Dossier GPP/1/10 - Copy letters from John Goodricke, York, to William Herschel, at Datchet near Windsor

CONTAINS:

(a) Letter to William Herschel at Datchet, Windsor, 7th August 1784, with corrections to Flamsteed’s catalogue of stars. ‘Sir, The Perusal of your paper on the proper motion of the Sun & Solar System published in the last volume of Philosop. Transns. gave me great pleasure especially as the Theory of the Solar motion perfectly coincides with my sentiments. I have however upon comparing Flamstead’s Catalogue with that of Ptolemy, Tycho, Hevelius &c., as also with Flamsteads observns. in the 2d vol. of his Historiae celestis, where he often marks the magnitudes of stars when observed, discovered several errors in that part of it which relates to the changes of the stars & take the liberty to send you the following corrections together with some other occasional remarks. […] Mr Edwd. Pigott in a letter he wrote to me lately has the following remarks on [29 ?] Persei & 70 – 80 & 81 Herculis & he desires me to communicate them to you. I will here transcribe part of his letter – […] If I meet with any other thing worth remarking I shall take the first opportunity to communicate them to you if agreeable.’

(b) Letter to William Herschel 2nd September 1784, answering Herschel’s reply of 15th August. Herschel appears to have taken the previous letter as a criticism; Goodricke points out that errors in Flamsteeds catalogue would invalidate some of Herschel’s conclusions. ‘As you seem not to have perfectly understood the meaning of my Letter, I have taken the liberty to write to you again & to set the matter in a clearer light. I hope the following explanation of that letter will give you satisfaction & make it appear that I have not misapprehended your paper. […] I beg leave to mention here that I did not mean to lay the errors to your own account but to Flamstead’s. […] Be assured of my perfect esteem & remain […]’.

Summary of contents has been provided by a volunteer.