LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 97 



was writing against him. " But/ 5 said he, f( I have written a 

 confirmation and illustration of my demonstration, and 

 to-morrow I intend to send it to the presse, that with the 

 next opportunity I may send printed coppies to transmarine 

 mathematicians, craving their censure of it. On this side of 

 the sea/ 5 said he, "I shall hope to have your approbation of 

 it." I answered that I was then busy, and could not per- 

 suade myself to pronounce of any such question before I had 

 very thoroughly considered it at leysure in my owne chamber. 

 Whereupon he gave me these two papers, bidding me take 

 as much time as I pleased. Well, said I, if your work 

 seeme true to mee, T shall not be afraid to tell the world so : 

 but if I find it false, you will be content that I tell you so ; 

 but privately, seeing you have onely thus privately desired 

 my opinion of it. " Yes," said he, " I shall be content, and 

 thanke you too. But, I pray you, do not dispute against 

 my construction, but shew me the fault of my demonstration, 

 if you finde any." Thus we then parted, I leaving him at 

 Salisbury house, and returning home. 



THOMAS BRANCKER TO JOHN PELL. 



[MS. Birch, Brit. Mus. 4278, fol. 36, Orig.] 



Tottenham, May 9th, 1666. 



Revered Sir, I understand by Mr. Collins that you had 

 my last, but are, as you had reason, offended at Mr. Pittes 

 presumption. Little souls have little designs ; what his was, 

 I know not, but I thought it not at present convenient to do 

 any more than I did, viz : take notice that the letters were 

 opened and enquire by whom. However, I durst not con- 

 ceal it. The man is I hope very fair ; as to all other matters 

 wherein I have dealt with him I have found him so. Possibly 

 he was hasty to see what assistance you were pleased to 

 afford us. I am thus tedious about him, because I would 

 fain entreat for him to procure his pardon. What I wrote in 

 my last concerning the book, I again refer to your consider- 

 ation, for as much as my design herein I hope is not sordid 

 or mean ; but the truest advantage that may be gained to the 

 argument. I have now only to acquaint you that they have 

 in hand the table. They omitte the first leafe, according 

 what I hinted in my last to yourselfe about it. Only whereas 

 Rhonius ordered the incomposits to be printed in a larger 

 character when they first appear in the table, viz : where they 



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