W. MOLYNEUX 59 
A little later Molyneux wrote again to the Society, and 
gave a few further particulars—evidently in reply to a request 
for additional information. From this letter, dated from 
Leyden, 16 March 1685, I extract the following’: 
The Glasses Mr Lewenhoeck shew’d me magnified 
Objects no more then several other glasses I have seen 
before, & therefore discover nothing but what may easily 
be seen by help of other Microscopes, so an account of 
them would be no ways satisfactory; ’tis only his owne 
privat Glasses which make those more then ordnary 
discoverys. I never heard he sold those glasses of his 
more common sort; but I sha’nt returne suddenly into 
England, for I designe, to have stayd some while in 
France, & perhaps visite Italy before that time, so I 
ca’nt serve You in this particular.” 
When Thomas Molyneux visited Leeuwenhoek in 1685 he 
was probably accompanied by his elder brother William S10 
the latter has left a record of a similar visit—buried in a book 
on optics, and consequently not generally known—which 
affords some confirmation of the foregoing account. William 
Molyneux’s words are as follows *: 
The Heer Lewenhoeck of Delft in Holland, had lately 
apply’d himself with great Diligence to the use of 
Microscopes: of which Instrument he thinks he has a 
better kind than was ever yet known. When I visited 
ee 
1 MS.Roy.Soc., No. 2446, M.1.104. Printed by Birch, Vol. IV, p. 384. 
The letter was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 1 April 1685 
[O.8.]. I expand the contractions again, but otherwise give the exact words 
of the original. 
2 T take it that “this particular’ was a request to Molyneux that he 
should endeavour to buy some of L.’s glasses for the Society. 
§ William Molyneux (1656-1698). He was B.A. of Trinity College, 
Dublin, and a “ philosopher” and mathematician. Elected F.R.S. in 1686— 
the same year as his brother (though owing to the confusion of “old style” 
and ‘‘ new style” dating, apparently a year earlier) : entered Middle Temple, 
1675: M.P. for Dublin University, 1692 and 1695. For his life see the 
Dict. Nat. Biogr. (in which the dates of election to the Roy. Soc. are given 
wrongly for both brothers). 
“ W. Molyneux (1692), p. 281. 
