Dossier GPP/2/5 - Letter books of mathematical correspondence

2 items

Two letter books ('to 1781' covering 1770-1782, and '1783.1784.1786') containing copies by Nathaniel Pigott of his mathematical and scientific correspondence in English and French.

CONTAINS:
'Mathematical Correspondence to 1781':
Letters: to Dr. Bevis (20th Jul. 1770), to M. Le Monnier (19th Sep. 1770), from M. Le Monnier (29th Sep. 1770), from Wing (10th Nov. 1770), to Dr. Bevis (1st Dec. 1770), to Canon Bouin (6th Jan. 1771), to M. Maraldi (26th Feb. 1771), to M. Le Monnier (28th Feb. 1771), to M. de Fouchy (26th March 1771), to M. de Rochfort (11th April 1771), to Dr. Bevis (14th April 1771), to Mrs Pigott (asking her to write to M. Le Monnier) (27th Jul. 1771), to Mr. Bird (1st Sep. 1771), to Dr. Bevis (1st Sep. 1771), to Mr. Waddington (20th Oct. 1771), to Dr. Maskelyne (2nd Sep. 1773), to Dr. Maskelyne (17th Dec. 1773), to Mr. Magelhaens (undated), to M. Messier (28th Jan. 1774), to M. Jeaurat (5th Sep. 1777), to M. Jeaurat (3rd Dec. 1777), to M. Messier (1st Oct. 1778), to Dr. Hornsby (3rd Oct. 1778), to Dr. Maskelyne (6th Oct. 1778), to M. Jeaurat (6th Oct. 1778), to M. Bernoulli (7th Oct. 1778)[this letter, in French, gives the background to his survey work in Belgium], to the Imperial Academy at Brussels (15th Nov. 1778), to Dr. Maskelyne (26th Jun. 1779), to Dr. Hornsby (27th June 1779), to M. Messier (10th July 1779), to Dr. Hornsby (31st August 1779), note to Dr. Maskelyne enclosed in Edward Pigott’s letter to Maskelyne (3rd Sep. 1779), letter to Dr. Maskelyne (27th Oct. 1779), to Dr. Maskelyne from York (23rd May 1780), to M. Messier (6th Oct. 1780), to Joseph Planta (6th Oct. 1780), to Sir Henry Englefield (24th Feb. 1781), to Sir Joseph Banks (10th Oct. 1781), to Mr. Dollond (29th November 1782), to Mr. Herschel (15th June 1782).

The last of these, beginning ‘Sir, I sincerely congratulate with you on the Successes of your Astrom. Labours – your discovery of the Herschelian Comet or Planet […] does honor to you, to the nation, will form an epoch in astronomy and deserved the medal the more as it was preceded by your excellent papers in the Transactions’, continues with a suggestion regarding measurement of the lunar mountains, then ‘My son has received your letters, and will answer them, when he can get some franks ; I am sorry I have not a cover for this ; but hope to be provided the next time. I wish I could see you here; if ever that happens, you will find us provided with a magnificent observatory, built upon the model of that at Greenwich., Stone foundation, Stone Pillars, Slits &c – it has been an expensive building, but as my family affairs have fixed me here for the remainder of my life, I do not grudge it’.

‘Mathematical Correspondence 1783.1784.1786’
Letters: to Dr. Maskelyne (dated 27th Dec. 1783, but letter crossed through), to Dr. Maskelyne (28th Dec. 1783), to Sir Thomas Frankland (13th Jan. 1784), to Dr. Maskelyne (2nd Apr. 1784) [‘Mr. Goodricke informs us, that he is very happy in London and mentions the polite reception at Greenwich and the civilities he received from you with great pleasure’], to Dr. Maskelyne (27th Apr. 1784), to Dr. Maskelyne (May 1784) [‘I was in the country when your letter arrived. On my return, I subscribed as you desire, to Mr. Taylor’s Logarithms; Mr Goodricke has subscribed for two copies […] the three york astronomers thank you for the Communication of yr. improvement in the wires of transit instrumts. it is a matter of wonder to me that 1” or 2” of angle be a sensible quantity in ye transit. We observe indeed to ½ Sec. even 1/3 of a Second in time […] but I had no Idea of attaining to the precision of 14/100 of a Second in time but you will say to this, that we are only Amateurs : this is certainly a great improvement and more particularly Serviceable in preventing alterations in the line of Collimation of our Quadrants.’], to Dr. Zach (13th July 1786), to M. Bernouilli (13th July 1786).

The remaining two-thirds of the book is blank.

Summary of contents and extracts have been provided by a volunteer.

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