244 and 245: but the journal of the observations does not appear to be deranged or lost thereby.
Vol 6. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Mural Arc, from January 18, 1694, to March 16, 1698, both inclusive. Quarto, bound in rough leather. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Diarium Observationum Astronomicarum Cœlestium, &c."
In page 43, under the date of September 20, 1694, Flamsteed has written the following memorandum: "Anna, sororis meæ Katherinæ et Rob. Hemingii filia improvisa, Grenovicum venit, hora 4 p.m.: nupsit Jacobo Hodgsono, ministro meo, me inscio, Octob. 31, 1702: Londinum concessit ut cum marito conviveret, Octob. 16, 1706." Under the date of Sept. 27, 1694, it is noted that Halley, together with Mr. Nelson, paid a visit to the Observatory, in order to see the synopses of the observations which Flamsteed had previously shown to Newton. At the end of the book are some statements and computations relative to the errors of the mural arc, arising from the sinking of the wall, for the years 1694–1698 : also relative to the position of Polaris for the years 1689-1696. After this, there is the following memorandum respecting his niece and her family: viz. "Anna, neptis mea, dilectissimæ sororis meæ Katherinæ et Roberti Hemingii, filia unica, nata erat anno 1680, Octob. 7, hora 10 matutina, die [Baily uses a symbol here for Thursday], Marefeildiæ in com. Leicestriæ. –1694, Sept. 20, me visum veniens in Observatorio, a patre impetravi ut mecum maneret. –1702, Octob. 31, nupsit, me inscio, Jacobo Hodgsonio. -1706, Sept. 15, Londinum concessit, ut cum marito viveret, gravida. –1706, Decem. 8 ʘ circa 13h p. m. Katharina ejus et Jacobi Hudsoni filia, Londini nata, q. d. g.– 1707–8, Johannes, filius, natus Londini 5½h p. m. Januarii sic puto 26. – 1710, Jacobus filius." There are 4 or 5 leaves torn out of this book: but none of the observations appear to be lost.
Vol 7. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Mural Arc, from March 18, 1698, to November 17, 1702, both inclusive. Quarto, bound in rough leather. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Diarium Observationum Cælestium, &c."
At the beginning of the book there are some memoranda of dates relating to his own life. At pages 18, 90, and 91 are some memoranda relative to the variation of the magnetic needle. Under the date of December 4, 1698, is the entry stated in page 65 of the present volume. Under the date of November 23, 1699, Flamsteed has written as follows; viz. " Mane D°. Poundio, in Indiam navigaturo, postquam noctem integram hic manserat, valedixi : "optimus ille Geometra et Mathematicus." On December 3, 1699, he remarks that the barometer fell to 28.40 inches; and on February 3, 1702, to 28.08 inches: which latter, he says, is nearly 3½ inches lower than he ever saw it [Baily notes ‘ I presume he means lower than the highest point at which he ever saw it.]. At the end of the volume are the usual computations for determining the errors of the mural arc, for the current years, arising from the sinking of the wall.
N.B. There is no book of the original entries of the observations, from November 17, 1702, to January 2, 1712, exclusive; nor is any such book entered in Dr. Maskelyne's list of the Manuscripts.
Vol 8. Minutes, or first notes of Observations with the Mural Arc, from January 2, 1712, to December 27, 1719, both inclusive. Quarto, bound in rough leather.
At page 79, Flamsteed remarks that on September 13, 1716, at 6 o'clock, the barometer stood at 29.30 inches; and that on the following morning at 8 o'clock it had fallen to 28.05 inches, where it continued till about the middle of the day, when it began to rise again. At the end of the volume, are the usual computations for determining the errors of the mural arc, arising from the sinking of the wall, for the current years.
Vol 9. A Copy of the observations of Gascoigne and Crabtree, from December, 1638, to December, 1642, both inclusive: also a copy of Flamsteed's observations made at Derby, from June 22, 1666, to February 16, 1673–4; at the Tower of London, from April 18, 1675, to July 11, 1675; and at the Queen's House in Greenwich Park, from September 26, 1675, to November 25, 1676. Quarto, bound in vellum. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Excerpta Astronomiæ, &c."
There are several observations in this book which are not printed in the first volume of the Historia Cœlestis; especially the whole of the observations for the year 1676.
Vol 10. A Copy of Flamsteed's observations made at Derby, from October 25, 1668, to April 8, 1674 ; at the Tower of London, from April 17, 1675, to July 17, 1675; and at the Queen's House in Greenwich Park, from September 26, 1675, to November 25, 1676. Folio, bound in a marbled paper cover. It is entitled by Flamsteed "Officina Astronomica, &c."
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