study. To this time belong those most interesting letters of Humphrey Newton, his amanuensis from 1683 to 1689, which remain our best helps to a vivid conception of the living Newton.1

"In the last years of King Charles II.," writes Humphrey Newton to Mr. Conduitt, the husband of Catherine Barton, who was compiling materials for Sir Isaac's life, "Sir Isaac was pleased, through the mediation of Mr. Walker (then schoolmaster at Grantham), to send for me up to Cambridge, on whom I had the opportunity as well as the honour to wait for about five years. In such time he wrote his Principia Mathematica,' which stupendous work by his order I copied before it went to the press. After the printing, Sir Isaac was pleased to send me with several of them as presents to some of the heads of colleges and others of his acquaintance, some of whom (particularly Dr. Babington of Trinity) said that they might study seven years before they understood any thing of it. His carriage then was very meek, sedate and humble, never seemingly angry, of profound thought; his countenance mild, pleasant, and comely. I cannot say I ever saw him laugh but once, which was at that passage which Dr. Stukeley mentioned in his letter to your Honour.2 He always kept close to his studies, very rarely went a visiting, and had as few visitors, excepting two or three persons, Mr. Ellis, Mr.

1 Quoted in Sir D. Brewster's "Life of Newton," vol. ii. p. 50.

2 This solitary laugh of Newton's was upon occasion of asking a friend to whom he had lent Euclid to read what progress he had made in that author, and how he liked him.

Laughton, of Trinity, and Mr. Vigani, a chemist, in whose company he took much delight and pleasure of an evening, when he came to wait upon him. I never knew him to take any recreation or pastime, either in riding out to take the air, walking, bowling, or any other exercise whatever, thinking all hours lost that were not spent in his studies, to which he kept so close that he seldom left his chamber except at term time when he read in the schools, as being Lucasianus professor; when so few went to hear him, and fewer that understood him, that ofttimes he did, in a manner, for want of hearers read to the walls. Foreigners he received with a great deal of freedom, candour and respect. When invited to a treat, which was very seldom, he used to return it very handsomely, and with much satisfaction to himself. So intent, so serious upon his studies, that he ate very sparingly, nay, ofttimes he has forgot to eat at all, so that going into his chamber I have found his mess untouched, of which when I have reminded him, he would reply, Have I?' and then, making to the table, would eat a bit or two standing, for I cannot say I ever saw him sit at table by himself.2 At some seldom enter

"He answered by desiring to know what use and benefit in life that study would be to him? Upon which Sir Isaac was very merry." ("Dr. Stukeley's Letter to Conduitt.")

1

1A Veronese, made professor of chemistry at Cambridge, after having taught for twenty years; for whom Bentley fitted up an old lumber house in Trinity as a laboratory and lecture room. Catherine Barton has recorded that upon Vigani's telling her uncle a loose story of a nun, he broke off all acquaintance with him.

2 Dr. Stukeley says,-" When he had friends to entertain, if he went into his study to fetch a bottle of wine, there

tainments, the masters of colleges were chiefly his guests. He very rarely went to bed till two or three of the clock,1 sometimes not till five or six, lying about four or five hours, especially at spring and fall of the leaf, at which times he used to employ about six weeks in his elaboratory, the fire scarcely going out either night or day, he sitting up one night and I another, till he had finished his chemical experiments, in the performance of which he was the most accurate, strict, exact. What his aim might be I was not able to penetrate into, but his pains, his diligence, at these set times made me think he aimed at something beyond the reach of human art and industry. I cannot say I ever saw him drink either wine, ale, or beer, excepting at meals, and then very sparingly. He very rarely went to dine in the hall, except on some public days, and then, if he has not been minded, would go very carelessly, with shoes down at heels, stockings untied, surplice on, and his head scarcely combed.

"As for his optics being burned, I knew nothing of it but as I had heard from others, that accident happening before he wrote his 'Principia.' He was very curious in his garden, which was never out of order, in which he would

was danger of his forgetting them. When he was going home to Coltersworth from Grantham, he once led his horse up Spittlegate Hill, at the town end. When he designed to remount, his horse had slipped the bridle and gone away without his perceiving it, and he had only the bridle in his hand all the while!"-Dr. Stukeley to Conduitt," Newton's Life" by Brewster, vol. ii. p. 52.

1 Stukeley says he afterwards got into better habits, by experience of the mischief of late watching, and did not sit up after twelve.

at some seldom times take a short walk or two, not enduring to see a weed in it. At the left end of the garden was his elaboratory, near the east end of the chapel, in which he at these set times employed himself with a great deal of satisfaction and delight. Nothing extraordinary, as I can remember, happened in making his experiments; which, if there did, he was of so sedate and even temper that I could not in the least discover it. He very seldom went to the chapel, that being the time he chiefly took his repose; and as for the afternoon, his earnest and indefatigable studies retained him, so that he scarcely knew the hour of prayer. Very frequently on Sundays he went to St. Mary's Church, especially in the forenoon. I know nothing of the writings which your Honour sent, only that it is his own hand I am very certain of, believing he might write them at some leisure hours before he set upon his more serious and weighty matters. Sir Isaac at that time had no pupils nor any chamber-fellow; for that, I would presume to think, would not have been agreeable to his studies. He was only once disordered with pains in the stomach, which confined him for some days to his bed, which he bore with a great deal of patience and magnanimity, seemingly indifferent either to live or die. He, seeing me much concerned at his illness, bid me not to trouble myself. For if,' said he, ‘I die, I shall leave you an estate,' which he then mentioned."

A month after, Humphrey Newton thus eked out his recollections:

1 Sir David Brewster thinks these may have been some of his theological writings, as his Eirenaica, "Doctrines tending to Peace," an attempt at inducing more toleration than was then tolerated.