Mr.John Fiske, accurate as he usually is, in his Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy appears to have followed Laplace, Delambre, and Petit into the error of supposing that Copernicus, and not Osiander, is responsible for the preface.

For the latest proofs, see Menzer's translation of Copernicus's work, Thorn, 1879, notes on pp.

3 and 4 of the appendix.
On the 24th of May, 1543, the newly printed book arrived at the house of Copernicus.

It was put into his hands; but he was on his deathbed.

A few hours later he was beyond the reach of the conscientious men who would have blotted his reputation and perhaps have destroyed his life.
Yet not wholly beyond their reach.