Maximilianus Hell (1720-1792) - Munin

observatory’) in Graecium. Mayr still retained this position when Hell issued the first volume
of his Ephemerides, which he personally distributed to colleagues all over the Austrian
Province and beyond, including the director of the observatory in Graecium. Josephus Mayr’s
answer, for all its self-effacing humility, gives a quite vivid impression of the early years of
the Graecium Observatory: 139
Honourable Father in Christ! A late response ought not to be reproached, when
various obstacles were in the way, and there was no harm in the delay. I am
grateful for the Ephemerides that you sent me. I have used them faithfully in this
my worn and all but dilapidated observatory, in so far as it was possible, given
my [limited] experience in astronomical matters. If only the fellow who, after
the death of pious Vanossius, got the task of delivering two practical lessons
every week assigned for himself, back in those days when we as colleagues 140
learned the basics of mathematics, had given us at least some instruction [in
astronomy]! If only I had been given access to the observatory, either when I
followed lectures in Theology here in Graecium or when I taught Poetry and
Rhetoric in Vienna! Liesganig, whom I asked quite often [for permission to visit
the observatory], always found various pretexts to elude my effort, and in this
he followed the example of his patron [i.e., Franz?]. I was preparing to send you
the occultation of Palilicium [a star in Aldebaran], but as my observation was
inept, I was waiting for a second occultation of the Moon, after observation of
the first had already been spoiled by stormy weather. I would have liked to
139 Josephus May(e)r to Hell in Vienna, dated Graecium 17 October 1757 (WUS Vienna, copy in the hand of
Hell’s secretary): “R[everendissime] in Xto P[ater]! // Serum responsum reprehændi non debet, ubi varia illud
obstacula retardarunt, nec periculum in mora fuit. Gra[ti]as habeo pro transmissis Ephemeridibus, quibus in
lacera, et vix non ruitura specula quantum quidem in astronomicis experientia mea admisit fideliter usus Sum.
utinam ille qui ordina[ti]onem sibi ad facienda quot hebdomadibus bina Collegia practica a pie defuncto
Vanossio procuravit (dum elementa matheseos Collegæ hauriremus) Viam saltem aliquam ostendisset, vel dum
hic loci prælectiones Theologicas exciperem, aut dum Viennæ Poesim, Rhetoricamque Docerem Speculæ Copia
facta esset. Rogatus frequentissimè à me Liesganiggius, varijs semper excusationibus Conatum meum elusit,
patronum suum egregie secutus. Occultationem Palilicij parabam mittere, at cum manca fuerit observatio,
exspectabam [scripsi; exspectam MS] Lunæ defectionem secundam, primam enim tempestas scytica impedivit.
Observationes alias complures adjunxissem verum cum Organa astronomica (si tamen nomen hoc merentur)
examinare satis, per labores alteri officio annexos non potuerim, ijsque non sine gravi fundamento diffiderem R æ
V æ aliunde multis distentæ laboribus vel in aliquot folijs perlustrandis molestiam adferre nolui. Paucis: Specula
mole Sua laborans, et ad speciem t[an]tum astronomicam ædificata, hoc et priori anno magnis Collegij impensis
a ruina integra conservata, instrumenta ex mente artificum, Sine ullo examine posita. verbo, ad observationes
publico comittendas inepta, revocantem post tot annos theoricas species, et nova moliri conantem prorsus
impediverunt. Author ipse Machinæ hujus Halloixius, qui consilio Saltem suo adesse debuerat, laborem omnem,
toties demisse rogatus subterfugiens insuper non modicas molestias fecit. mitto tamen duas observationes, quæ si
accuratæ minus Sunt, horologio per altitudines ʘ instrumento non satis acurato captas, correcto, nec in firmo
satis loco constituto pro humanitate sua R a V a adscribet. aut si etiam velit Observatoris non sufficienti dexteritati,
nec enim unq[ua]m mihi hæc tractandi sat idonea fuit Suppeditata occasio. // Non odi Mathesim, quam primas
inter Scientias tenere probe novi. astronomia in delicijs esset, sed eos cuperem Socios, qui Comunicatis Consilijs
publico servire vellent, discerem à quocunque libenter dumodo opportunitas esset. // Jnterim sorte mea
contentissimus Vivo, et in eandem abeo cum singulis antecessoribus meis Sententiam, qui Græcensi Speculæ
adeo addicti non erant, ut se ab ea liberari aut non instanter peterent, aut saltem ab ea se liberatos non
gratularentur. Collegæ nomen q[uo]d R a V a imerito dedit acceptassem lubentissime, nisi ea quæ attuli eodem
indignum me reddidissent. his me demisissime Commendo Græcij stirorum 13 Octob[ri]s 1757. Josephus
Mayer.” A set of observations accompany the letter.
140 “as colleagues” (Collegæ) seems to imply that Hell and Mayr were students in the same classes for a while.
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