6 GALILEO. 



Galileo and Nozzolini are printed, and also a letter of Benedetto 

 Castelli, who took the same side as Galileo ; it appears that Galileo 

 had the same notion as Nozzolini when the question was first 

 23roposed to him, but afterwards changed his mind. The matter 

 is discussed by the disputants in a very lively manner, and some 

 amusing illustrations are introduced. It does not appear, however, 

 that the discussion is of any scientific interest or value, and the 

 terms in which Libri refers to it attribute much more importance 

 to Galileo's letters than they deserve. The Florentine gentlemen 

 when they renounced the frivolities already mentioned might have 

 investigated questions of greater moment than that which is here 

 brought under our notice. 



