Finding it useless to protract his stay any longer, Flamsteed and his
friend set out on their return to Dublin. In the course of his
journey he seems to have been much impressed with Clonmel, which he
describes as an "exceedingly pleasantly seated town." But in those
days a journey to Ireland was so serious an enterprise that when
Flamsteed did arrive safely back at Derby after an absence of a
month, he adds, "For God's providence in this journey, His name be
praised, Amen."
As to the expected benefits to his health from the expedition we may
quote his own words: "In the winter following I was indifferent
hearty, and my disease was not so violent as it used to be at that
time formerly. But whether through God's mercy I received this
through Mr. Greatrackes' touch, or my journey and vomiting at sea, I
am uncertain; but, by some circumstances, I guess that I received a
benefit from both."
It is evident that by this time Flamsteed's interest in all
astronomical matters had greatly increased. He studied the
construction of sun-dials, he formed a catalogue of seventy of the
fixed stars, with their places on the heavens, and he computed the
circumstances of the solar eclipse which was to happen on June 22nd,
1666. It is interesting to note that even in those days the
doctrines of the astrologers still found a considerable degree of
credence, and Flamsteed spent a good deal of his time in astrological
studies and computations.
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