Letter 1079

[fol. 217] Sr Upminster Sep: 10 1706 I sent the Carpenter last week to view your Repairs, who saith that there are wanting 6 pairs of Rafters, 2 Purloyns, one Bean, 2 Quarter-Beams, & a pair of Iron Dogs to lye that old Building to the Dwellinh-House. He saith also that he is suspitious of the one of the House- Posts, it being much rotted wth lying open so lonf to the weather, but thinks it may as yet serve for a while. He judgeth that the Timber for these uses will some to between 20 and 30d, but saith that the Lops of your Trees are so good, that you need be at little or no charges in buying. I am there- fore of opinion that your best way is to write again to Culverwell by the Peny-Post, & order him to lop a tree or two for the Rafters, Purloyns, or, & to get it all done wth speed because of the short days & winter ap- proaching; & let him know that you intend shortly to see it your self, or at least make him be- lieve so; wch will engage his care to repair well, & prevent his lopping more than will be necessary. But indeed I would persuade you to go, & view, & or- Der your self what shall be done: but send me word 3 or 4 days before you come I should be from home. I have been as good an husband of your 3d as I could. The Carpenter had 2d for his days work, & 6d for his expenses, & I lent him an Horse, so yt 6d remaines for you. I give you a great many thanks for your advice for my Wife, & so doth she too. I thank God the Symptoms of the Small-Pox are gone, & I hope she is like to escape it. There is now a spot on the Sun above there parts passed over his Diske. I have nicely measured his way over the Sun from wch occasion (wch I have leisure) I intend to give the So- ciety an account of all the Spots that have been seen on the ☉ [Sun] these 3 years last past, wch their way over ☉, & other things remarkable, par- ticularly the difference of the ☉s Diamr near the Horizon, & much a- bove it; wch was surprizing to me, & hath been so to other of my friends, & I believe is a novelty among the men of Science. I knew well enough yt the Diamr is less at the Horizon, but not so prodifi- ously as this specimen will shew you, in Suns Diamr any Meridian Apr. 27, was 1660 equal Parts: but at ye altitude of gr. 40 only 1350or: pts [?] But the This was the Diamr perpendicular to the Horizon. But parellel with it, the Diamr was enlarged, viz it was 1681 eq: parts of the Micrometer. If you will come & tarry a Night here, we will nicely observe what I have as yet but imperfectly done. For now I am better provided with Tools. I have a better prospect of the setting ☉. over High-gate Hill. Our hearty services to you, & your Lady I am Sr your most obliged & faithfull servt Wm Derham