Page - 104 - in Maximilian Hell (1720–92) - And the Ends of Jesuit Science in Enlightenment Europe

Chapter 2104 According to the sixth point of the instructions: The above-mentioned [i.e., Hell] is given responsibility, besides mechani- cal, practical, and calculatorial astronomy, also for the courses in me- chanics, which he shall deliver in the German vernacular at a suitable time every Sunday in the philosophical lecture hall, and illustrate by means of mechanical experiments, and he is to announce these courses by way of posters of invitation in advance.46 Hell’s activity as a lecturer is in need of further study, though the reconstruc- tion beyond what we already know from various reports may be blocked by the lack of lecture notes or a textbook by him. The assignment to teach mechanics as well as astronomy, especially the requirement of practical illustrations, once again—like in the period of his probable association with Königsegg and the imperial mining authorities, with Franz’s involvement—points to a deliberate effort on the part of the Viennese reformers to exploit his Banská Štiavnica background and experience. Nevertheless, he appears to have abandoned his lectures in “popular mechanics” after only one year because his other duties proved too time-consuming.47 He did, however, host individual aspiring astronomers in his apartment in order to give them instruction in practical astronomy. Some of these visitors stayed for a few weeks or months, others up to several years. The last point of the instructions required the imperial and royal astrono- mer to report every week to the director of philosophy about all his observations and scientific correspondence, and he shall inform the director, to whom he is responsible in all matters relating to his office, about his further ac- tivities, on what subject matters are to be included in his calendars and mechanics courses, and what works he is going to publish.48 (Brill Academic Publishers, 2020),” UiT Open Repository 2019, https://doi.org/10.18710/ CVW8YU. 46 Instruction. Für dem Kaiser. Königl. Astronomen Maximilianum Hell S.J. 47 Von Littrow, P. Hell’s Reise nach Wardoe, 5: cf. “Maximilian Hell,” in Schlichtegroll, Nekro- log, 288–89. See, however, also the claim that there was a “large attendance of Hell’s lec- tures.” Konradin Ferrari d’Occhieppo, “Hell, Maximilian,” in Dictionary of Scientific Biogra- phy, ed. Charles Coulston Gillispie (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1970–81), 6 (1972): 234. 48 Instruction. Für dem Kaiser. Königl. Astronomen Maximilianum Hell S.J.