Letter from Newton to Henry Oldenburg, dated 5 December 1674

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Cambridge Decem{illeg}|b| {illeg}|5|^th 1674.

S^r

I am sorry you put yo^r self to y^e trouble of transcribing Fr. Linus's conjecture, since (besides y^t it needs no answer) I have long since determined to concern my self no further about y^e promotion of Philosophy. And for y^e same reason I must desire to {illeg}|b|e excused from ingaging to exhibit yearly philosophic discourses, but yet cannot but acknowledge y^e honour done me by yo^r Counsel to think of me for one amongst y^t list of illustrious persons who are willing to perform it, & therefore desire to have my thanks returned to them for y^e motion. If it were my lot to be in London \for/ sometime, I might possibly take occasion to supply a vacant week or two w^th something by me, but that's not worth mentioning.

If you think fit you may to prevent Fr. Linus's slurring himself in print w^th his wide conjecture, direct him to y^e scheme in my second answer to P. Pardies ^[1] & signify (but not from me) that y^e experiment as it is represented was tryed in cle{illeg}|a|r days, & y^e Prism placed close to y^e hole in y^e window so y^t y^e light had no room to diverge, & y^e coloured image{illeg} ma{illeg}|d|e not parallel (as in his conjecture) but transvers to y^e axis of y^e Prism.

Yo^r humble Servant

I. Newton

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These

For Henry Oldenburg Esqꝫ
at his house about y^e middle of
y^e old Pall-mall in

Westminster

London

Rec. Dec: 8. 74. |2|