LETTERS OX SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 85 



fore Vietaes by letters, which he sales is more subject to 

 errors or mistakes,, though more facile and quick of dispatch, 

 but I conceive not yet whye. 



SIR CHARLES CAVENDISH TO JOHN PELL. 



[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 157, Orig.] 



Hamburg, Oct. #, 1644. 



Worthie Sir, Manie thankes for yours of October T 2 ^. I 

 conceive there might easilie be a mistake in the waie of re- 

 turning that 5 to you, but I am glad you nowe have it. 

 What difference there is between banck dollers and rixdollers 

 I knowe not/but I intended you should receive to the value of 

 5 sterling ; if it want anie considerable sum I praye let me 

 knowe it, for though the whole sum be not much considerable, 

 yet the cosenage is. I received yesterdaie a letter from 

 Mr. Hobbes, who had not seen De Cartes his newe booke 

 printed, but had reade some sheets of it in manuscript, and 

 seems to receive little satisfaction from it, and saies a friend 

 of his hath reade it through, and is of the same minde ; but 

 by their leaves I esteeme it an excellent booke, though I 

 thinke Monsieur Des Cartes is not infallible. Mersennus is 

 gone towardes Roome. Those bookes I desired might, I 

 suppose, have nowe bin in print, for Mersennus mentioning 

 them so manie months since, as worckes either printed or 

 readie for the press, made me upon that supposall desire them 

 if extant. Mr. Hobbes writes Gassendes his philosophic is 

 not yet printed, but that he hath reade it, and that it is as 

 big as Aristotle's philosophic, but much truer and excellent 

 Latin. Though you discommend Niceron for a vainglorious 

 man, yet your naming of his booke commended it to me, yet 

 not knowing certainelie whether I have it or not, and expect- 

 ing a second edition, for the present I desire it not. I desire 

 Gassendes his refutation of Des Cartes his Metaphisicks, printed 

 in 4to. ; and if there be anie other booke of philosophic or 

 mathematicks latelie printed, I desire it allso, especiallie your 

 Diophantus, if extant, or anie thinge els of yours. I desire you 

 will dispose of the remainder of that smalle sum I returned to 

 your owne use. Manie thankes for the copie of Reitas letter. 

 I admire his glass, and would gladlie buye such a glass, and 



fet acquaintance with the frier and his workman by letter if 

 could. 



Your assured friend to serve you, 



CHARLES CAVENDYSSHE. 



