done by him Dr. Holder who thought he had put himself in sole possession of the Repute of this Experiment was startled as p. 7. or rather Nettled for he doth Winch and Fling like Hudibras's Horse in such a condition without any apparent cause as appears by his printed Paper He falls foul upon Dr. Wallis Mr. Oldenburg the Royal Society Dr. Plot and Dreams of Subtleties Practices Contrivances Designs c. no body can see why who doth not see the Nettle or know of the sore Place That Dr. Wallis had in the year 1653. published a Treatise De Loquela and that he had in pursuance of what is there delivered taught Mr. Whaly to speak and had since done the like for Mr. Popham are things True and Known and Notorious nor doth he deny it And why might not all this be said without making such a Clutter Dr. Holder it seems for so his Paper tells us p. 7. had in his Elements of Speech made mention of his success upon a Deaf and Dumb person intending Mr. Popham which yet Dr. Wallis knew not of till he saw it in this Paper as having never read that Book nor doth yet know what is there said nor how truly and Mr. Oldenburg had given a large account of that Book and the Contents of it in the Transactions of May 1669. without saying any thing of Dr. Wallis and no offence was taken But when in July 1670. he gave a short account of Dr. VVallis and his Treatise without speaking there of Dr. Holder and his Elements as having done it a year before a great Out-cry is made of VVrongs and Injuries of Plots Designs Contrivances and subtle Practises and a great deal more of such Rif-Raf As if every Body were bound every-where and at all times to magnifie his Elements of Speech c. But it seems as p. 10 11. he could not help what was in his Nature or else Habitual to him and could not conceal his Particular Emulation He Desired and had Designed it that the world would be so kind as to be cajoled into such a Belief that he was the First that had consider'd the Formation of Sounds and the onely Person who attempted to teach Dumb Persons to Speak For if he designed any thing less than this there was nothing there said to contradict him Yet he himself knew full well as p. 14 Dr. VVallis's Treatise of Speech and what he had done for Mr. VVhaly and Mr. Popham But the Reader must not know of that The disclosing of this marred his Market He knew full well That Dr. Wallis had taught Dumb Persons and he says it expresly p. 11. So he did for Two were his Scholars Mr. Popham and Mr. Whaly And if we admit what he there says That they had formerly Owed somewhat the one to his Nurse and the other to Dr. Holder Yet if they had equally Forgotten which is the case the one and the other whatever it were and what now they have they have from Dr. VVallis which though True Dr. Holder would not have Known and Mr. Pepham one no more to Dr. Holder than Mr. VVhaly to his Nurse It might very well be said without offence that Mr. Whaly is not the only Person on whom Dr. Wallis hath shewed the effect of his skill but he hath since done the like for another meaning Mr. Popham were there not some Nettle that stings but is not seen or some sore Place wringed which doth not Appear but must not be Touched 'T was nothing therefore but being disappointed in this his great Design which made him thus outragious And persons faulty being mostly jealous he being conscious to himself of such petty contrivances made him fancy that others were imployed in like Plots And Knowing it seems though I knew it not that he had done what I had no reason to take kindly he fancied me to be studying Revenge of what I never knew Now all this as p. 1. if being but nakedly exposed to light in such a Narrative do seem severe it must be imputed to the Matter it self And if the Language seem hard he must not quarrel at it like the Black-smith who threw away the Looking-Glass because it shewed him an Ugly face since it is his own But I shall forbear thus to charge him though there be much more of truth therein than in what he fancies of me and the Language is his own Yet 't is not amiss to let him judge by hearing it how well it doth become him to use such language As to what he Complains of the sum of what I say is this That it was as lawful for me to Write and Publish a Treatise concerning the Formation of Sounds in 1653 as for him to do the like in 1669. That it was as lawful for me to Teach Mr. Whaly to speak a Language and understand it as for him to Attempt some what of this on Mr. Popham without Success That it was as lawfull for me to say that what I did was in pursuance of what I had Before made publick in 1653 as for him to say What he did was in pursuance of what he hath was Since made publick in 1669. That it was lawfull also when he had two years before given-over Mr. Popham and all that he did Attempt or Perform on him was come to nothing for me to do the like for Mr. Popham as I had before done for Mr. Whaly That it was as lawful for Mr. Oldenburg to say What he Knew of me and my Book in the Transactions of July 1670 without repeating there what he had before said of Dr. Holder as in that of May 1669 to say what he Thought of Dr. Holder and his Book without saying any thing of me That it was lawful for Dr. Plot to say that he so found it said in the place by him cited Especially when himself knew the Substance of it to be true and had not cause to dis-believe the Circumstances That when I could not say my Own Thoughts without derogating somewhat from what others had said of the Constable of Castiles Son and what Dr. Holder says of himself it was neither Uncivil nor Dis-ingenuous in me to be Silent in it and let it rest upon the credit of those who do or can say it And consequently that Dr. Holder hath no cause to Complain of all or any of this much less to Write Print or Suggest a Paper full of so many Great Mis-takes in matter of Fact and so many groundless Surmises of Designs And lastly that the Counsel of the Royal Society acted with very good reason when they Refused to License that Paper I have now done with this unpleasing Task For I take no pleasure in quarrels or blemishing another mans Reputation I had thoughts at first to have neglected his Paper without making any Reply because any indifferent Reader would easily discern that there is in it much more of Passion than of Reason But I find others of opinion that it was fit somewhat should be said to it because so many are concerned in it as well as my self I find he doth mis-remember many matters of fact and mis-times divers others and fancies things of meer accident to be matters of Design a thing very incident to persons that are a little uneasie He had attempted I know the Teaching Mr. Popham to speak But for what reasons he knows best quickly gave it over and Mr. Popham forgot all What success he had in the mean time I cannot tell I saw nothing of it And therefore he made an ill choice in calling me to be his Voucher If any who knew more of it than I did have said any thing of him advantagiously I have never concerned my self to contradict it That I did teach Mr. VVhaly with better success and without his Assistance he knows very well And that I taught Mr. Popham too he knows also And that I did not seek the Imployment or take Mr. Popham out of his hands but two years after he had given over the attempt when Mr. Popham whatever it was he had learned had forgot all This though perhaps it might cause somewhat of regret that another should succeed in what he had given over yet is no just cause of complaint Nor do I find any thing in the Transactions of Iuly 1670 which can administer just occasion to find fault with it but if he will needs be angry because I cannot Affirm what I do not Know Or will needs go about to perswade me and tell all the World that I did See and Hear those things which I did neither see nor Hear I cannot help it If in giving your Lordship this trouble I have already been too tedious I shall now add no more to it but subscribe my self My Lord Your Lordships very humble Servant John Wallis FINIS
the business I cannot tell or rather which I take to be the true cause because Mr. Popham's Friends saw so little of success and to so little 〈◊〉 that they did not think fit to pursue the design further 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dr. Holder's removal to Ely intimated page 5. should be the onely cause seems not likely For Mr. Popham might as well at Ely be taught to speak as at Blechington And that his Friends were willing to have pursued the design if they had seen a likelihood of any considerable success we may judge by their sending him to me in 1662. on the same account The great offence which is now taken at the Letter which was then written is not because any thing therein was not True or not Rationally said but rather because it was as he speaks so subtilly contrived that there is nothing in it for him to cavil at And therefore he cavils at what is not in it viz. That amongst the Considerations which induced me to undertake Mr. VVhaly I said nothing of Dr. Holder and Mr. Popham p. 2 13. The truth is to the rest of those Considerations I might have added Nor am I discouraged from this undertaking by Mr. Holders unsuccessful attempt on Mr. Popham c. but I thought it more civil to say nothing of it He would now have it thought p. 8. a mocking of Mr. Boyl to tell him in that Letter How far and upon what Considerations and by what ways I thought it Possible or Fesible when as I certainly knew it possible having already given Proof of it on Mr. VVhaly 'T is true I had then given a Proof of it on Mr. VVhaly having at that time performed more on Mr. VVhaly than ever Dr. Holder did on Mr. Popham and in that Letter I told him of such Proof But Mr. Boyle did not think it a mockery to be so used having in two Letters of Jan. 5. and Febr. 26. desired it of me and in another of April 5. he thanked me for that excellent Paper Nor did those of the Society at Gresham-Colledge to whom he did impart it and before whom in May following Mr. VVhaly was heard to speak And nothing is more common than of things unusual to shew How far and upon what Considerations Others should not think strange or incredible what we certainly know to be True and Fesible Yet Mr. Boyl did in those days live at Oxford as well as Dr. Wallis and within as few miles of Blechington and was as well acquainted at VVadham-Colledge And if Dr. Holden's performance were so generally known in Oxford as p. 5. and in particular to those eminent Persons with whom Mr. Boyl was so well acquainted he had the same opportunity of being made acquainted with it as I had And those at Gresham-Colledge did not want means of being dis-abused if I had designed to impose them since those eminent Persons which he speaks of were of that number and some of them then present and it seems Dr. Holder himself was there also and saw this p. 6. He might therefore as well if things had been as he now represents have let that Company hear Mr. Popham speak as I Mr. VVhaly and they would as well have been pleased to hear it especially if Mr. Popham spake so much better than Mr. VVhaly the one but some words and with a harsh ill Tone the other spoke well with a Good and Graceful Tone and did pronounce plainly and distinctly whatever words c. p. 5 6. 'T would certainly have been much more to their satisfaction to have seen Mr. Whaly so much out-done by Mr. Popham And Dr. Holder who was so desirous to serve the Ends and contribute somewhat to the Design of that worthy Company p. 4 5. should not have denied them this satisfaction if he could have shewed it But the truth is he could not shew it and that 's the grief For when Mr. Popham the same year within a few moneths was brought to me to learn I saw no foot-steps of those effects nor that he was able to speak one word or syllable 'T was therefore wise in him not to produce him as well as civil in me to say nothing of it However If Dr. Holder had caused this of Mr. Popham to be publickly known to many Persons of all Degrees at London at Westminster at the Anatomy-Lecture as well as to those eminent Persons above-named and generally in Oxford and went with him to London and VVestminster that those on this occasion might satisfie themselves in hearing Mr. Popham as p. 5. Why might not as well Mr. VVhaly go with me to Gresham-Colledge and VVhite-hall that others might be satisfi'd in hearing him p. 6. without so much clamour of my being greedy to spread my own Fame especially when himself allows it p. 10. to be very considerable and worthy to be known And if he may tell us p. 5. that he taught Mr. Popham by such means as are since by him made publick in 1669 why might not I as well say in my Letter of 1661. That I taught Mr. Whaly by such as I had before made publick in 1653. But the mockery of this Letter would I suppose have been excused had it not been published in the Transactions eight years after For that 's the complaint These Considerations did not see light till eight years after p. 3. I confess it might have been Printed sooner if I had been as greedy and industrious as he would have it thought p. 3. to spread my own Fame For there is nothing in it why it might not have been Printed the next day But not in the Transactions for Mr. Oldenburg did not begin to write Transactions till 1665. But 't was not too late in 1670. However 't was written sooner and Published though not in Print And 't is well it was so For if Printing an old Letter make so great a clamour what would have been if I had at that time written a new Piece to the same purpose and published that But the great complaint is that in the Post-script yes and in the Letter too mention is made of my Treatise De Loquela published in 1653. And that it is there commended which troubles him much and he doth at least six times complain of it p. 8 9 10 13 14. That is It is there said but it is so said in the Letter also that in this Treatise of Speech I do very distinctly lay down the manner of Forming all sounds of Letters usual in Speech And that in confidence and pursuance of this which the Letter also mentions I did undertake that difficult task And why might not all this be said Would he have had me say that I did in 1661. pursue his Elements of Speech which were not publish'd till 1669 and which I have never yet seen rather than my own published in 1653 But which troubles him yet more the Writer of that Post-script says also That he thinks this to be the first Book that
to say himself What is in those three Paragraphs I cannot tell nor is the Book at hand to look and therefore cannot say whether I am or am not concerned therein But if any thing be there or any where else in that whole Book which concerns the business in hand sure I am that I penned it not Nor did I so much as know that he had therein said any one word of that whole Affair till he told me after the Book was published that Dr. Holder was offended at it Nor do I yet know what it is he hath said of it But have reason to think there is nothing therein said but what was fit enough for him to say So that if Dr. Holder could find in his heart to pass by all the rest as he intimates p. 4 9. as to this last I may plead Innocence And so I may as to that his great Aggravation p. 9. That I knew this affair then to lie before the Royal Society For this I knew not nor perhaps was he desirous I should I know indeed That he and I with Mr. Oldenburg coming together one night from Arundel-house he made great complaint of us both but without any just cause in either Threatning that in case Mr. Oldenburg did not Retract that in the Transactions he would himself publish somewhat against us And to the same purpose when at another time he and I with Sir Christopher Wren came together from Sir William Petty's house And said That he did forbear coming to the Royal Society till he should in this be vindicated So great a crime it was to have it said That Mr. Whaly was not the onely Person on whom I had shewed the effect of my skill but I had done the like for another meaning Mr. Popham My Answer was The thing said was Truth That neither of us in so saying had done him wrong or given him any just cause of complaint That if himself had a mind to publish what concern'd himself without wronging others 't was free for him so to do If he did it with any unhandsome Reflections on me I should when I found it abroad either Answer it or Neglect it as I should see cause That as to Mr. Oldenburg's publishing any thing to satisfie his clamour I would advise nothing one way or other as being a person concerned but leave Mr. Oldenburg to his discretion And I then told him as now I do that his story of my resorting to Blechington c. was a mistake Nor do I remember that from that day to this any word hath since passed between Mr. Oldenburg and me touching that affair or that I have ever concern'd my self about it I now find from what Dr. Holder tells us p. 9 10. which before I did not know That a Paper of his own penning but in Mr. Oldenburg's name Dr. Holder desired to have Licensed by the Counsel of the Royal Society but that they refused to do it And I think with good reason if it were what he now tells us By whose License it is since come out I do not know This he means when he says That affair did then lie before the Royal Society p. 9 10. Of this therefore though there were enough to be said in Justification if it had been True Yet because I must answer punctually to his Chancery-Bill I must plead Not-guilty I know not that any such thing did lie before the Royal Society And can but Thank them for doing me that Justice without giving me the trouble to make a Defence Nor did I Pen or Croud-in what of this matter is said by Dr. Plott And Dr. Plott who yet survives and to whom Dr. Holder applies himself p. 11. will I doubt not be my Compurgator in this point But Mr. Popham also is yet surviving and of Age able to answer for himself And knows as well as any Who it was that Taught him If he be ask'd Whether Dr. Holder taught him to speak He will answer No. If Whether Dr. Wallis He will answer I. For I have been present when he hath been asked Both Qustions and given Those Answers without being prompted so to do The Bottom of the Business seems to be this Dr. Holder having Attempted what he soon Gave-over concerning Mr. Popham in 1660 was a little concern'd that I should the next year undertake Mr. Whaly with better success Had I then proceeded with Mr. Popham it would have been but to Go-on where he Left and he might have been pretended to have done the Hardest part of the work But on Mr. Whaly it could not be denied but to be all my own And he could not then though he saw this and was troubled at it p. 6. shew the like effect of his skill on Mr. Popham Because he had either Not-Learned or had Forgot it And he was yet more concerned when upon this Success on Mr. Whaly Mr. Popham also whom he had quitted was brought to me And seeing me to have a like Success on Mr. Popham as before on Mr. Whaly He would now play an After-game and have it thought That it was He not I that taught Mr. Popham to speak and that what he now hath was learned from Dr. Holder without allowing that Dr. Wallis had any share in it And cannot be content to say He had taught Mr. Popham somewhat and leave it to some of his Friends who knew it for I do not to say How much But makes it a crime to say That I have since shewed any effect of my skill on Mr. Popham For this is all he hath to cavil at And yet he allows it to be true p. 10. And then imagins Plots and Practises Designs and Subtil Contrivances And a great many more Fansies of his own Brain which never came into my Thoughts With which I am charged above twenty times at least p. 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14. He first imagins that I had a long aking Tooth to joyn to my other Trophies what was performed by Dr. Holder He should rather have said To have the credit of Performing what Dr. Holder did Attempt but gave-over without performing and so it came to nothing Then That in order to this I had recourse to a long train of subtil Contrivances First to meet with Mr. VVhaly who being Deaf from a Child was consequently Dumb. 'T is well I am not charged to have contrived twenty years before that he should be Deaf and consequently Dumb but that this should be unknown to me for twenty years that I might then meet with him in an happy hour and teach him to speak two years after Dr. Holder had quitted his attempt on Mr. Popham Next That I should Contrive to have this known at Court at Gresham-Colledge as he had before contrived to have his Attempt on Mr. Popham to be publickly taken notice of and known generally in Oxford at London Westminster the Anatomy-Lecture to Persons of all Degrees c. p. 5. Then That I
and contribute something to the design of that worthy company viz. The Improvement of Natural Knowledg and Publick Benefit Published his English Grammar with his Treatise of speech prefixed This as p. 5. was publickly taken Notice of and Known not only to those eminent Persons above mentioned but Generally in Oxford Where very many Students on purpose to satisfy their Curiosity and have a Particular Knowledg of what they had received by Report Bought the Book and Read it Dr. William Holder as p. 2 5. then lived at Blechington saw and perfectly Knew this was Conversant with Dr. Wallis was one of those who Bought or borrowed that Book did see and Read it and had discourse with Dr. Wallis on that occasion divers times when they happened to meet at Oxford Now Dr. Holder having a long aking tooth as p. 2. to do something to be talked of and get himself a Trophy had recourse to subtle Contrivances Having learned therefore from Pablo Bonnet as p. 6. that the Constable of Castile's Son when Deaf had been taught to speak And having learned from Dr. Wallis's Treatise of speech How every sound in speech is formed He thought it might prove and there was reason so to think if well managed a successeful way of teaching Deaf and Dumb persons to speak by teaching them so to Form sounds as Dr. Wallis had directed Not doubting as p. 5. but that a Dumb person Dumb only in Consequence of being Deaf might be capable of being instructed so to apply as is there taught the motions of his Tongue and other Instruments of speech And knowing it as another might have done to be both Possible and Fesible from an Example in that kind seen and heard by his late Majesty in Spain And he meets in a happy hour with a young Gentleman as p. 2 4 Mr. Alexander Popham deprived of Hearing and consequently of Speaking Resolving therefore to assume to himself this experiment On him he would make the first Attempt whatever be the Success that is remembred to have been made in England whatever had been done elsewhere And as p. 3. Having got a hint for which he alwaies lay in wait of a new Invention so considerable from a small Treatise of Dr. Wallis on that subject would by putting himself into the Practise of what Dr. Wallis had taught Intitle himself to the experiment All possible Noise is presently made of it It is showed as p. â— 5. at London at Westminster to Persons of all Degrees published at the Anatomy Lecture an express Relation made of it nameing also the Persons concerned in this experiment so far as served his turn but not a word of Dr. Wallis in the cause And if we may believe him p. 1. 5. a multitude of Students Resort from Oxford to Bletchington to See and Hear it Magnis tamen excidit ausis I confess I was out of the Noise and heard very little of it save what I have from his Paper in which I find very great Mis-takes And was far from Oxford the greatest part of that time But the Cry did not last long This he tells us p. 1. 5. was in March 1659 60 and within a few Months after the Summer following he quitted that undertaking Mr. Popham went home to his friends the labour lost and the Cry ceased So that there are at this day very few in Oxford if any who Know or think that Dr. Holder taught Mr. Popham to speak p. 3. The year following notwithstanding this mis-adventure of Dr. Holder Dr. Wallis thereunto induced by the Considerations mentioned in his Letter of March 14 1661 2 and in confidence of his Treatise De Loquela therein mentioned as p. 2 8 12 13 undertook another Person concerning whom Dr. Holder cannot pretend to any thing Mr. Daniel Whaly who having lost his Hearing while a child was consequently Dumb p. 2 and had so continued for Twenty years more Him he taught without any help or direction from Dr. Holder not only to pronounce some words which Dr. Holder had Attempted on Mr. Popham but in good measure to understand a Language also which Dr. Holder doth not pretend to and without which to speak is but like a Parrot of which in a Letter of Decem. 24. 1661 he gave a short Account to Mr. Boyle and in answer to two of his of January 4 and Feb. 26. desiring it a Fuller Account in that of March 14. 1661 Which Mr. Boyle imparted to divers of the Society I do not say to the Royal Society because I doubt whether the Patent which makes them such were then actually sealed though I think it bears Date a little before that time And upon a further solicitation from him and them by letters of Apr. 5 and May 8 to satisfy their Curiosity and have a particular Knowledg of what they had received by Report as Dr. Holder Speaks p. 5. In May 1662 Mr. Whaly came up to London with Dr. Wallis was Seen and Heard at Court and by the Royal Society at Grasham College 't was entred into the Iournal of the Royal Society and there registred Dr. Wallis reaped great praise for this Atchievement as Dr. Holder speakes p. 1 2 5 6. Yet did not the Doctor Impose upon the Society or Confidently shew and Boast it as p. 12. as the First assay that had ever been in this kind For they Knew well and did at that time discourse what had been said of the Constable of Castiles Son and his being heard by the late King And had then a particular Relation from one of themselves who had seen the Person And some of Dr. Holder's particular Friends were then present who might if they had thought it considerable have acquainted the rest what they knew of Dr. Holder's Attempt on Mr. Popham And Dr. Holder himself who it seems was a witness of all this and saw it as he tells us p. 6 had the opportunity if there were occasion to assert his own right And might have had it registred with the rest if the company had thought it had deserved it Dr. Holder who saw this p. 6 was concerned at it As to Mr. Whaly he could pretend nothing Mr. Popham had lost what he is said to have learned The Stories of Dr. Wallis's Resorting to Bletchington and discourses with Dr. Holder on that occasion were mistakes and that whole scene ill laid And should he have then pretended to have done the like for Mr. Popham hic Rhodus hic saltus the company would have been glad to have seen that too which was not to be done But he was more concerned when as he tells as p. 2. the Fame of Mr. Whaly had brought to Dr. Wallis Mr. Popham also and that on him whom Dr. Holder had given over he had as p. 10 performed somewhat very considerable that is as p. 13. had done the like for him as before for Mr. Whaly He had however a Design by playing an after-game to make the world believe in time