rest till Monsieur Des Cartes should promise him to make a rejoynder to this second Paper he sends it him in April but he took special care to let nothing slip that might move Monsieur Roberval's spleen X. In the mean time Monsieur de Fermat grew weary with disputing and fearing lest Monsieur Roberval's Zeal might not cause him to prolong it he did not only leave that which Monsieur Des Cartes writ against his last Reply touching Dioptriques without a rejoynder but also writ to Father Mersennus to beseech him to comply with Monsieur Des Cartes and withal to procure him his acquaintance On the other hand Monsieur Mydorge and Monsieur Hardy could not abide to see a person of that worth and quality Monsieur Fermat was of should to such little purpose be at odds with Monsieur Des Cartes set all their Wits a work to find a way to reconcile them and to change their Dispute into a perfect amity and correspondence the benefit whereof they might reap in a mutual Communication of their Humours They mentioned it to Father Mersennus who being solicited on the other hand by the Overtures Concessions of Monsieur de Fermat was prevail'd upon to write to Monsieur Des Cartes about it notwithstanding the great desire he might have to see them continue Monsieur Des Cartes received the proposaâ— of it with no small joy and having thanked Monsieur Mydorge and Monsieur Hardy for the good success of their friendly Offices he charged Father Mersennus to signifie to Monsieur de Fermat his esteem for him and his cordial affection towards him Monsieur de Fermat receiving from Father Mersennus all the assurances he could possibly desire on the part of Monsieur Des Cartes gave himself the satisfaction at last to write to him straightways to offer him his friendship and services The Acquisition of such a friend as that might be numbered amongst Monsieur Des Cartes his best Fortunes He perfectly understood the value of so important a friendship he appear'd so sensible of it that there were no expressions passionate enough to thank him for it To the end he might not be satisfied with this Reconciliation by halves he was willing to extend it likewise to the other two friends of Monsieur Fermat who had undertaken the defence of his Geometrical Piece de Maximis Minimis he earnestly entreated Father Mersennus to signifie to them that he desired nothing so much as the friendship of honest persons and upon this consideration he put an high value upon theirs Monsieur Pascal made answerable returns like an honourable person but Monsieur Roberval quickâ—y discovered that he bore no great good-will â—o Monsieur Des Cartes but only from the â—eeth forward but it was not so with Monsieur Fermat But as it is usual amongst friends â—f different humours and designs the truth 〈◊〉 their minds did not always keep pace with â—heir hearts Monsieur Fermat perswaded as before of the rightness of his method that is â—o say of the Rule he had contrived to find â—ut the greatest and least quantities in Geometry found much ado to grant the Exceptions Mons Des Cartes had brought in and to make 〈◊〉 hold water He maintain'd many Contests about it not with Monsieur Des Cartes himself who could not allow precious Time and Talents for Disputation but with young Guillot who had been Monsieur Des Cartes his Domestick with Monsieur de Chauveau who had been his Fellow-Collegian at La Flesche Monsieur des Argues and other Mathematicians who since this bustle declared themselves Cartesians day by day maugre Monsieur Roâ—erval's Jealousie As for Monsieur de Fermat's other Dispute concerning Dioptriques he did not judge it advisable to revive it in Monsieur Des Cartes his life-time but after his death explain'd his meaning about it after such a manner as tho' he had had a mind to make us doubt whether or no the Philosopher had satisfied him Now because he seem'd from time to time to invite some of Monsieur Des Cartes his friends to renew this antient Quarrel Mons Rohault answered immediately after which Monsieur Clersellier offer'd himself and put an end to the Controversie to the glory of Monsieur Des Cartes and to Monsieur Fermat's satisfaction who threw down his Arms and surrendred XI and XII M. Petit did not demur so long upon yielding touching some difficulties 〈◊〉 Dioptriques he had propounded to Monsieur Des Cartes he improved the advantage he 〈◊〉 over Monsieur de Fermat upon the account 〈◊〉 his Experiments which agreeing to a haâ— with the Doctrine of Monsieur Des Cartes were very instrumental to him to get himselfâ— disabused and to seek to procure his friendship before it was too late Yea and he turned some few years after one of the most zealous Proselites to his Philosophy when the perusing of his Metaphysical Meditations haâ— deliver'd him of some difficulties wherewith he labour'd concerning the Existence of God and the difference between Soul and Body in Men. The Controversie that was a foot between him and Monsieur Morinus Regius Professor of Mathematicks in Paris put him harder to it than that he maintain'd with Mons Petit it commenced the 22th of February 1638. with the Objections Mons Morinus made against Light Mons Des Cartes valued them as much as Objections which he lookt upon the most substantial of all those that had been hitherto rais'd against his new Opinions could deserve This esteem of his Objections did so puff up Mons Morinus who must needs shew by a Reply to his Answer that he was altogether unworthy of it Monsieur Des Cartes makes a second Answer wherewith Monsieur Morinus pretended to be fully satisfied but endeavouring to procure the honour to write last he makes a new Reply to which he declares he desired no Answer Monsieur Des Cartes by this instances the Character of Mons Morinus his spirit and what he would be at he did not stick to grant him that satisfaction he desired since it cost him so little The occasion he had about that time to refute a dangerous Book caused him to compile a dissertation of Geostatiques that is to say upon the Query to know whether a body weighs more or less being near the Center of the Earth than when it is at a distance from it The Book that had given occasion to the writing of it had for its Author Mons Beaugrand Secretary to the King indifferently skill'd in Mathematicks but who did not do himself Justice enough in this point He was Mons de Fermat's friend enemy to Mons Des Argues The considerable respect he had for this last had prevail'd with him to render but ill Offices to our Philosopher occasioned by the Zeal wherewith he perceiv'd Mons Des Cartes apply himself to serve him nay and he could not forbear letting slip some strokes of his bitterness and ill-will in his Book Mons Des
Cartes might perhaps have done very well to have withstood the desire of those who induced him to refute it that he might not have made himself suspected of resentment But he was quickly recovered of this weakness by revoking his permission of Printing this Refutation and by separating it from his small Piece of Geostatiques the publication of which he did not intend to prohibit XIII XIV XV. It was at the same time that there was started a Question amongst the Mathematicians of France the famous Question de la Roulette whereof one could not trace the least footsteps neither among the Antients nor in the Books of any of the Mathematicians that lived till that time notwithstanding nothing is more common than this Line and no less frequent in the business oâ— motion than the right and Circular Lines La roulette the rowling is nothing else but the way in the Air the Nail of a Wheel describes by its ordinary motion from the time the Nail begins to rise from the Earth till the continued motion of the Wheel hath brought it back again to the Earth after having finisht a whole entire round Yet in this definition it must be supposed for the convenience of Geometrical operations that the Wheel is a perfect Circle that the Nail is a point marked in the circumference of the Circle and that the Earth which toucheth this point beginning and ending its round be perfectly even or plain Father Mersennus was the first that took notice of it and who gave it the name of Roulette He had a mind afterwards to understand the nature and properties of the same yet not being so fortunate in resolving your fine Questions as framing them so had he not â—enetration enough to compass this This put â—im upon propounding to others Monsieur Roberval was the first that demonstrated the â—he space of the Roulette is triple of the Wheel that describes it After that Monsieur Fermat and Monsieur Des Cartes demonstrated it and their respective Solutions are not only found different from one another but also from that of Monsieur Roberval Father Mersennus having acquainted Monsieur Des Cartes that Monsieur Roberval found his demonstration too â—oncise to be good he thereupon received â—uch Elucidations as he desired Monsieur Des Cartes sending him an ample explication of his demonstration of La roulette advertised him â—hat there was nothing to be altered in this demonstration and withal that the Elucidaâ—ions that he adjoyn'd thereto were not spun â—ut to that length but only that they might â—e understood by those who did not make use â—f Analysis others needing no more but three â—rokes of their Pen to find it out by calculation Amongst divers Questions depending upon that of the Roulette there were a great many things whereof Monsieur Roberval profest himself in a manner ignorant Now for his Instruction Father Mersennus must hye to Monsieur Des Cartes his ordinary Refuge and received all the Solutions he and Monsieur Roberval could wish or desire With the help of this the latter made two more Solutions one of which was The dimension of the solid of the Roulette round about the basis The other The finding out of the Tangents of this Line But for all these kindnesses of Monsieur Des Carte he was not so obliging or grateful as onâ— might have expected His dissimulation aâ— the indirect proceedings of his behaviour did 〈◊〉 disgust Monsieur Des Cartes that he would 〈◊〉 longer concern himself in what past since touching the Roulette At the end of Septeâ—ber he did all he could to get himself diseâ—gaged for good and all and without eveâ— pretending to the glory of this Invention which with all his heart he relinquisht to Monsieur Roberval that he might apply himself 〈◊〉 somewhat else he writ to Father Mersennâ— to the end he might acquaint all the Mathematicians that had hand in the business thâ—â— he would desist XVI The reason he alledgeth for desiriâ—â— to be dispens'd with for labouring any moâ—â— about the Roulette was that he had bid adiâ— to Geometry in earnest These Mathematicians of Paris that were of the number 〈◊〉 his friends were not pleased at these news And Monsieur Des Argues above all coulâ— not forbear to testifie his dissatisfaction foâ— the same Monsieur Des Cartes took it kindly at his hands and that he might deliver hiâ— from his trouble he gave him to understanâ— by Father Mersennus that his leaving off waâ— only in respect of abstracted Geometry Buâ— that he would persist in improving anotheâ— sort of Geometry conversant about Phoemâ—mena's of Nature as he had done in that 〈◊〉 had writ of Meteors c. He studied to shew more precise marks of esteem for this friend for understanding that â—he passages of his Printed Geometry whereâ—n he had affected to be obscure did a little â—uzzle him he was pleased himself to give explanation of them in a Book that he writ expresly to that intent to let him know how far his Zeal for to serve him had transported â—im Besides these explanations upon some hard passages propounded by Monsieur des Argues he gave his consent that an Holland Gentleman one of his friends should draw up a regular Introduction followed by his Geometry on purpose to facilitate the understanding of it to â—all sorts of Readers It was so excellent and concise that most believed he was the Author of it Those that complain'd of the brevity of this Writing were desired to consider it was an Introduction and not a Comment yet one might afford the Title of Comment to the excellent Notes Monsieur Beaune Councellor in the Presidial of Blois made this year upon Monsieur Des Cartes his Geometry There was nothing in it but what was exactly conformable to the Author's Notion and according to his Intention The joy Monsieur Des Cartes conceived at it increas'd yet more when he perceiv'd the profound penetration wherewith Mons de Beaune was able to tell the meaning of things that he had only inserted in his Geometry in a very obscure manner Moreover one may reckon in the number of the chief Occupation of Mons Des Carteâ— this year the Exercise which the two moâ— eminent Arithmeticians M. de St. Croix and M. Frenicle put him upon touching several Questions of Numbers But the Answer he gave to those M. de St. Croix put in June did so much fatigue him that he conjured Father Mersennus to send him no more of that nature be they what they would He endeavoured also to rid himself of the Problems and barren Objections of others under the most plausible pretences he could possibly imagine Thus wearied out by bearing the burthensom Title of an Oracle he dispens'd to answer more before the latter end of the year 1638. and was content to draw up a Trinity of the best Objections that had hitherto been put to him and of the most curious Problems that had
to Monsieur Des Cartes Father Bourdin declared positively to him in his Letter That he had not nor should ever undertake a particular War against his Opinions Yet he promised him to send him his Treatise within a Week that is the Reasons he made use of not to approve his Sentiments The term of eight days at the end of which Monsieur Des Cartes expected these Treatises being expired over and over he began to despair of them when he received some Letters from some other Fathers of the Society by which they demanded of him Six Months delay longer He made no question but this was a Stratagem to Correct these Writings at leisure and to put them in such a condition no longer to fear his censure He conjectured by these Fathers Letters that notwithstanding the assurances they had given him of a pure personal Quarrel with Father Bourdin yet that he was going to detach from the main Body of the Society a powerful Party of Jesuits against him to back their Fellow-Collegian Knowing that their chief Strength consisted in the Art of Logick of which they perform many Exercises in the Society to make them handle their Arms the better in their Disputes against all sorts of Adversaries he thought likewise he was to look about him and have recourse to Scholastick Arms which he thought he had laid aside this many years not so much as ever dreaming he should have any more occasion for them He communicated his purpose to Father Mersennus who expected him in Paris towards the end of this Year and he writ to him about it in these terms I shall not yet take my Journey this Winter for being I am to receive the Objections of the Jesuits within four or five Months I believe I must be in a posture ready to expect them in the interim I have a great desire a little to peruse their Philosophy which I have not done this Twenty Years on purpose to see if I like it better now than I did heretofore To this effect I beseech you to send me the Names of the Authors who have writ a Body of Philosophy which are most followed amongst the Jesuits and whether or no they may have any new ones I remember none but Collegium Conimbricense He desired him also to inform him if they had not compiled some Abridgment or Compendium of all Philosophy of the Schools that was much read to spare him the labour of turning over the Schoolmen such a one as that of Eustachius Father Mersennus could tell him of none but de Raconie which was not so fit for his purpose as Eustachius but he forceably urged and exhorted him not to neglect the Philosophy of the Schools such as was at that time taught in the Colledge supposing that the time of Sacrificing of it to truth was come letting him understand by the way that he was the only man from whom the Lovers of Truth and Wisdom expected this piece of Service Monsieur Des Cartes writ back to him the Eleventh of November That he did not believe the School-Philosophy so hard to be confuted because of the diversity of Opinions that it contains He declared to him at the same time the aims he had upon Philosophy in reference to that of the Schools His intent was to write in order a whole course of Philosophy in the nature of Positions or without any superfluities of Discourse he would put down only all his Conclusions with all the Reasons from whence he deduc'd them which he hoped to be able to do in few words In the same Book according to his Project he did get a course of Vulgar Philosophy printed such an one as that of Eustachius with his Notes at the latter end of each Question where he intended to add the various Opinions of Authors and what a man was to believe of them all according to him In a word he put us in hopes for to serve for a Conlusion to his Work that he would make a Parallel or Comparison of two Philosophies that is to say of his own and that of others He was only sollicitous to know if Eustachius were yet alive because having no design neither on his Person noâ— Writings in particular he had a desire to keep a fair Correspondence with him and use all sort of Civilities towards him As for the Collegium Conimbricense i. e. the Courses of Philosophy of the Jesuits of Conimbra in Portugal in his Opinion they were too long But he could have wisht they had writ as succinctly as Eustachius because having to do with the Jesuits he should have preferr'd their course to all others XII This Year proved fatal to our Philosopher by the loss not only of three or four of his Friends Mathematicians or Philosophers but especially of two Persons the dearest to him in all the World viz. his Daughter Francina and his Father Dean of the Parliament of Britain who departed this Life in October 78 years of Age. Francina died on the 7th of September at Amersford only 5 years of Age. He publickly own'd her for his Daughter altho' we cannot learn who her Mother was having not any proof of his being Married He lamented her Death with that passionate affection that forc'd him to Experience that true Philosophy cannot stifle Natural Affection The Sorrow and Grief that over-whelm'd him for this loss makes us apt to believe she was his only Child But those that speak ill of him have not stuck to father more upon him The Calumny altho' supported by the Authority and Writings of a grave Minister amongst the Reformed at Vtrecht seem'd to him so ill-grounded that he only laught at it and answer'd his Enemy that cast it in his teeth that not having made a Vow of Chastity and not being exempt from Humane Frailties he should make no scruple at all to own them before all the World if he had any but albeit he had none yet he agreed not to pass for a great Saint with a Minister that had no good opinion of the Gift of Continency in the Ecclesiasticks of the Roman Church who live in Celibacy He staid not long to repair the breach that was made in integrity of his life wherewith he honoured his solitude and the profession of his Philosophy and restor'd his Celibacy to its pristin perfection ever before he had acquired the Name of Father Upon the whole the Publick had never come to the knowledge of this humbling Circumstance oâ— his life if he had not made a Publick Confession of it himself by writing the History of his dear Francina upon the first Leaf of aâ— Book that was to be seen by many Three weeks after the death of this Child he quitted the Town of Amersford to return to his abode at Leiden He was quite out of conceit with the Neighbourhood of Vtrecht because of Voetius his Intrigues that allarm'd all the Country making as if Regius was a Pestilent Fellow good for
concealed sometimes they were received at Dort by Mr. Beckmen at Harlem by Monsieur Bloemaert at Amsterdam by Madamoiselle Reiniers or Mr. Van Sureck de Bergen at Leiden by M. Hoogheland and at other times at Vtrecht by Regius or Mons Schuâ—man's Brother an ingenious learned Lady of that Name commonly there was no body beside Father Mersennus who was privy to his Secrets upon that account and he kept it so close that several learned and inquisitive Persons of France who travelled during all that time in Holland were deprived of the Satisfaction of seeing him because they could not possibly find out his haunts For his part whenever he writ to his Friends especially before he settled at Egmond he generally dated his Letters not from the place of his abode but from the City as from Amsterdam Leiden c. where he was sure no body could find him when he became too well known in one place and that he was too frequently visited by Persons impertinent and useless he never delay'd to decamp that he might break off his Acquaintance and so retire to some other place where he might not be known Which succeeded very well all along till such time as his Reputation was a means to discover him in all places where it followed him as his Shadow From Amsterdam where he stay'd at first â—e pass'd into Friezland retiring to a place near Franeker he lodged in a little Castle separaâ—ed from the City but by a small Ditch He â—udged this place so much the more convenient â—or him because they said Mass there with much security and because one found there â—erfect Liberty for all the other exercises of â—he Catholick Religion There it was he renewed his old Protestaâ—ion before the Altar not to Labour but onâ—y for the glory of God and benefit of Manâ—ind and therefore intended to begin his Meditations concerning the Existence of God and Immortality of our Soul But that he might undertake nothing which had any affinity with Divinity he did not intend to look upon God otherwise but as the Author of Nature to whom he made account to consecrate all his Talents It was not Natural Theology but only that of Revelation that he excluded from his Designs III. Metaphysicks or Natural Theology did not so much take up all his time but that he reserved some Portion of it for Experiments in Physick and particularly for those of Dioptricks whereunto he had mightily addicted himself in France Scarce was he settled in Friezland but he called to mind that he had left Monsieur Terrier at Paris he who was the famous Workman in Mathematical Instruments whom he had employed for Cutting of Glasses He thought he was not yet discharged of the care he had taken some time before of his Fortune and Instruction but the Proposals he made of receiving him into hiâ— House and to receive him as his Brother iâ— an equal Communication of his Substance and Studies became all of none effect for want of management in Ferrier whose Negligence occasioned his falling into divers Miseries since which Monsieur Des Cartes who had foretold him what would come on him could not help but by halves at that distance The unresolvedness of Ferrier made him change his measures he had taken for several Laboratories he had already prepared in his House near Franeker that he might get him to Work about making Instruments and Glasses At the end of Six Months he forsook this abode to return to Amsterdam where he spent Three Months more upon his Mathematical Meditations But the Treatise of it which he had begun was interrupted by his other Studies at the Beginning of the next Year and he set not about it again till Ten Years after IV. He was still in Friezland when he was solicited to put out his Reflexions upon the famous Phenomena Parhelias or false Suns observ'd at Rome in March An. 1629. the Observation was sent him by Father Mersennus and before that by Sieur Henry Reneri or Renier a new Acquaintance he had got at his arrival in Holland who was since looked upon as one of his Chief Disciples or Followers that ever publickly taught his Philosophy Reneri receiv'd it from Monsieur Gassendus then â—n Holland who Composed a Dissertation â—pon it in his Travels before Monsieur Des â—artes 'T is to these Observations of Parhelia's that â—he World is beholding for that excellent Treatise of Meteors which Monsieur Des Carâ—es presented it with some Years after He â—roke off his Metaphysical Meditations that â—e might examine in order all Meteors and â—e laboured several times upon this Subject before he could find any thing in it wherewithal to satisfie himself but at last being capable by reason of several Observations very exact to render a Reason of the most â—art of Meteors especially concerning the coâ—ours of the Rain-bow which puzled him more than all the rest he resolved to Compose a Treatise of it which concludes at the Dissertation of Parbelia's V. At his return from Friezland he lost an excellent Director and most sincere Friend in the Person of Cardinal de Berulle who died suddenly in Paris the Second of October He had always a great Veneration for his Merit and mightily valued his Advice he lookt upon him next to God as the principal Promoter and Author of his Designs He had the Satisfaction after his decease to meet with some of his Scholars I mean some of the Priests of the Oratory in whose hands he might intrust the direction of his Conscience all the while he remain'd in Holland No sooner was he settled in Amsterdam but not being able to forget the End and Scope of his Philosophy which was only the benefit of Mankind he seriously undertook the Study of Physick applying himself more particularly to Anatomy and Chymistry He imagined that nothing was more capable to produce the temporal Felicity of this World than an happy Union of Physick with Mathematicks But before he was in a Capacity to contribute any Comfort or Relief to Mens Labours or could multiply the Conveniencies of Life by Mechanicks he thought it necessary to find out some way or other to secure Humane Body from Evils that might disturb its Health and deprive it of power and force to Labour Upon this Perswasion he began to put his designs in execution by Study of Anatomy wherein he employ'd all the Winter he spent at Amsterdam He declares That he had so much eagerness for the Knowledge of this that it made him go almost every day to a Butcher's Shop to see him Kill Beasts and from thence he caused the Parts of such Animals to be brought home to his Lodging as he design'd to Anatomize at his own leisure This was his common Practice frequently in other places where he was since thinking that there was no disgrace for him nor any thing unbeseeming his Condition in the practice of a thing that was in it self
that he was not capable of accomplishing it alone fought for if one may so say Adversaries rather than Approvers to the end that the Obligation to answer them and sift their Objections might render him more and more exact and might be a means to make him open his Eyes upon that he was not able to know before In order to this he hopefully expected the Objections the Jesuits of La Flesche Louvain Lifle and some other places had promised him by their Letters but he was somewhat surprized to learn by some of them that they wonderfully approved of him that they desired nothing as to what he was pleased to explain but only in that which he would not write and that they demanded of him his Physick and Metaphysick with great Importunity VI. In France the reading of his Book operated upon the Spirits of Men according as they were well or ill prepared There were but few things in all that he had writ that did not appear dubious to some and Novel in respect of others the true knowing Persons did not boggle at all they found new which could not render the Author odious but to such who were fond of their own Prejudices yet they took an occasion from what seemed dubious to make some Objections against him M. Mydorge had been one of the most fit Persons in that respect if so be he had not been beforehand of the same Opinion with him in several things from the very first time they saw one another in Paris He might have been able at least to propound some difficulties to him concerning divers Passages in the Sixth Book of his Dioptricks where he treats of Vision in a quite different manner from that he was wont himself to explain this matter he was content to mention such a business to Father Mersennus who gave Monsieur Des Cartes notice of it in Writing He did not take ill some Advices the Philosopher gave him in his Answer to this Father After that he had no other Objections to start to his Friend nay he was so far from fatigueing him with many others upon that score that one may say he plaid the Des Cartes in Paris in taking upon him to answer for his absent Friend all the Objections which they had not a mind to send into Holland He was not alone in studying to render him friendly Offices in Paris Monsieur Des Argues who already was very busie with Father Mersennus to make the Priviledge of his Book effectual against the disobliging Practices of the Sieur de Beaugrand was wanting in nothing wherein he could be serviceable to him with Cardinal Richelieu and to give Credit to his new Speculation of Dioptricks amongst those who were about his Eminence He let him understand by Father Mersennus that the Cardinal was pleas'd to give ear to the Propositions they had made to him of endeavouring to make Spectacles and Prospectives according to the Rules he had Prescribed in his Dioptricks Monsieur Des Cartes thought it stood him upon to cross this Understanding and to that effect he desired Father Mersennus to declare to M. Des Argues and others that had an hand in this Business that he was extreamly obliged to them for the good Opinion they had given to the Court of his Dioptrical Inventions but that he did not believe that the Cardinal's thoughts ought to stoop so low as to a Person of his Rank It was not out of an unseasonableness that he resisted the purposes of these Gentlemen it was out of timerousness lest they might not successfully compass their End in his Absence and lest they might lay the Workmens fault at his door for he judged his presence necessary to direct the hand of Turners and to give them new Instructions according as they proceeded or failed VII Amongst the Virtuoso's of France that would fain have tried a touch with Monsieur Des Cartes there was none of them found more diligent than nor more capable to do it than M. de Fermat a Counsellor of the Parliament of Thoulouse one of the Chief Men in the Age for fine Endowments of Mind and especially in respect of Mathematicks The Month of November he sent to Father Mersennus some Objections against M. Des Cartes his Dioptricks and this Father received an Answer to them in the Month of September notwithstanding the distance of places that might have afforded a pretence for delays At the same time Monsieur Petit then Commissioner of the Artillery and the King's Ingeneer who was since Surveyor of the Fortifications started likewise some Objectious against the Treatise of Dioptricks which Monsieur Fermat found to come but little short of his own Mr. Fermat before he had received an Answer to his Objections caused to be dispatched to Monsieur Des Cartes by Father Mersennus a Pamphlet of Geometry of his Composing De Maximis Minimis i. e. of the greatest and least quantities and that he might conceal his Name again from Mons Des Cartes he made use of that of M. de Carcavi one of Lyons a Friend of his being then his Collegue in the Parliament of Tholouse This Present Monsieur de Fermat sent to Monsieur Des Cartes was not only a Token of his esteem and grateful acknowledgment but also an Advertisement of what he believed Monsieur Des Cartes had omitted unawares or forgotten unseasonably in his Geometry That occasion'd a new difficulty to arise in the clashing Mons Fermat begun which he believed to be in a capacity to decide in a few days But it was no such easie matter to extinguish these first sparks the fire of the Dispute got ground by the Zeal of those who were willing to enter upon it at length two material Points one relating to Dioptriques the other to Geometry became the main Subject of their Debate Here you may take notice of the cause of that famous Quarrel which continued even after Monsieur Des Cartes his Death this is that Monsieur de Fermat stiled his Skirmish with Monsieur Des Cartes or sa petite guerre contre Mons Des Cartes and that which Monsieur Des Cartes calls son petit proces de Mathematique contre Mons de Firmat VIII Whilst Monsieur de Fermat amidst his great business in pleading Causes and Domestick Affairs appli'd himself tooth and nail to the Answer Monsieur Des Cartes made to his Objections about Dioptriques Father Mersennus receives Monsieur Des Cartes his Observations and Animadversions upon his Treatise de Maximis Minimis but instead of sending them directly to Monsieur de Fermat in conformity to Monsieur Des Cartes his intent he thought it convenient to shew them to a couple of this Magistrates particular Friends in Paris the one was Monsieur Pascal the Father heretofore President in the Court of Aides in Auvergne the other was Monsieur Roberval Mathematique Professor in Paris These Gentlemen supposed themselves obliged to espouse the Qurrel of
against Regius which made him stand upon his Pantofles My Friend saith he M. de Hoogheland hath acted in Opposition against Regius in as much as he hath Writ nothing that he did not borrow from me and upon that account contrary to me whereas the other hath writ nothing which is properly mine yet there is nothing against me forasmuch as he hath followed the self-same Principles But the World would not be put off with a Declaration they suspected to be made only the more generously to recompence the honour this Friend had done him the very Front and through the whole Body of his Book nay they were so far perswaded of the contrary in Rome that upon the relation of the Business two or three Years after by Father Magnanus to M. Carcavi some were apt to take the Name of Hoogheland for a Stalking-Horse by which Monsieur Des Cartes had a Mind to make surer of his Game to publish a new Piece The Condition of other Friends with whom Monsieur Des Cartes kept Correspondence especially at the Hague was somewhat discomposed and put out of order at that juncture of time by the retirement of the Princess his most Illustrious Scholar Several of those who were Retainers to her got out of the way of their own accord very few of them were permitted to accompany or follow her in her Journey Some again were retain'd by their Settlement and Employment about the Prince and Princess of Orange M. Becklin staid to wait upon the Princesses Sister to the Lady Elizabeth M. de Pollot was preferr'd to a Chair of Philosophy and Mathematicks at Breda in the P. of Orange's New Colledge as was M. John Pell heretofore Professor at Amsterdam M. Sampson Johnson that pass'd at Paris for Princess Elizabeths Tutor but was only Chaplain to the Queen of Bohemia her Mother was also admitted into the same Colledge to be Professor of Divinity All these Professors who took a Pride to follow the Cartesian Doctrine made their University otherwise called Schola illustris all over Cartesian at its very birth by the good likeing and favour of the Curators Mons Rivet Almoner and Chaplain to the Prince and Mons Huyghens second Son to Monsieur Zuitlichem educated in the Principles of Monsieur Des Cartes Amongst those that continued at the Hague there was none more considerable than Mons de Brasset a French Gentleman his Correspondent and since that Resident of France to the States General with M. de Burggrave de de Dhona the younger Governour of the City of Orange who for all that persisted in the exercise of the Cartesian Philosophy with the absent Princess Besides so many subjects of satisfactions Monsieur Des Cartes received also all the year long divers Complements from the Jesuits of France and the Low-Countries The business was so much the more delightful to him because these Fathers seem'd to be the persons in the World who should think themselves concern'd in the publication of a new Philosophy nay and who according to him should have pardoned him the least for so doing if so be they had found any thing to blame in it He was likewise much pleased to perceive some of those in Germany and Italy to be recovered of their prejudice and particularly Father Athanasius Kercherus who intreated him to grant him his friendship by the intercession of Father Mersennus He was also inform'd by the reading of two Tracts of Physick that Father Stephen Noel Rector of the Colledge of Clermont in Paris presented him with That the Fathers of the company of Jesuits did not so much tie themselves up to Ancient Opinions as not â—o dare to propose new ones likewise Father Noel was so much his friend that the next year he thought himself obliged to undertake his defence against young Paschal before ever he was quite brought over to the Cartesian Party Much about the same time he received the Philosophy of Father Fabri the Jesuit Mathematical Professor at Lyons this Philosophy had much reputation to be a good one notwithstanding it was contrary to that of M. Des Cartes Men past the like Judgment in a manner upon another Piece of this Father's that came to light that year concerning Local Motion Monsieur Des Cartes upon the receipt of these two Pieces had advice that the same Author had some thoughts to Compose a Course of Philosophy to oppose his that which moved him to the resolution of contradicting his Notions was in case he might be backt by his Society and that it should appear that the Jesuits would be pleased to adopt his Doctrine But the Event let him understand that Father Fabri had not then got the approbation of his Society In September that year M. Des Cartes lost a friend by the death of Father Niceron a Minim but he gain'd another in the person of M. Le Comte Controuler General of the War who was already friend to M. Clersellier Chanut and Porlier he deserved his acquaintance by some Objections he started concerning his Book of Principles which Abbot Picot and his second self were pleased to Answer X. Scarce had Monsieur Des Cartes done with his new Friends M. le Comte and Monsieur Porlier but he was necessitated to Answer M. Chanut about one of the most material Questions in the World and prepare to satisfie the Queen of Sweden's desire suitable to the high opinion of him wherewith this Resident had possess'd that Princess The last Letter he writ from Stockholm concerning the rare Perfections of Christina The discourse he held upon the same Subject with M. de la Thuillerie at his return from his Ambassy of Sweden and the example of his illustrious Scholar the Princess Elizabeth suffer'd him no longer to question the possibility of all these wonders that Fame had published of that great Queen not yet above 19 years of Age. The gusto M. Chanut had already inspired into her for his Philosophy made her demand his opinion concerning a Question of Morality that was bandied about between her and this Resident in November 1646. The Question was to know when a Man makes a bad use of love or hatred which of these two irregularities or bad uses is the worst M. Chanut in beseeching Monsieur Des Cartes in the Queens behalf to send her his Sentiment upon the Question sent him word that the Queen and he were of two different opinions without telling him which was the Princesses which his Monsieur Des Cartes that he might afford Queen the Satisfaction she demanded drew â—p presently that is at the beginning of the â—ear 1647. a fine Dissertion upon Love which we have in the first Volume of his Letters in that Tract he discuss'd three things 〈◊〉 his usual Method First what Love is Secondly Whether or no pure Natural Light â—eaches us to love God Thirdly Which of â—he two Irregularities of Love or Hatred is the worst This Piece was sent into Sweden in February the reading of
sleeveless Errand only upon bare Promises tho' they may be writ upon Parchment Nay he would have scamper'd off immediately and no body the 〈◊〉 to return as he came that his presence might not increase their Shame that sent for him But his friends after they had let him take his leave of the Court detained him at Paris near three Months and omitted nothing that he might make this time seem short and pleasant During this Interval the Abbot d'Eâ—râ—â— since Bishop Duke of 〈◊〉 at present a Cardinal was pleased amicably to reconcile him to M. Gassendus Which was done in the presence of several persons of worth and account to the great satisfaction of these two Philosophers and their Friends XIV That day they were reconciled was remarkable for Roberval's first undertaking to demonstrate the impossibility of Motion without admitting a Vacuum Monsieur Des Cartes who was personally pointed at by this pretending Mathematician found it no hard task immediately to Answer all his Objections But he did it with all the respects due to the presence of the Abbot d'Etrees and his Company without ever changing the face of so noble and peaceable Conversation M. Roberval's humour which had always need of grains of allowance from those that had to deal with him did by no means agree with that Phlegm which usually accompanied the Discourses of Monsieur Des Cartes So that he was not long before he grew hot and upon all occasions during the remainder of his stay at Paris Roberval made him sensible of the effects of this heat and animosity that no Consideration was capable of extinguishing or abating The Persecutions of this man who took a Pride not to be absent from any Assembly where he knew the other would come together with his wrangling and twitting him with his taciturnity did contribute as much as his publick Troubles to the making him out of love with the City he took occasion from its being baracâ—doed to make a shift to get out of it next day through all the Confusion He got safe into Holland on the 4th day of September After some short stay at Lâ—â—deâ— with M. 〈◊〉 and at Amsterdam he went on the 9th of the aforesaid Month to his dear Egmond to sequester himself there as iâ— a Port secure against all the Tempests whose Preludes he had already seen in his Voyage XV. Scarce had he tasted the first fruits 〈◊〉 his repose but he receives the News of the death of Father Mersennus whom he left dangerously sick at his departure from Paris This was the ancientest of his friends and followers who always stuck to him by a constancy and faithfulness that endured all Tests Nothing could more sensibly affect him than the loss of such a friend yet to demonstrate that affliction had not bereaved him of Judgment he begg'd of Abbot Picot to know what was become of all the Letters he sent to this Father for near upon 19 Months because he was sure they were carefully preserved He granted also a Commission to try to get them out of the Minims hand for several very weighty reasons But his foresight being a little too â—ardy proved useless and of none effect through the negligence of the Monks who had lost a great company of them and crafty diligence of M. Roberval who had already got a good part of them into his Custody In the mean time the Q. of Sweden disintantangled from the Negotiations for the Peace of Europe concluded at Munster the 24th of Octob. betook her self to the Study of the litâ—â—e Treatise of Monsieur Des Cartes's Passions â—nd the good opinion of them that was instill'd â—nto her made her resolve to proceed to the Study of all his Philosophy She forthwith ordered Freinshemius her Liberary-Keeper to Study his Principles to the end he might prepare the way for her to come to the understanding of that Philosophy the Resident of France Monsieur Chanut had a Commission also to be assisting to him in this Work Monsieur Des Cartes was then much taken up in satisfying the first heats of a new Disciple that his Philosophy had gain'd him in 〈◊〉 this was Dr. Henry More whose 〈◊〉 and Reverence for our Philosopher had almost proceeded to Idolatry Monsieur Des Cartes without giving much heed to his elaborate Encomiums apply'd himself only to instruct him and to remove his difficulties according as he let him understand what they were This correspondence continued till the death of M. Des Cartes after which More 's Ardor for Cartesianism appear'd much abated by reason of his being diverted by other urgent Occasions until one single Letter of M. Clersellier revived it in him in the year 1655. and made him give fresh proofs of his affection for his Doctrine XVI The year 1649. supply'd the Princess Elizabeth with several considerable occasions to put his Moral Philosophy in Practice and supply'd Monsieur Des Cartes her dear Master with occasions to comfort her concerning the Accidents of this Life and Phantasticalness of this World's Catastrophes These occasions caused the Distemper the Princess had upon her 1. The Regicide committed by the English on the person of her Uncle by her Mothers side 2. The indifference and haughtiness of the Q. of Sweden towards her And then the small Satisfaction her Brother the Elector Palatin had received by the Peace of Munster The Princess residing at that time at the Court in Berlin had often entertain'd him with the mighty Satisfaction she should have to enjoy his Company in the Palatinate whether she made account to retire after the reinstaâ—ing of her Brother And he on his part assured her of the delight he should have to go live near her in a Country he had been acquainted with ever since 1619. which he took for one of the finest and most commodious in Europe All places were indifferent to him at that time Altho' he might think he was on the lap of repose in North-Holland and tho' he might enjoy his thoughts in his Solitude at Egmond as peaceably and sweetly as ever he he did yet he earnestly desired that the Storms of France might shortly be calmed that he might there settle himself But the Continuation of his Countrys Troubles accompanied with the apprehension of never taking another Journey seem'd to incline him to resolve to pass the rest of his days in Holland that is to say in a place that had not now the â—ame Charms it formerly had to detain him â—nd which did not seem commodious for him â—ut only because he knew no other where he â—ould be better When he argued the case thus he was still â—gnorant of the Lot Providence had designed â—or him But it was not long before it made â—im Conjecture that it disposed of him otherâ—ise than he thought it would In March he â—eceived some Letters from M. Chanut by â—hich he was given to understand the desire â—he Q. of
surprized at the second and third that excluded Strangers She questioned whether it might not be a piece of Monsieur Des Cartes his Modesty who shut the Gate of this Academy against himself whom she designed to have appointed Director XXI This very day coming from Court he perceived himself seized with an Illness that was to put an end to his days and the Ambassador began to recover The next day being Candlemass-Day our Philosopher with other Catholicks approached the Sacraments of Pennance and Eucharist which he received from the hands of Father Viogué an Augustin Friar Missionary and Almoner to the Ambassador he was able to finish the Ceremonies of the rest of the Day standing up The Symptomes of his Malady were the very same that preceded the Ambassador's and were followed by a continued Feaver accompanied with an Inflammation of his Lungs just as the Ambassador was taken The disorder of this regular was of living added to the dividing of his Care between the Queen and the Sick Ambassador in a Season that was an Enemy to his Constitution and more rigid than it had been for Threescore Years by the report of ancient People caused his Feaver to be more Malignant than the Ambassador's was It was within him the first days it possess'd his Brain so far as to make him Rave took away the liberty of knowing what Condition he was in or hear the advice of his Friends and deprived him of all strength but only to resist every bodies will The Queens Chief Physician Monsieur du Ryer by Nation a Frenchman and a particular Friend of his was unfortunately absent at that time and that Princess order'd the next in course to take care of him he was an Hollander called Weulles one of M. Des Cartes sworn Enemies ever since the Ministers and Divines of Leiden and Vtrecht bid him defyance The sick Person upon sight of this Doctor and others that the Queen sent with him was so obstinate as to do nothing that he order'd him but especially he would not hear of being let Blood all the while the transport of his Brain lasted which occasioned terrible â—llarms to the Queen and Ambassador who took great care to send a Gentleman twice a day to see how he did His Brain began to be discharged at the end of the 7th day which made him a little more the Master of his Head and faculties of his Reason that was the first time he was sensible of his Feaver He took notice of the Error he had hitherto laboured under and now thought of nothing but to dye like a Christian Philosopher He got himself let Blood twice together and in a great quantity but to no purpose it was then too late He pray'd them to send for Father Viogué his Confessor who was about the exercise of his Mission some Leagues distant from Stockholm and desired those who were about him not to discourse with him any longer but about the Mercy of God and of the Courage wherewith he was to suffer the Separation of his Soul He remain'd quiet and still the two last days and Departed peaceably in the Arms of the Ambassador and Father Viogué the 11th of February at Four a Clock in the Morning Aged 53 Years 10 Months and 11 Days XXII The Queen upon this News soon discovered her Affliction by the true and abundant Tears she shed for the loss of her Illustrious Master this was the Title she was always pleased to honour him with and distinguish him from other Learned Men about her She immediately dispatcht a Gentleman of her Bed-Chamber to the Ambassador to assure him of her Grief and Sorrow and to declare to him that she was willing to leave to Posterity a Monument of the respect she bore to the Merit of the Deceased and that she design'd him his Sepulchre in the most honorable Place in the Kingdom at the feet of the Kings her Predecessors with Magnificence answerable besides a rich Mausolaean of Marble that she resolved to have erected for him The Ambassador that had not yet been able to stir out of Doors since he fell Sick went in the Afternoon to pay a Visit to the Queen and obtained of her for good Reasons that he produced to her that the Sepulchre should be after a very plain manner at the deceased his own proper Cost and Charges in a place of the Foreigners Burial-place where they laid Catholicks and Children that died before they came to the use of their Reason The next day the Corps was brought out to the place of Interrment without any great doings yet all according to the Ceremonial of the Church of Rome by the special Permission of the Queen and the Governor of Stockholm the Body was carried by the Ambassador's eldest Son Monsieur de Saint Sandoux since Governor of Tournay M. Picques Secretary to the Ambassy at present Counsellor in the Court of Aydes and by M. Belen Secretary to the Ambassador who is now Treasurer of France The day following the Ambassador accompanied with the first Gentleman of the Queens Bed-Chamber Erric Spatacre Baron of Croneberg took an Inventory of what Monsieur Des Cartes brought with him into Sweden and on March the Fourth following M. de Hoogheland took one of the things he had left in Holland in the presence of Monsieur Van Sureck Seigneur de Berg Creditor to the deceased The Ambassador whom the Queen had given to understand that she persisted in her resolution to rear him a Marble Monument judged that before-hand it would be much better to erect a plain Tomb over the Grave of the deceased He caused it to be made an Oblong Square of Free-stone cemented the four Sides were wainscotted outward with planed Boards These four Sides were covered with a course white Linnen waxed painted and they caused to be writ upon it by the Painter the Curious Latine Inscriptions that the Ambassador composed in Honour of his Friend Not many Months after they caused a Medal to be Coined in Holland to the memory of our great Philosopher the reverse contains Magnificent Elogiums XXIII After the Conversion of the Queen of Sweden wholly due to Monsieur Des Cartes and Monsieur Chanut which was manifest some years after by her renouncing Lutheranism there remains no more for us to observe concerning that Philosopher saving only the translating of his Ashes and Bones from Sweden into France Seventeen years after his Death It was M. d'Alibert Treasurer General of France who was the Chief Man in this Enterprize and who was at the sole Charge and Expence He employ'd to this purpose M. le Chevalier de Terlon French Ambassador in Sweden who was shortly to depart from thence for Denmark in the same Quality The Ambassador caused the Body to be taken up in presence of M. Pompone who was come to Stockholm to succeed him at present a Minister of State He caused it first of all to be carried to Copenhaguen from whence