Letter from Newton to Henry Oldenburg, dated 10 February 1671/2 Isaac Newton c. 373 words The Newton Project Falmer 2012 Newton Project, University of Sussex

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 10 February 1671/2, c. 386 words, 2 ff. 2 ff.

Published in H.W. Turnbull (ed), The Correspondence of Isaac Newton, vol. 1 (Cambridge: 1959), pp. 108-9

 MS Add. 9597/2/18/15, Cambridge University Library, Cambridge, UK UKCambridgeCambridge University Library Macclesfield Collection MS Add. 9597/2/18/15 10 February 1671/2 England English Holograph Henry Oldenburg Unknown Cataloguer Unknown Hand (1) MathematicsCorrespondence Daniele Cassisa started tagged transcription Catalogue information compiled from CUL Janus Catalogue by Michael Hawkins Proofed by Robert Iliffe Code audit by Michael Hawkins
15. Mr Newtons letter to M Oldenburg giving thanks to the R.Royal Society for their favorable acceptance of his discourse of Light and colors.

T. C.Trinity College Cambridg. Feb 10 16712.

SrSir Twas an esteem of yethe R.Royal Society for most candid & able Judges in philosophicall matters wchwhich encouraged mee to present them wthwith that discours of light & colours, wchwhich since they have so favourably accepted of, I doe earnestly desire you to returne them my cordiall thanks. I before thought it a great favour to have beene made a member of that honourable body; but I am now more sensible of the advantage. For beleive me SrSir I doe not onely esteem it a duty to concurre wthwith them in yethe promotion of reall knowledg, but a great privelegeprivilege that instead of exposing discourses to a prejudic't & censorious multitude (by wchwhich means mapny thruths have been bafled & lost,) I may wthwith freedom apply my self to so judicious & impartiall an Assembly. As to yethe printing of that letter I am satisfyed in their judgment, or else I should have thought it too straight & narrow for publick view. I designed it onely to those that know how to improve upon hints of things, & therefore to shun tediousnesse omitted many such remarques & experiments as might be collected by considering the assigned laws of refractions; some of wchwhich I bieleiieve wthwith the generality of men would yet bee almost as taking as any of those I described. But yet since the R.S.Royal Society have thought it fit to appear publickly, I leave it to their pleasure. And perhaps to supply the afforesaid defects I may send you some more of the Experiments to second it (if it bee so thought fit) in the ensuing Transactions.] I have noe more but to offer my acknowledgments of your kindnesses in particular & my thanks for the pains you are pleased to undertake in printing that letter. [Sr I am YorYour Faithfull Servant I. Newton
These To Mr Henry Oldenburg at his house about the middle of the old Pall-mail in Westminster London 2 Rec. Feb. 13. 71/2. Answ. Febr. 17. and sent him M. Hooks observations upon his discourse.