322 Dr. Moll on the Invention of Telescopes. 



a great proficient in mechanics and mathematics, many and 

 pressing solicitations were made to make Jacob explain how 

 this and other apparatus which he contrived were executed ; 

 but he obstinately rejected all offers, and always refused to give 

 the least information, even on his death-bed, when strongly 

 urged by a clergyman, at the request of his relatives. It must 

 be allowed that at that time, and even now, the construction of 

 a burning lens of such power was a matter of great difficulty, 

 and even at present very few artists would be capable of doing 

 the same. So strongly was his desire to conceal his inventions, 

 that before his death he caused his apparatus and tools to be 

 destroyed. 



This eccentric character sent a petition to the States General 

 of the United Provinces, dated the 17th of October, 1608. An 

 original copy of this document, made by a public notary in the 

 most authentic form, is existing in the library of the university 

 of Leyden, amongst the manuscripts of Huygens. In this 

 document it is distinctly asserted that this person actually 

 invented the telescope. He calls himself Jacob Adriaanszoon, 

 son of Mr. Adriaan Anthoniszoon, and he goes on to state, 

 ' that since two years, he employed all the time which he could 

 spare in inquiring into some occult or secret arts connected 

 with glass-making. That he found that, by means of a certain 

 instrument, which he was making for another purpose, the 

 sight of persons using it might be extended, so as to make 

 objects which, on account of their distance, could not be seen 

 or only distinguished with great difficulty, appear near and 

 distinct. That since that time he applied himself to bring this 

 invention to greater perfection, in which he succeeded so far as 

 to make an object appear as visible and distinct by his instru- 

 ment as can be done with that which was lately offered to the 

 States by a citizen and spectacle-maker of Middelburg. That 

 his Excellency (Prince Maurice), and others who compared the 

 instruments, convinced themselves of this fact, notwithstanding 

 that his instrument was made of only coarse materials, and 

 merely for the sake of experiment. That he has no doubt but 

 that the contrivance, by improving the engine, might be brought 

 to greater perfection, but that, besides, he believes and hopes to 

 improve, in time, the invention in itself, so as to make it capable 



