Maximilianus Hell (1720-1792) - Munin

Hatvani then proceeds to give the details of his observations, for which he used an eleven-foot
telescope that Weidler (an astronomer based at the Protestant University in Wittenberg) had
once provided for him. He adds that 172
I am writing this to You, elevated Gentleman, for no other reason than that You
shall become aware that we who live in the flatlands are not idle observers of
Urania either [i.e., the muse of astronomy]. I beg You to forgive me, a person
whom You do not know even by name, for my daring to intrude in Your
arduous affairs. However, it is that common bond that unites all disciplines in a
sort of blood relationship, which has brought me, a man occupying the lowlands
of a teacher, to dare in this letter to address You, who thanks to your great
merits sits in such an illustrious chair.
This may be carefully timed tactics or sincere flattery. Anyhow, Hatvani did not miss this
opportunity to incidentally attach to his letter a copy of his printed determination of the
geographical latitude of Debrecinum. The Imperial and Royal Astronomer’s answer was no
less swift and enthusiastic than elaborate and respectful. Hell congratulates Hatvani with
being the first to have attempted to determine the geographical coordinates of Debrecinum.
What is more, he finds his observations sound and his calculations accurate. “You, whose
name, industry and experience in mathematical sciences have been known to me for quite a
while, ever since I lived in Transylvania”, 173 he adds. Moreover, Father Hell furnishes
Hatvani with a calculation of coming occultations of the moons of Jupiter and encourages him
to make diligent observations of these phenomena so that even the longitude of Debrecinum
can be accurately determined. In all, he promises close collaboration and ends his letter by
urging Hatvani to 174
please continue to bestow the same benevolence upon me in the future, and give
more honour to the learned world as well as our homeland (Patria nostra)
through publication of Your illustrious works.
172 Ibid.: “Hæc non alio fine ad Te Vir Summe scribo, quam ut ex his intelligas, nec nos, qui æquor ca[m]pestre
incolimus otiosos spectatores esse Uraniæ. Dabit autem mihi Veniam, quod ipse ego Tibi, ne nomine quid[em]
notus, Tua tamen ardua negotio interpellare audeam. Fecit nihilominus Comune illud Vinculum quod omnes
disciplinis cognatione quadam junxit, ut is, qui in [planio]re (vox vix legibilis; planiore coniecit Kraggerud)
scholastico versor, Te qui magno Tuo merito illustri loco sedes hac Epistola alloqui auderem”.
173 Hell to Hatvani in Debrecinum, dated Vienna 14 June 1759 (WUS Vienna, Hell’s draft): “Latitudinem Urbis
vestræ à Te, cujus nomen, industria, atque in mathematicis insignis peritia jam ante hæc mihi in Transylvania
versanti nota erant dudum, determinatam esse, multum Tibi gratulor, qui Primus, quod sciam, Urbi vestræ
certum in orbe locum designare aggressus sis”.
174 Ibid.: “Tu vero, et me, qua coepisti benevolentia prosequere, et orbem eruditum, Patriamque nostram
præclaris Tuis operibus ornare perge”.
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