| RefNo | MS/81/15 |
| Previous numbers | MS 81.12 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy letter, from [John Collins] to [Giovanni Alfonso Borelli] |
| Recipient | Borelli; Giovanni Alfonso (1608-1679); Italian physiologist; physicist; mathematician |
| Date | December 1671 |
| Description | Corrected and translated copy of a letter in Collins' hand, dated on blank cover page along with name of recipient.
Likely a draft, the letter is written is English on the verso of pages and translated into Latin on the recto throughout.
Discusses exchanges of books likely on behalf of the Accademia del Cimento, founded by Borelli and Marcello Malpighi.
In asnwer to a letter by Borelli dated 10 April 1671, and following the receipt of two packets of books listed and intended for [Robert] Boyle and [John] Wallis. Sends Boyle and Wallis' regards and books from them. Discusses how a further shipment of books from Collins was not admitted in Messina because of the plague in Turkey. Sending some more volumes along with the letter although not many have recently been published and discussing payment for books, which will be brough by a merchant, Jonathan Parker. Mentions some titles on a range of natural philosophical topics in the press. Recommends, "many good books of Algebra in Low Dutch", listing them, and including [Gerard] Kinckhuysen. Mentions Isaac Newton's forthcoming translation of Kinckhuisen's [Algebra ofte] Stelkonst (1662), introducing him as "mathematical professor at Cambridge", mentioning that his general method of analytical quadrature will be added to the translation. The passage is underlined with quotation marks in the margins.
Discusses that Newton has invented the shortening of telescopes 3/4 of their length, and the use of refractive lenses. Enquires of interesting telescopes designed by Pere [Gilles-François de] Gottignies in Rome and asks Borelli to send Gottignies' Dioptricks along with two treatises by [Pietro Mengoli]; the Opera Posthuma of Giovanni Battista; the Life of Galileo; as well as some of Borelli's own publications.
Sends a problem on arithmetic progression for the consideration of [Michelangelo Ricci] so that a full treatise be written. Writes in closing: "I have had no Universitie education, or Tutor, have rather spent diverse years at Sea as a Mariner as part of the Venetian fleet in an English ship, yet have adventured to draw up a Paper of Reasons to [prove] the Assertion, which so highly deserves the best thoughts of the most learned", a copy of the justification is written to be enclosed to the letter.
Different hand notes at the top ' No 22: p. 101' in reference to the inclusion of the passage referring to Newton's forthcoming publication of Kinckhuisen in the printed 'Commercium Epistolicum' 1722 edition, page 101', paragraph XXII.
Numbered 7; 12 at the end. |
| Language | English |
| Latin |
| Extent | 8pp. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA2898 | Collins; John (1625 - 1683); mathematician and scientific administrator | 1625 - 1683 |