Letter from Newton to John Collins, dated 17 September 1673

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MS Add. 9597/2/18/36, Cambridge University Library, Cambridge, UK

Published online: February 2013

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- Revision History
  - 27 June 2012
    - Daniele Cassisa started tagged transcription
  - 15 October 2012
    - Catalogue information compiled from CUL Janus Catalogue by Michael Hawkins
  - 15 February 2013
    - Proofed by Robert Iliffe
  - 25 February 2013
    - Code audit by Michael Hawkins
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<36r>

Sept 17 – 73.

S^r

I have here inclosed a Testimony of my judgment concerning M^r Dary his fitness for y^e place w^ch he sues for, & I wish him all successe in it. The day after |y^t| I received your letter w^th one from him inclosed, I received another from him wherein he desires my opinion about the relation of y^e lines one to another which are drawn from y^e center of an Ellipsis to the angular points of a polygon inscribed into y^e same Ellipsis, w^ch consists of 24 equall sides. As it appeares to me, their relation cannot be accurately known without an Equation w^ch is 4 times decompounded of affected cubic equations & twice of quadratick ones, & by consequence would ascend to 3{illeg}|2|4 dimensions: To compute w^ch would be a Herculean labour, & when done, it would be unmanageable. I doubt therefore y^t to decide th{illeg}|e| controversy between him & M^r Gunton, recours must be had to some mechanicall examination of their assertions, but I leave it to you & M^r Bond to whome I understand it is referred. I must beg excuse y^t I have so long deferred to answer your letter wherein another from M^r Gregory was coveyed {sic} to me but now I understand that M^r Gregory is at London, & intends to make Cambridg in his way into Scotland, I shall not trouble you any further w^th discourses about y^e Perspective but refer it to o^r meeting, if M^r Gregory will be pleased to favour me w^th a visit. I thank you for y^e little but ingenious tract of P. Pardies, & remain

S^r

Yo^r obliged friend &
Servant

I. Newton

<36av>

These

To M^r John Collins

against|at| M^r William
Austins house over at \against/ the Adam
& Eve in Petty France, Westminst

London.

|Send by Styles att y^e green dragon in Bishops gate on Thursday|