Maximilianus Hell (1720-1792) - Munin

Norwegian garrison had been stationed there, signalling the strategic importance of this
easternmost village in Norway. 105
With a positive answer from Father Hell, widely recognised as an able observer and an expert
on the planet Venus, Denmark-Norway had obtained a „scoop‟. But the government in
Copenhagen did not limit itself to the expedition of Hell alone.
Unlike in 1761, action was taken on this occasion to invite local observers in Norway to
participate in the project alongside the professionals. One such invitation was sent to the
surveyor Jørgen Nicolai Holm, who – as has already been told – had observed the 1761
passage of Venus on his own initiative in Trondheim (See Section II.2.2). Since then, he had
been appointed a Professor designatus in Copenhagen, although he still resided in Alta in the
Finnmark county of Norway, where he had been based during the boundary surveying. It is
under the title of “Most noble and erudite Mr. Professor” that the Interior Minister and
President of the Royal Society of Sciences, Otto Thott (1703-1785) addresses him in a letter
dated 26 March 1768. The field-work involved in the Swedish/Danish boundary survey had
now come to an end and the minister appears to be at a loss concerning the professor‟s
whereabouts. He suggests, however, that Holm should take up a position in Tromsø or some
other suitable place in northernmost Norway on 3 June 1769, if “the conditions and health of
Mr. Professor” allow this: 106
For Professor Jørgen Nicolai Holm // Most noble and erudite Professor! Since
His Royal Majesty has most graciously ordered, that besides Father Hell, who is
105
On the historical significance of the military presence at Vardøhus see for example Willoch (ed.) 1960,
Balsvik 1992; Hagen 2008.
106
Thott to Holm, dated 26 March 1768 (RA Copenhagen, Danske Cancelli: Concepter og Indlæg til
Obersecretærens Brevbog): “til Professor Jörgen Nicolai Holm. // Velædle og höylærde // H r Professor! // Da
hans Kongelig Mayt. Allernaadigst har befalet, at, foruden Pater Hell, som afgaaer til Wardöehuus, for der at
observere Veneris Gang igiennem Soelen, som skeer den 3 Junii 1769, endnu skal tages samme Observation paa
et bequem Sted, i Finmarken, som formeenes at kunde være Tromsöen; Og Man er forsikret, at ingen dertil
kunde findes bequemmere end h r Professor; Saa ville ieg fornemme, om h r Professors Omstændigheder og
helbred tillader Dem, at blive saalænge i finmarken, at De kunde paatage sig denne Observation, hvorom ieg,
med förste vil vente Deres Svar, og tillige hvad Jnstrumenter De i saafald ere forsynede med, eller endnu dertil
maatte behöve; Til hvilken Ende ieg herhos sende en Fortegnelse paa de Jnstrumenter, som til bem te Observation
eragtes fornödne, og herfra kan erholdes; Men ifald h r Professor icke skulle kunde opholde sig der saalænge, for
at forrette denne Observation, skal denne min Skrivelse icke hindre Dem fra, at fortsette Deres forehavende
Needreyse, da ieg derom ligeledes med forderligste venter Deres Svar, samt tillige at ville meddeele mig Deres
Tanker, enten Tromsöen, som meldt, eller hvad andet Sted i finmarken De eragte beqvemmest, til der at kunde
foretage denne Observation, Jeg forbliver // Velædle og höylærde h r Professors // tienstvillige tiener // O. Thott.
// Cancelliet // 26 Martii 1768 // P:S: Skulle h r Professor formeene, at dertil den indbemelte Observation, behöves
fleere eller andre Jnstrumenter, end paa forteignelsen findes anfört, eller De Selv er forsynet med, ville De udi
Deres Svar mig saadant tilmelde.”
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