LKTTKKS ()\ 1011 N III M 



\vas writing against, him. " But," said he, k > I have \\rillm a 

 continuation and illnstrat ir.ii of my demonstration, and 

 to-morro\v I intend to scud it to the pn --. t hat \\ith the 

 next opportunity I may send printed eoppies to transmarine 

 mathematicians, craving tlieir censure of it. On this sidr of 

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

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

 suade myself to pronounce of any such, question before I had 

 very thoroughly considered itatleysure in my ov\ne 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 M : 

 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 



? resumption. Little souls have little designs ; what his was, 

 know r 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 1 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 to 

 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 



