Oeuvres complètes. Tome VII. Correspondance 1670-1675

[p. 487]

N^o 2047.
Fr. Smethwick à Christiaan Huygens.
10 juillet 1675.
Appendice au No. 2046.

La lettre se trouve à Leiden, coll. Huygens.
Chr. Huygens y répondit par le No. 2063.

Sir

as yo^u highly obliged me by yo^r taking notice of so vnworthy a person as J am in a letter to the worthy Gent. Mr. Oldenburgh¹⁾: so let me tell yo^u that yo^u haue cast the same obligation vpon the whole world, whom yo^u haue astonished to an amazement by yo^r happy and rare invention of the Pendulum, by which yo^u haue contributed so much to the advance [me] nt of mankind whether in relation to their divine or morall concernments that I know not what Trophy adaequate or proportionable to yo^r meritt can be erected for yo^u. And one thing further I cannot choose but take notice off that yo^u were desig'nd not onely the first Inventor but also at one and the same time the finisher of so happy an invention; where by yo^u seeme to haue contradicted that known maxime Nihil simul et natum et perfectum esse.

The Particulars yo^u mentioned in the foresaid letter concerning Perspective were two. First that you would willingly be informed what successe I had found in grinding of Glasses not sphaericall, and secondly that it would be esteemed no small secrett to render the sphaericall, superficies perfect & wel polish't. In order to the first I haue assum'd the confidence to present vnto yo^r more critical and mature iudgment a Specimen of the true Figure plano-convex fitted to a Focus of about 3 inches and its Aperture 1 inch, w^ch is 8 or 9 times greater then the best sphaericall glasse can possibly admit of. As to the second particular, I haue sent likewise another plano-convex fitted neer vpon to the same focus of a superficies (if I may say it) perfectly sphaericall and truly pollished vp to the edges from off the Tool which vpon larger segments of y^e sphaere (as I conceiue) has not hitherto by any bene acurately and faithfully performed, both w^ch I hope may render their severall effects somewhat considerable in their proper applications. Now Sr giue me leaue onely to add thus much to what I haue imparted to yo^u that as I shall liue in the admiration of yo^r trancendent gifts & faculties, so I shall euer remain in a cheerfull readinesse to serue yo^u by my pen here, whilst I am debarr'd by an vnhappy distance of place from the enjoyment of the presence of

1) Consultez la Lettre N^o. 1866.

[p. 488]

so renown'd a person as yo^r self, a free converse w^th whom, would add much to my content and happinesse who am

Sir

Yo^r admiring and devoted servant Fr. Smethwick.

S. Petr. West vlt. Jun. 1675.

A Monsieur Monsieur Christian Hugens de Zulichem dans la Bibliotheque du Roy a Paris.