[PW] 1764 Gentleman's Magazine

[Donna Halper]

At 06:36 PM 9/2/2007, Dave Payne wrote:


>Can anyone point me to an electronic copy of the 1764 Gentleman's Magazine?
>
>I am trying to track down a reference by Thomas Pynchon on page 438 of
>"Mason & Dixon" to a letter in "Gentlemen's (sic?) Magazine" regarding the
>promotion of Neville Maskelyne to H.M. Astronomer

I haven't found that publication yet, but I did find several 
interesting facts, thanks to that wonderful American Periodicals 
Database (APS Online).   First, I found that there's an alternate 
spelling of his first name-- Nevil.  I got it from a July 1787 
magazine in that database where he is referred to as "Rev. Nevil 
Maskelyne, D.D."  His first name is also spelled as Nevil in an 
August 1788 periodical, and in several other places around that era, 
so I guess that's how they used to spell it.

Second, while most periodical sources from the late 1800s do give a 
1765 date for when Rev. Maskelyne became the Astronomer Royal, I 
found one source from 1857 which states it was indeed 1764:  "...In 
1764, he succeeded Mr Bliss as Astronomer Royal." (p. 541)  Notices 
of Eminent Voyagers, Mathematicians, &c.  The Bankers' Magazine and 
Statistical Register . New York: Jan 1857. Vol. 6, Iss. 7; p. 539 (11 
pages) It gives a fairly thorough biographical sketch of Maskelyne, 
and if you want me to send it to you off-list, say the word.

Donna L. Halper, Journalism Dept. Emerson College Boston MA