The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-03
BLAlsE PASCAL AND SIR ISAAC NEWTON.
Letters Laid Before the French Academy

rest by the skeptcism of NJ Faugere NJ
Chasles has read at the Academy several letters
OF the interesting correspondence purporting TO
have been held between Pascal and Newton, be-
ginning when the latter was boy at school. M.
Chasles possesses nearly Eve hundred papers
signed by Pascal, andseyeral hundred signed by
Newton, Leibnitz Jacqueline, Pascal, Perrier,
hohault, and Others which contain mutual re-
ferences to one another No new argument has
been presented to contest the authenticity OF
these signatures, and nj. Cha-es has advanced
nothing new in their defense.
Except the statement, intended to parry
remark of M. Faye, that Pascal would have cal
culated the mass of Saturn from the movement
of its second satellite, which was known in 1885,
M. ChasIes also dlsposes of the objection that
Pascal would have taken pains to publish such
portant specuations, by reference to the fact
that Pascal neglected to publish his principal
works. Not only his theological writings, as the
Pensees, were collected after his death, though
evidently forming the fragments of syste-
matte treatise that he had intended completing
but his scientific treatises on the Equilibrium
of Fluids" and the weight of the Atmo-
spbere,n finished in 1868, were equally left for
posthumous publication, and his writings, enti
tied "Tactiones spherical, Tactiones conicm,
have been entirely lost. However it may be-
the letters read by M. Chssles are interesting.
The following are translatlons OF the more i'm
portant of them:-
PASCAL TO ROBERT BOYLE,
Janvier. - Monsieur: - have recently
received letter accompanied by memoir from
young English student, treating of the calcu-
lation OF the Infinite, another on the system of
vortex, and third on the equilibrium of
fluids and on weight. 1 have observed In these
divers "
have really surprised me, above all on the part
of young man hardly emerged from childhood; /;
for am told that he is hardly thirteen years
old. My astonishment was so great that for
moment l was tempted TO believe that these
works originated with some savant well versed
in such matters but who, tor the sake of some
mystifcation, had borrowed the name of
young student. There are some of your coun-
trymen who have such bizarre ideas, II you will
permit me the expression. However 1t may be,
these memoirs are full OF talent, and it Is easy
to see that their author has not only studied
with care Kepler and Descartes, as also my
experiments on the weight OF the atmosphere,
but that he himself has known how to observe
the complicated effects OF nature and devise
new experiments.
That seems to me great deal for young
man. However, without doubt, you know
him. He is called Isaac Newton. l should be
very glad if you could give me some informa-
ton concerning this precocous young savant,
for wish to know with whom l have TO do
before reply.
I am, sir, your we'll affectioned, PASCAL.
To M. Robert Boyle.
PASCAL TO NEWTON.
PARIS, 20 May, 1654-My Young Friend Il
have learned with what care YOU seek to initiate
yourself INTO the mathematical and geometrIcal
sciences and that you desire to explore thor
ougbly the works OF the late NJ. Descartes. l
send you several of his papers, which have been
remitted to me by one OF his good friends. 1
send you, also, divers problems which have been
formerly the object of my preoccupatioEs, touch
ing the laws of abstraction, in order to exercise
ynn L UOn n mi w m UOn
think of them. But be careful, my young friend,
that you do not too greatly fatigue your ima-
gination. Work, study, but do 1t with molera.
tion. 1t is the best means to acquire, and to
profit by what you have learned L speak to
you by experience. For also from my youth,
was IN haste to learn, and nothing could hinder
nv young intelligence, if may so speak. To-
day find that have overcharged my memory,
and it begins to fail me at the moment that
have most need OF it.
l do not say this to you, my young friend, tC
turn you away from your studies, but to induce
you to study with moderation. knowledge
grows insensibly and with time. No more a
present my young friend, except to assure yol
of nv affection, PASCAL.
TO Young Newton, student at Grantham.
PASCAL TO NEWTON.
NAV Q, l665-Monsieur and Young Friend:-
What has been told me of your precociou
genius has been very agreeable to me- and ha
recalled the happy recollections OF my owl
childhood. All how beautiful was the time
when l hIst heard the euogY of great men, ant
aSplreQ 10 tTedu Ill Ju6lT STEPS. Anu now Sd
TO myself: Happy is he whose imagination
bold lively, and powerful and who has tn
noble ardor to wish to elevate himself to glory
These violent transports which lead us to thlrs
for reputation are themselves augurles that an
nounce that we shall one day merit It, Nj
young friend, remember well what | am gon
to say to you. No man who does not aspire t
make name for himself will ever achiev
anything great. Whose passes along wit
nonchaanCe and GOODNESS in the caree
that he has embraced, suffers all the an
noyances and the disgusts OF his profession
without enjoying the honor or the recompense
The soul must be stirred by the contem
platon of great things. We should as muc
as possible, as has been well said by Longinut
nourish our mind with grandeur; keep 1t fu
and enlarged with a certain noble and generou
pride. Above all, let us Danish too great sci
distrust; 1t is a langour OF the soul which pre-
vents her from taking fight, and proceedn
with rapldity towards the end which she desire
Self.distrust is to our faculties what cold is Il
the earth; it cripples them, stiles them; 1t pr
vents one from perceiVing that which he Is, an
from feeling that which he might be one da
But the dew of the morning is less useful TO Il
flowers, than emulation is to the faculties OF u
mind. 1t sets them at liberty, and fecundat
them with activity. Therefore, my young irlen
/ engage you to read with care our class
authors who have written on the science
Study Euclid, Archimedes Copernieus, DE
cartes, Gaheo, etc.. and tell me what mspir
tlons these writers shall have suggested to you
am your well affectioned, PASCAL.
To young Newton.
PASCAL TO NEWTON.
December 2, 1857 My Young Friend:-I sci
to you by the medium of one of my frienC
who is about to journey in Europe a packet