Record

RefNoMS/81/22
Previous numbersMS 81.19
LevelItem
TitleLetter, from [Gottfried Leibniz] to [Henry Oldenburg], dated in Paris
Date5 July 1674
DescriptionLetter in Leibniz' hand, addressed to "Monsieur Oldenburg [Counsel of the King and Secretary of the Royal Society]", and carried "[by a friend]". Dated 15 July using Gregorian calendar by Leibniz.
Titled "Monsr Leibniz concerning his new Arithmetical Instrument and some geometrical discoveries" in Henry Oldenburg's hand on the last page.

Describes an arithmetical instrument that allows him to perform multiplications - [clarification: likely the stepped reckoner].
Lays out his method to express the area of a circle using infinite series and mentions his general analytical method in a paragraph underlined in red to mark its inclusion in the printed 'Commercium Epistolicum' 1722 edition, page 115, XXXII
Mentions [Robert] Boyle, [John] Wallis, and [Robert] Hooke in the closing of the letter.
Two postscripts which include his forwarding address in Paris and mention Pascal and Cassini.

Noted "received in London 12 July 1674 by M. Walter, responded 15 July".
Endorsed 'No. 32: p. 114'
LanguageLatin
Extent4pp.
FormatManuscript
PhysicalDescriptionInk; paper
AccessStatusOpen
RelatedMaterialOriginal printed as letter 2511 in Hall & Hall, "The correspondence of Henry Oldenburg, vol. XI", pp.42-47
Fellows associated with this archive
CodePersonNameDates
NA8001Oldenburg; Henry (c 1619 - 1677); natural philosopher and scientific correspondentc 1619 - 1677
NA8450Leibniz; Gottfried Wilhelm von (1646 - 1716); mathematician and natural philosopher1646 - 1716
Add to My Items

    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView