OH the Calchiation of Mel ah. 75 



tor of an iron foundry, with whom he lived, and where he studied 

 Chemistry and Natural Philosophy." 



" Reputation is a strange thing ! John Rey, 



who preceded the immortal Pascal, the celebrated Descartes, 

 and the great Newton, is almost unknown in the republic of 

 letters. His style resembles that of Michel de Montaigne, — he 

 has the same energy, and less diffusiveness, — it is surprising 

 that so powerful a writer should have been absolutely forgotten. 

 His book, which treats of one single experiment, was not cal- 

 culated for his time, — it belonged wholly to our own : — printed 

 in a small provincial town, for the use of some friends, it had 

 none of those celebrated pxiffers, (proneurs,) who assign the 

 various ranks in science ; for they who would receive the wreath 

 of immortal fame must address their adoration to those great 

 cabals, which have established their thrones in the scientific 

 world, — but the glories that surround the heads of the spirits, 

 so cried up in these circles, gradually fade away. Literary 

 usurpations are, in time, discovered, and some celebrated ge- 

 niuses, who were the wonder of their age, have ended like Ron- 

 sard, who was no more thought of when Malherbe appeared. 

 In short, the academy of sciences was not yet in existence, and 

 the spirit of sect' prevailed in all the little committees of science 

 (bureaux) that were then held at a few private houses." 



The author of the Avertissement next mentions several of 

 Rey's correspondents, and especially, Marin Mersene. He 

 then states, that " the Essays " are very scarce, that when 

 they appeared Mersene had doubts on the subject, which 

 Rey answered in a masterly manner. Raphael Trichet copied 

 these letters, and in the catalogue of his library, Rey's JSssays 

 are inserted in the class of Philosophy, Natural History, S^c. 



The volume passed from thence into the king's library, and 

 was mentioned to the editor, (M. Gobet,) by M. L'Abbe Desau- 

 nays. The reprint was from a copy furnished by M. de Villiers, 

 from his own library, who had the liberality to^ sacrifice it for 

 the public good*. 1 translate the following, verbatim. 



* M.dc Villicr's, "■ n hienvoulu sacrifier son exemplaire en favtitr du bien 



