Letter to Oldenburg on his experiments to show colour and light

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: EL/N1/52, Royal Society Library, London, UK

Published online: June 2014

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  - 1 February 2014
    - Transcription by Daniele Cassisa
  - 16 June 2014
    - Code audited by Michael Hawkins
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Related Texts
- Follow ups to this document:
  Letter to Oldenburg on delays conducting experiments [EL/N1/54]

<52r>

Sir

I hope M^r Linus's Friends will acquiesce in the late tryall of the Experiment in debait, for the procurement of which & for sending them notice of the event, I return you my hearty thanks, as I have reason. I perceive I went upon a wrong supposition in what I wrote concerning M^r Boyles Experiment The Papers in your hand I have no present need of: You may send them at your best leisure. Sometime this Sommer it's possible I may make use of them, if I can but get some time to write the other discourse about the colours of the Prism which I have long intended. Sir I am

Your humble & obliged

Servant

Is. Newton.

Cambridge
May 11^th 1676.

<52v>

For Henry Oldenburg Esq.
at his house about the middle
of the old Pal-mall in

Westminster

London.

< insertion from lower down f 52v >

Received d. 12. Maji. 1676.

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Answered by D^r Sidnam May 15. 76. and sent by him his Hypothesis explaining the properties of Light; as also his discourse about the various colors exhibited by transparent substances made very thin by being blown into bubbles or otherwise formed into plates, altho at a greater thicknes they appear very clear and colorlesse.

In my letter accompanying these papers I imparted to M^r Newton the particulars contained in M. Leibnitz his letter to me of May 12. 1676. from Paris st.n.

< text from higher up f 52v resumes >