<6:1r>

Mr Isaac Newton

Former Aquentance maketh me moore bould To trouble you with this In wch I have sent you Inclosed a Table of Observations of A Comet that appeared To us in Maryland Aug 14th: 1682: Till Sept 12th: 82: whilest it weare a Morning Comet having {Oct|c|ations} from whome made but Litle Observations thereof & therefore have Sett them downe at Randame on the bottom of the Table Onelye in Right Ascension and declination But from August 22 to Sept 12: for Every Night Except Sept ye 1: 6: 8: & 9 sometimes being from home & sometimes Cloudey after the 12th day of Sept we had for a weeke or better very Cloudey Evenings Till I suppose that It had got So neare the Sunn that no moore Observa\ti'/ with us could be made yet I thought once after being ye 14th of Sept; yt I had seene it betwene Two Clouds neare uppon setting in ye West{.} If So it Seemed to me Somewhat Retrograde but I had but a small glimpes theareof & therefore could make no Observations thereof But I suppose yt Observations might be maid Long after in Most placeis wheare the wether was cleare: I suppose I was one of the first yt Tooke not\ice/ thereoff in Maryland Being August ye 14th a morning Comet in ye NorEast about 10⁢degs Northwards of ye North heade of ♊ Castor But seemed To mee to come to ye Meridian wth ye South head of ♊ Pollux, or somew{tt} after{.} It had than no Streame Cord or Taile at all that could be deserned Eather by the Eye or Elce by a prospective Glass as I could deserne neather would I trust my owne Eye in the cais but called upp others wch I thought might be stronger sited To have there Judgement of it for I was Suer yt no Such star did belong to yt place nor To any Other yt I was aquen\ted/ with but they could not deserne any Steame {sic} & would have perswaided me yt it weare a comon Ordinary Star but being so neare day & unprovided yt I could make then but Litle Observations thereof onley I doe suppose yt the declination then was Betwene 41⁢d: & :42⁢d North & Right Ascen about 112 degrees But whether afterwards it did Increase in declination Norwards as it seemed to me the 17th about 3⁢hors=30⁢min to be in neare ☌ with a Litle Star of the 3 or 4th Magnitude being To ye Southwards of the 2 small Br Stars in ye Right \fore/foot of ye Gtt Beare as I take it wch Small star cometh partley to ye Meridian Betwene both of them \they Being 1 degdeg As under declin 48` or 49`/ ye Ri. Asc about 130⁢degs declination of which {Smll:} \✱/ about 43⁢degs North{,} ye. {sic} ☌ as neare as I could make it onely by ye Eye weare about 3⁢ho:=30⁢m morning ye comet bing {sic} about 30′ or 40′ min {sic} Southwards under it So by yt Rule ye Comets declination weare then about 42⁢d=15⁢m this was the nearest ☌ of any that I Observed & I give you Notice thereof because I suppose yt ye Comet may have greater paralax than ether ♀ or ☿ It being than so swift in Motion as I suppose about 7⁢degs & sometimes neare 8 degrees in 24 hours{.} To finde wch small fixtd star. {sic} Immaigine {sic} a Right Line from the Gtt Bears Back To ye Litle dog ✱ & it will pass by it or Nearly cut it < insertion from inline > [Editorial Note 1]Figure < text from f 6:1r resumes > Or a Right line from ye Pole star To \Betwene/ ye Two Smll Stars in Gtt bears \fore/foot & So Southwards about 48⁢d=15⁢m from ye Pole ✱ you than cannot well miss \it/{.} on the Backside ye Table is a Table of ye Pole ✱ {sic} Stars declination To Every 5th degree of the Equinoct \{E}/ or Right Ascensio\ns/ Something Lightly Rune over & Allso the difference of declination of fixtd stars for 100: years for Every 5th degree of there Right Ascension the Table I finde of ex\c/elent use To finde ye declination of stars by ye Bow or fore staff or to finde out any unknowne star whose Right Asc & declint is given by ye helpe of ye Pole ✱ & others severall wayes. I could wish yt you would furnish me with a Table of Right Asc & declination of fixed stars for ye yeare 1700: & as many as you please So yt they Exceed Not ye 3 or 4th Magnitude or Rather than faile there Longt and Lat't or Boath will do well for I finde by Severall Tables yt I have by me they differ in Right Ascension very much So yt If I should Take yt pane\s/ To worke by the doctrine of plane & \or/ Sphericall Triangles by distances from Other Stars by ye fore staff or ye like without I knew ther True places I should make worse worke perhaps than I have done here in this Table thoug\h/ I had far Larger Instruments For by ye Calculation of this Comet I had my Quadrant but 12 Inch Radius being of my owne makeing with such stuff as I could Gett being wood wch is heare far more apt to warpe & shrink then in England{.} therfore I would desire you to looke over my Table & Examine it with yours & give me If you please an Accompt of the difference for this day Receveing a Letter from Brother Edward Storer <6:1v> That it was first seene with you Aug: 7th: 82 wch was 7 dayes before wee Tooke notice of it heare but he mentioned not what time it Ended with you who Righteth thus: The Same Comet (as {illeg}|is| Supposed) wch appeared decembr & January 1680: Appeared about ye 7 day of Aug this yeare 82 in ye Evening but not with So Long a Streame as it appeared before with but was not to be seene with them about 3 weekes after; & thats very strainge that there cann be such a supposed supposition as though a fier thats once burnt out & consumed ye wood or stuff yt feed it cann be Reneued againe By that feuell yt it hath consumed It is a pretty conceipt {illeg} If it be true; this Comet Cast the streame Severall wayes heare first it was upright & held so for severall dayes than it bended somthing bowing towards Towards {sic} the pole ✱ than bowing more & moore so yt it pointed more & more towards the pole after wards pointed partly upright & than againe Contrary pointed to ye westwards towards the South pole &c{} I sent unckle Babing a Letter daited about March 28: 1683 with my Observatios more at Large by Altitudes & Azimuth\s/ in wch I mentioned Gadburies 20 years Ephemeridies & a Good Large fore staff about 4 5 or 6 foot Long If it could so yt it bow nor bend not by the wight of the vanes wch might be very usefull to me & Likwise in it did desire you If yt you could Conveniently furnish me with a Table of Right Asc & declination of some of ye Principall fixed Stars &c I sent him a Letter daited about May 22 1682 which as far as I can understand by Mothers & Brothers was not come to hand Sept 26: 82: wch Least his should faile againe makes me the more bould to Trouble \you/ with this Heare hath bene of Lait years besides this yeare many Notable ☌s & oppositions both of Sun moon planets & fixed Stars wch by Reason of our great difference of Longitude To you wch I judge may be about 74 degres or better wch If well observed might be a great helpe to Astronime: Heare hapened A Lunar Eclipes: 1681: ye beginning Aug 18⁢day=08⁢hor=33⁢min=00″ ye midle 18⁢day=10⁢hours=13′=30″ ye Ende 18⁢day=11⁢ho:=54′=00″ ye Continuance 3⁢ho=21′=00″ parts Eclipse 34 & 12 or there Abouts{.} So If you please you may give me an accompt of our Longitude from London or Cambridg: Janu 17: 16823_ Sun Eclipsed in maryland ye beginning about 8⁢ho=40⁢m: ye End about 10⁢ho=30⁢min: ye Sun Eclipsed from 16⁢degs To 29⁢degs of altitude ye parts Eclipsed about 5 digets on ye undermost parte of the Sun\s/ bodey but I supose with you it was far greater{.} Heare hath beene of Late 2 great ☌ of ♄ & ♃ & ye third now very neare wch I suppose will be before the Midle of may: ye first ☌ as neare as I could well make it by reason of cloudey wether was with us ♄ Octob: 14: About noon ♄ Elivated Above ♃ 12 min semeing by ye Ey To be twice his bredth from ♃ but by prospective Glass above 4 times: ye Second ☌ of {illeg} ♄ & ♃ weare as neare as I could well make it the wether being Likewise cloudey for a day or Two before & affter ♄ Jan 27 about midnight ♄ above ♃ about 10 min there hath beene severall notable Lunar Eclipses he\a/re of Late ye ☾ & Aldebaran ye Last yeare the ☾ hid Aldebron severale times one I see wch I suppose Centarall: here hath bene Notable ☌ of Cor Leonis & ☾ & Likewise of ♂ & ♌ {Symbol (heart symbol) in text} But I shall not trouble you with heare haveing no more at prsent but my dutye To unckle Babington & my Best Respects To all my frends with you I Rest at your Command To serve you Arthur Storer

From Patuxant River in Maryland: at Mr John Hunts Neare Coll{r} Joules at Indian Creeke
Aprill 26: 1683: I have Likewise sent one dated with yours To Brother Storer & 4: dated Mar 28: 83: vizd One To Mother Brother John Joseph & unckle Babington &c wch If this come to hand if you have yt Opertunity you may aquent them &c

<6:2v>

For Mr Isaac Newton Math:
of Trinitie Coledge In Cambridg
Leave this at ye Post house in
London to be sent as
before saide
{2}

<6:3r>

_____________________________________________0 _____________________________________________A Table of the  Observations  of A comet  yt  appeared in Maryland ☽ Aug  14th  : To :   Sept  12: 1682___________________________The Longitude from London about 5 hours: or  74⁢degs  ye  Latitude  38⁢d=30⁢m0 __________________20=55declination210=30Ri. Ascent AugustTimepresentye  CometsAltitudeCometsAzimuthfrom    E.  WestCometsDeclinationArcturusAltitudeArcturusMeridiandistanceRigt  Ascentof MediumCœlijCometsMeridiandistanceCometsRightAscensionCometsCulminatCometsLongitudeCometsLatitudeNorth ye  dayHors  :  mindegrs  :  mindeg  :  mindegrs  :  mindegs  :  mindegs  :  mindegrs  :  mindegs  :  mindegs  :  mindegrs  :  mindegrs  :  mindegrs  :  min 20morning4=5616`=15´38`:NE:15´39`:N:45´152=30.· 20past noon7=3038:N:15157=00.· 21past noon7=3035:N:30164=30 ♂22After Noon7=3810=0034:N:0032:N:3732=0065=09275=39104=14171=25♍  20=3808:♍:2226:N:22 ☿237=2912=53·27:N:3529:N:2833=0363=47274=17096=51177=26♍  27=1215:♍:0725:N:51 ♃247=5809=1026:N:1026:N:1426=5871=34282=04099=32182=32♎  02=4521:♍:0624:N:54 ♀25·7=01·19=4514:N:1223:N:0036=5058=55269=25082=27186=58♎  07=3526:♍:3623:N:45 ♄268=0308=5518:N:2019:N:5224=14.·75=03285=33094=25191=08♎  12=0602:♎:0022:N:35 ☉278=0209=1514:N:2016:N:5623=4875=38286=08091=35194=33♎  15=4806:♎:2921:N:16 ☽28·7=21·16=5005:N:2014:N:2630=4666=42277=12079=48197=24♎  18=5210:♎:0320:N:07 ♂297=0919=1200:N:2012:N:0432=4564=12274=42074=57199=45♎  21=2413:♎:2518:N:53 ☿307=2515=3000:N:2009:N:5028=45·69=22279=52077=58201=54♎  23=4016:♎:2217:N:40 ♃317=4012=0800:N:2007:N:4725=06·73=47284=17080=39.·203=38♎  25=3018:♎:5216:N:25 ☿  Sep017=3005:N:55205=05♎  27=0320:♎:5915:N:15 ♄02⁝7=33⁝12=3004:S:4004:N:1525=3673=19283=49077=25206=24♎  28=2622:♎:5314:N:11 ☉037=0716=1509:S:4002:N:4529=2368=21278=51071=21207=30♎  29=3524:♎:3013:N:11 ☽047=1414=1509:S:4001:N:2927=2670=56281=26072=56208=30♏·00=3825:♎:5512:N:22 ♂057=0714=15011:S:4000:N:19⁝28=00⁝70=14280=44071=16209=28♏·01=3927:♎:1611:N:37 ☿067=0000:S:44210=23♏·02=3528:♎:3110:N:58 ♃077=0614=00013:S:4001:S:39⁝27=12.·71=15281=45070=35211=10♏·03=2529:♎:3610:N:23 ♀087=0002:S:30211=45♏·04=0100:♏:2709:N:48 ♄097=0003:S:20212=10♏·04=2701:♏:0809:N:08 ☉107=1709=0012:S:4004:S:1022=4577=00287=3075=00212=30♏·04=4801:♏:4508:N:28 ☽117=0510=0014:S:4005:S:00⁝24=06⁝75=15285=4573=00212=45♏·05=0302:♏:1607:N:46 ♂12:7=07:09=0014:S:4005:S:4023=2476=11286=4173=45212=56♏·05=1402:♏:4007:N:12 ☽  Aug14hours       5     mor_42=N00111=30 155     mor_42=N00117=15 165     mor_42=N00123=30 175     mor_42:N:00130=00 185     mor_41:N:40137=00 195     mor_41:N:00144=30 205     mor_39:N:45152=30

<6:3v>

FixtStarsdifferenceofdeclinationFor 100:years☽orStarsRightAscensionAno:1700To findAny Starsdistancefrom  yePole Star:NorthdeclinationSubstrSouthdeclinationAdd To – –FixtStarsRightAscensionAno:1700:differenceofdeclinat_,100yeare min—degresdeg: mindegreesmin 34087=45020 34587=44015 331087=43010 331587=44005 322087=4636034 312587=4935534 303087=5335033 283587=5834533 264088=0334032 244588=1033531 225088=1733030 205588=2532528 176088=3432026 1565—88=4431524 127088=5431022 97589=0530520 68089=1630017 38589=2729515 09089=3929012 39589=512859 610090=032806 910590=152753 1211090=27270✱0 1511590=392653 1712090=512606 2012591=012559 2213091=1125012 2413591=2124515 2614091=3024017 2814591=3923520 3015091=4723022 3115591=5422524 3216092=0022026 3316592=0521528 3317092=09.·—210—30 3417592=1320531   34  _✱18092=1620032 3418592=1719533 3319092=1719033 0 0

The use of this Table is To finde Any Stars Distance from ye N ✱: or Pole Star, The Right Ascension & declination Given: Or there declinat There distance in degrs & min being Given By the Bow or Forestaff &c{.} Example ye Buls Eye Aldeb\a/ran Ano 1700: Ri: Asc 64`=44´ I looke nearest in ye Table & finde Against ye Ri: Asc of 65d=:00m — 88d=44m Then Aldebarans declination being sup_osed to be —15=52_North I Substract it from  88=44  then Rest  ye  distance from  N  ✱  —72=52: Againe ye Goat hircus Ri Asc 73`=28´: declinat 45`=N40´ by proportion Betweene 70 & 75 I finde 89`=02´ from wch I Substr ye declination 45`=40´ Rest 43`=22´ from ye Pole Star{.} Againe By the Bow or forestaff I Take Arcturus distance from the Pole Star & finde it to be 71`=18´. Then suppose Arcturu\s/ Right Ascent To be 210=40: I Looke in the Table Against 210degs=00´ & finde 92`=09´: but if I allow for ye 40m: I shall find nerest 92=08 71=18_ from  wch  I Substract  71=18: then Rest  ye  declination20=50 Haveing once found the declination To finde the declination for any Time past or To Come{.} Example then suppose Arcturus declination Be Ano{r} 1700: 20d=.50m the Right Ascension 210d=.40m I Looke as bef{illeg}\{r}/ against 210d=00m & finde 0d=.30m wch is Arcturus difference of declint for 100 years. Then for ye yeare l800: If I substract from Arcturus declination wch is as before 20=50 /30\ Rest 20d=20m for the declination of Arcturus Ano{r} l800:
Noat that If the declination be north from ♑ To ♋ Add the Difference But from ♋ To ♑: Substract ye difference vizd from 270⁢degrs of Right Asc To 90d: Add ye difference Then from 90⁢degs: of Ri Asc to 270⁢degs Substract ye difference{,} The declination Being North but If the declination Be South the Contrarye{.} Then from 270d: To :90d: I Substract ye difference Then from 90d To :270 I add &c{.} This way of Rectifying The fixt Stars declination seemes somewhat plausable & stands To some Reason wch is declared in the Seamans Calender p Henry Phillipps Ano{r} 1660: But As for there difference of Right Ascensions by ye said Phillipps Tables The way of Rectifying Seemes very unequall In a very Confuesed disordered Condition:. {sic} Example ye Goat hircus ye Difference of Right Ascension for 100 years is – 1d=48m And Orion Right foot But: 1d=15m:. {sic} Againe the Hinder Guard Sub {{illeg}}: ye Righ\t/ Asc 100: yeares is but 0`=18´ & ye Br ✱ in serpents neck is – 1d=.23m there Right Asc being partlye the same & Boath having North declinat But by what Rule there course is. is {sic} so Ordered I am Altogether Ignorant, without former Observations hath proved it so: If so than Longitude & Latitude I suppose Cannot be Exact Enough: To Shew there True places for Time To Come If they Mar\t/ch {spiward} as Wing Relates 1`=23´ in 100 years:. {sic} Or By Gunter 1`=23´ in Long & in Lat' Litle or nothing: wch If you please a word or two Conserning of wch. &c{.}

[Editorial Note 1] The following image spans several lines in the letter and it integrates with the surrounding text, for example at the point where he mentions the "Two Small stars".

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