Second Division.—From 1666 to 1675.

37

nothing like his father, he enjoyed for the few years he lived. But, findingthat I persisted in my resolution to take orders, and that his son’s temper wassuch as would make me as uneasy as himself, he did not dissuade me *. Marchthe 4th following, he brought me a warrant that designed me the King’s Astro-nomer, with the allowance of only £100 per annum, payable by the Office olOrdnance, to commence from the Michaelmas before f ; and the Easter follow-ing I took orders at Ely house, at the hands of Bishop Gunning, who ever afterconversed with me friendly and freely, and would frequently discourse with meof the new philosophy and opinions, though himself had always maintained theold \.

Betwixt my coming up to London , and Easter , an accident happened thathastened, if it did not occasion, the building of the Observatory . A French-man, that called himself Le Sieur de St. Pierre, having some small skill inastronomy, and made an interest with a French lady, then in favour at Court §,proposed no less than the discovery of the Longitude : and had procured akind of Commission from the King, to the Lord Brouncker , Dr. Ward (Bishopof Salisbury), Sir Christopher Wren , Sir Charles Scarborough , Sir Jonas Moore , Col. Titus, Dr. Pell, Sir Robert Murray, Mr. Hook, and some otheringenious gentlemen about the town and Court , to receive his proposals ; withpower to elect, and to receive into their number, any other skilful persons: and,having heard them, to give the King an account of them, with their opinionwhether or no they were practicable, and would show what he pretended. Sir Jonas Moore carried me with him to one of their meetings, where I waschosen into their number; and, after, the Frenchman’s proposals were read:which were ’

1°. To have the year and day of the observations :

2°. The height of two stars, and on which side of the meridian they appeared :

3°. The height of the moon’s two limbs:

4°. The height of the pole:—All to degrees and minutes.

* Daring the few months he was staying with Sir Jonas Moore at the Tower, he made severalastronomical observations, which are recorded in the first volume of the Historia Coelestis, pages 26,&c. F. B.

t A copy of the warrant for the payment of this salary, is given in the Appendix No. 5. F. B.

I In another MS, entitled The brief history of the Observatory , mentioned in page 4, Flamsteedsays (page 163) that “ a larger salary was designed him at first: but, on his taking orders, it was“ sunk to this.” F. B.

§ In a MS paper by Flamsteed, entitled Notes to my state of the Observatory , mentioned in page5, it is stated (page 51) that this lady was the Duchess of Portsmouth. F. B.