t

blemish, generous without extravagance,

frugal but not niggard, cheerful but not

able to you here at London; and should readily embrace any opportunity to approve and express myself, what I am exceedingly obliged to be,

Your most affectionate friend,

And faithful servant,

WILLIAM JONES.

From the SAME to the SAME.

London, Oct. 25, 1711.

SIR,

The favour of your account of Sir Isaac's papers left at Cambridge, I return you my hearty thanks for; and, as you have some further considerations about · the Doctrine of Differences, I am assured that they cannot but be valuable; and if a few instances of the application were given, perhaps it would not be amiss. Having tarried some time for a convenient opportunity, I was obliged to send you at last Moreton's book by the carrier, though it will only satisfy you that Dr. Gregory had but a very slender notion of the design, extent, and use of lib. 3d of the Principia. I hope it will not be long before you find leisure to send me what you have further done on this curious subject. No excuse must be made against the publishing of them, since with respect to reputation, I dare say it will be no way to your disadvantage. I have nothing of news to send you, only the Germans and French have in a violent manner attacked the philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton, and seem resolved to stand by Des Cartes. Mr. Keil, as a person concerned, has undertaken to defend and answer some things, as Dr. Friend and Dr. Mead do in their way, the rest. I would have sent you the whole controversy, was I not

giddy, close but not fullen, ingenious but "not conceited, of spirit but not paffionate,

sure that you know those only are most capable of objecting against his writings, that least understand them. However, in a little time, you will see some of them in the Philosophical Transactions.

I am, Sir,

Very much your friend and servant,

WILLIAM JONES.

Answer to the foregoing, by Mr. COTE.S

DEAR SIR,

I have received Moreton's book. I thank you for the favour you did me in sending it. I have. looked over what relates to his way of interpolation; but I find no cause from thence to make any alteration. The controversy concerning Sir Isaac's philosophy is a piece of news that I had not heard of. I think that philosophy needs no defence, especially when attacked by Cartesians. One Mr. Green, a fellow of Clare-Hall, seeins to have nearly the same design with those German and French objectants, whom you mention. His book is now in our press, and almost finished I am told; he will add an Appendix, in which he undertakes also to square the circle. I need not recommend his performance any further to you,

I am, Sir, your obliged friend,

And humble servant,

R. C.

" of her company cautious, in her friendship

trufty, to her parents dutiful, and to her

From Mr. JONES to Mr. COTES.

DEAR SIR,

Lenden, Jan. 11, 1711-12.

I have sent you here enclosed the copy of a letter, that I found among Mr. Collins's papers, from Sir Isaac Newton to one Mr. Smith. The contents thereof seem in a great measure to have relation to what you are about, as being the application of the Doctrine of Differences to the making of tables; and for that reason I thought it might be of use to you, so far as to see what has been done already. I shewed this to Sir Isaac: he remembers that he applied it to all sorts of tables. I have more papers of Mr. Mercator's, and others, upon this subject; though I think none so material to your purpose as this. I should be very glad to see what you have done upon this subject all published; and I must confess, that unless you design a large volume, it were much better to put them into the Philosophical Transactions, for that would sufficiently preserve them from being lost, which is the common fate of small single tracts, and at the same time, to save the trouble and expense of printing them, since the subject is too curious to expect any profit from it; and besides now, as the Royal Society having done themselves the honour of choosing you a member, something from you cannot but be acceptable to them. Sir Isaac himself expects these things of you, that I formerly mentioned to him as your promise.

I am, Sir, your much obliged friend,

and humble servant,

WILLIAM JONES.

"husband ever faithful, loving, and obedi"ent." She had by nature a strong under

From Mr. JONES to Mr. COTES.

SIR;

London, Feb. 6th, 1712-13.

The Royal Society having ordered one of their books for you, and another for Mr. Saunderson, also one for Trinity-College library, and one for the University library; I would not lose the opportunity of paying you my respects, by sending them. I need not tell you the occasion and design of that collection. You will see readily, that it affords such light concerning what it relates to, as could not easily have been discovered any other way; it also shews, that your great predecessor, whose illustrious example I don't doubt but you follow, never employed his time about things ordinary. I have no mathematical intelligence to send you. Mr. Keil thinks he has discovered a very easy and practical solution of the Keplerean problem. If Moreton's book is of no use to you, please to send it to me, though I fear it will yield me but small assistance, having occasion for variety of modern solstitial meridian altitudes of the Sun, such as may be depended upon. Helvetius, Flamstead, and the French observations, seem defective. I should be glad to be informed where I can be supplied best. I am extremely pleased to find that Sir Isaac's book is so near being finished; and it is not less agreeable to me to hear, that your own book is in such forwardness. You are much in the right of it to print your lectures and other papers, in a book by itself: it is better than to have them lie up and down among other things. What I formerly proposed as to the putting of things in the Philosophical Transactions, is only fit for a sheet or two, but not exceeding that. I very much long to see those

standing, which was improved by his converfation and inftruction. Under his tuition

valuable pieces, and hope you will let me know in what time I may expect them.-Do me the justice to believe, that I am, with all sincerity,

Your most humble servant,

WILLIAM JONES.

SIR,

From the SAME to the SAME.

London, April 29th, 1713.

Ever since I received your very kind

letter, and Moreton's book, I waited for an opportunity of sending you some old inanuscripts I had by me, and at last am obliged to venture them by the carrier. They relate, in some measure, to the method of Differences: the folio one, I find, was written by one Nath. Torperly, a Shropshire man, who, when young, was amanuensis to Vieta, but afterwards writ against him. He was cotemporary with Briggs. The book, I think, can be of no other use to you than in what relates to the history of that method, and in having the satisfaction of seeing what has been formerly done on that subject. I am mightily pleased to see the end of the Principia, and return you many thanks for the instructive index, that you have taken the pains to add, and hope it will not be long before we shall see the beginning of that noble book. I shall be in some pain till I hear that you have received my old manuscript, it being a favourite purely on account of some extravagancies in it; but I shall think it safe in your hands.

I am, Sir,

You affectionate friend, and humble servant,

WILLIAM JONES.