The Hartlib Papers

Sir,                          Paris the 12. july 1659.

I intend to be short and long this time. I answer to yours from the 20. Iune, I. shall be very glad to haue another copy, if you please, of what was most materiall in that lost letter of yours, especially of Dr Horns letter, and the votes of Parlement with the propos. of the army. The owner of the Library, I mentioned formerly to you, is called Monsieur Du Harlé, one of the presidents of the Parlement of Paris: Whether there is a catalogue of it, that is communicable, you shall know shortly. Is that gallant new Edition Bible printing at Cambridge, another yet, than that rich one of 10. languages and 6. volums? and if so, wherein doth it differ from it, and what <new> advantages shall we get by it?   Mr Poleman is a person knowne in France too for an able chymist. I wish, Hugenius his discourse of his Diall were put in print: He is knowne here, to be a very ingenious man, and he correspondeth with Monsieur Bullialdus, Mr Petit and severall other mathematicians of Paris, to whom also he hath giuen notice of his purpose to put old Saturne in print. If anything is able to conduct our reasoning about the Celestiall bodies, it is the perfecting of Telescopes: By improving them we may [deletion] by their means make navigations as well into the Heauens and discouer new Countries there, as Columbus did with<by> ships in America: the vulgar opinion of the unity of the world being now exploded, and that Doctrine thought absurd, which teacheth, the Sun and all the Heauenly hoste, which are so many times bigger than our Earth, to be made only to enlighten and to quicken us:   But I doubt very much, whether the French will produce any great matter in point of Tubes, or Chymistry, or any [deletion] mechaniques; They haue not that required steddines; and besides, they complaine of want of encouragement by men of power and means; witnes, they say, Monsieur Chorez, who had the same invention, that Mr Dymocks hath, but for want of [deletion] assuring him of a recompence for putting it into practise and for discouering it to others, he took it with him into his graue. This person, as I was but very lately informed, dyed but 2. or 3. months agoe, and published in print, that he had such an invention, and the excellency of its many uses, which I send you here inclosed, and should haue put it into English, if I had time: I doubt not, but you'l meet with some body, that hath more leasure than I; if not, vpon notice, giuen I shall seek to redeem sometime to doe it for you. If it be true, what is said in this paper about the uses of such a machine, I think it is one of the best

   I giue you many thanks for the continued intelligence of publique passages. From hence I can returne you nothing at present, but that the ratification of the peace came in here 3. dayes since: and that we haue news, that the famous Queen of Sueden had an intention to repaire in person to the Emperours Court, for to sollicit him to make open warre against the king <of Sueden>, and to let his an army of his march into Pomerania : which but that, wiser people, than she, haue turned her <away> from putting her good will into execution. There is news also, that the Pope and the Venetians are like to fall out; because, the Beast will innovate something in that Commonwealth for his young ones in point of acquisition of lands, which those wise Statesmen[altered from Statesman] haue thought formerly fit and necessary to hither hinder priests and monks in, for feare, those locusts should graspe and devoure all. Certainly, if the interest and yealousy of Princes and States were not in the way, this beast with all its crew would soon be starued, and they take to themselues again, what they haue enriched and adorned them with to their owne ruine. But the time of God is not yet come    I conclude with being constantly

             sir your real friend and servant. H.O.

[left margin:] I pray, be not sparing in writing your state secrets: for of hundred letters it falleth out seldom, that one miscarrieth: