REVEREND SIR
I received your letter yesterday; and I am extremely happy in giving you the best description in my power respecting the phaenomenon I saw in the moon, on Friday 7th of March, a few minutes before eight o'clock in the evening. I was in hopes, as it was a bright evening, that some astronomer might observe it, who would have described it in a more scientific manner than I can. The few observations I made were merely to compare with some account I expected and wished to meet in some periodical publication.
My friend MR.BECKWITH having the day before told me that I might see Mercury soon after sun-set, I had been looking for that planet from the Castle-hill in Norwich, but was disappointed by a clouded horizon. I mention this merely as the reason of my being led to a more particular notice of the moon also in this evening, having lost the first object of that evening's attention.
When I saw the light speck, as shown in the sketch... (I did not get copies of the illustrations, which are basic/unremarkable - Daniel Transit)... I was very much surprised; for, at the instant of discovery I believed a star was passing over the moon, which on the next moment's consideration I knew to be impossible. I remembered having seen, at some periods of the moon, detached lights from the serrated edge of light, through a telescope; but this spot was considerably too distant from the nlightened part of the moon; besides, this was seen with the naked eye. I was, as it were, rivetted to the spot where I stood, during the time it continued, and took every method I could imagine to convince myself that it was not an error of sight; and two persons, strangers, passed me at the same time, whom I requested to look, and they (maybe, a little more ignorant than myself) said it was star. I am confident I saw it five minutes at least; but as the time is only conjectural, it might not, possibly, be so long.
The spot appeared rather brighter than any other enlightened part of the moon. IT WAS THERE WHEN I FIRST LOOKED. The whole time I saw it, it was a FIXED, STEADY LIGHT, except the moment before it disappeared, when its brightness INCREASED; but that appearance was instantaneous.
I have a reflecting telescope, and as I was very near home, i had determined to return and use it on this occasion; for it was so fixed, I had scarcely a doubt but its appearance would continue; but almost at the instant, and whilst i was looking, it totally disappeared. You can tell, by the age of the moon at that time, the apparent breadth of light upon the surface of that body, which, as near as I can judge, determines the distance of the spot from the two points... (further reference to an illustration - DT)...
I mentioned this soon afterwards to a gentleman of my acqaintance, who sometimes amuses himself in the study of astronomy; he was extremely inquisitive sbout it, and conjectured this phaenomenon to be some great volcanic convulsion in the moon, which induced me at that time to assist my memory with a sketch like what I have sent you. I shall be obliged to you, Sir, if you will favour me with DR.MASKELYNE'S opinion, if what I have related is sufficient ground for him to form an opinion upon; and whether any such phenomenon has ever before been observed. When I was lately in town, I mentioned the particulars to my worthy friend Mr.H.REPTON, and if my engagements would have permitted, he was desirous I should call with him upon DR.HERSCHEL, with whom he has sound acquaintance.
I am, & c.
WILLIAM WILKINS.
Norwich, 17th April, 1794. To the Rev. SAMUEL VINCE.
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LETTER II
Norwich, 2d May, 1794
REVEREND SIR,
I am favoured with your letter of the 1st instant, respecting the description of the light spot observed by me in the moon.
I am certain as to the evening I saw the phaenomenon, because I made the memorandum in a pocket journal I keep; besides, another local circumstance convinces me of its being on a Friday, and not on any other day than the 7th of March.
You are undoubtedly right in supposing I had forgot how near the moon was to a half moon; and when I wrote to Mr.VINCE, I answered him in haste; for his letter to me requested an immediate answer, on account of his engagement to leave Cambridge in a short time. If you will please to refer to my letter, I think you will find I was somehow aware of my not describing the age of the moon properly in the sketch; for I said, "You will be able to tell by the age of the moon at that time the apparent breadth of light, which may, in some measure, determine the situation of the spot according to my idea."
The sketch I made at first was in pencil, without the assistance of compasses.
It appeared like a small star, without changing its form or situation...
I am, &c.
WILLIAM WILKINS
To the Rev. Dr.MASKELYNE.
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LETTER III
Norwich, 8th May, 1794
REVEREND SIR,
I am again favoured with yours of 6th instant. The evening I saw the bright spot on the moon, I had been looking for Mercury soon after sun-set, and walked more than an hour; and having been disappointed by a clouded horizon, I returned home (my house is within 50 yards of the Castlehill); and after staying some time, set out again to the coffee-house to look at the papers, as I usually do about that time, i.e. eight o'clock. I took the Castle-hill again in my way, when I was surprised with the appearance I have already described. After the disappearance of the phaenomenon, I was very particular in my inquiries respecting the time, and called purposely on a neighbour* to ascertain it with certainty; and found it a few minutes before eight o'clock, which time I entered in my pocket journal; and on inquiry of Mrs.WILKINS, she says I left home at that time.
I am in my 44th year, and have a strong, good sight, not in the least short sighted. About two years since, I purchased a pair of spectacles in town, because I did not, in pointing a pen, see the nib so distinctly as formerly; but notwithstanding, they lay in my drawer totally useless.
My profession has lately carried me frequently to Orfordness, where I have been constructing a lighthouse for Lord HOWARD, upon the new principle, with ARGAND lamps and reflectors; and the goodness of my sight has often been remarked, in discovering vessels with the naked eye, which my comparisons could not discover with the telescope. I find that by looking some time at an object, my left eye waters, I suppose from weakness; but if I shut it, my other eye still remains strongsighted. When the moon is young, I do perfectly see the whole circumference, from the faint light which surrounds it; and on that evening the moon appeared a well defined crescent.
I remember seeing the star you mention that evening; but I think it was between nine and ten o'clock that I observed it; and it was in appearance, may be, two of the moon's diameters distance to the west; but I did not particularly notice it.
I am very certain of this spot appearing WITHIN the circumference of the moon's circle.
I am, & c. WILLIAM WILKINS.
Castle Meadow. To the Rev. Dr.MASKELYNE.
* Mr.R.BACON, who is publisher of one of the Norwich papers.
_________________________________________________________________LETTER IV
Hare-street, by Romford, 26th May, 1794.
SIR,
Having been some days from Norwich, I received your favour of the 23d instant only this morning. The clocks at Norwich are regulated by mean time, in the same manner as in London. I have herewith given the figure you request, copying the moon's appearance from your scheme, not having any of my former sketches with me..; I have placed the spot of light to the best of my recollections; and I hope it is such as will be the means of satisfying your curious inquiries.
I am, & c.
WILLIAM WILKINS.
To the Rev. Dr.MASKELYNE.
[The following are excerpts concerning the second sighting, made from Clerkenwell, London by Thomas Stretton. The reporter being Rev. Nevil Maskelyne, D.D.F.R.S. and Astronomer Royal....]
..Soon after, my relation Sir GEORGE BOOTH, Bart. with his lady, being on a visit at the Royal Observatory, upon my mentioning Mr.WILIKINS's observation, Lady BOOTH said their servant, who is curious for a person in his situation, and fond of looking at the stars, had some time before seen something extraordinary in the moon. Upon this I took occasion, on the 28th of April, to question the man about it, taking care at the same time to direct my inquiries so as to give him no hint of what had been seen by Mr.WILKINS. I immediately minuted down the information he gave me, which was as follows. "Some time ago, about six in the evening, the moon not being a quarter old, he saw a light like a star, and as large as a middle sized star, but not so bright, in the dark part of the moon. He continued looking at it for a minute or more, during which time it kept the same light, and he then lost sight of it by going in the house. He said he thought it was not he present moon, viz. that which is now almost gone, and that it was not above seven weeks ago. He was not, however, certain whether it was three weeks or seven weeks ago." ...
[Dr.Maskelyne took bearings, and found that, based on these, the sighting had taken place at 8pm]
..An error only of ten minutes in the time noted by Mr.WILKINS, and that deduced from the bearing observed in St.John's Square, both taken together, will bring the observation in St.John's Square to precede the time of the disappearance of the star-like appearance at Norwich: and therefore the two observations agree as nearly together as can be expected... and the two observations mutually confirm each other...
Mr.VINCE, in his letter to me.. observed that Mr.WILKINS is an eminent builder, a sensible man, and by no means likely to be deceived.. The other person, THOMAS STRETTON, is a young man of sobriety and steadiness, and long sighted also...
I shall make no conjectures on the cause to which this extraordinary phaenomenon may be attributed; but only remark, that it is probably of the same nature with that of the light seen of late years in the dark part of the moon by our ingenious and indefatigable astronomer, Dr.HERSCHEL, with his powerful telescopes, and formerly by the celebrated DOMINIC CASSINI; although this has been so illustrious as to have been visible to the naked eye, and probably equal in appearance to a star of the third magnitude.
[Source: Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London, Vol.84]
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