This text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Printed in Brewster (1855), 2: 472-3 and NC, 3: 289-90. Newton's reply is in the Library of Queen's College, Oxford (29 January 1693/4: Brewster (1855), 2: 473-4 and NC, 3: 303-4), and Mill's reply to that in the Royal Society (21 February 1693/4: NC, 3: 305-8). Cf. Yahuda Ms. 4 (a draft or copy of the collation in question).
Original letter dated St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, 7 Nov. 1693. A reminder of Newton's promise to send Mill his notes on the collation of ancient manuscripts of Revelation.
in English
Bought at the Sotheby sale by Maggs Brothers for £4 and sold to Keynes on 19 August 1936 for the sale price plus 20%: Maggs advised Yahuda on 4 September following that it had gone.
My most honor'd Friend,
I am heartily sensible of your many signal favours and Civilities
to me when last at Cambridge. I hope you have not forgot your kind promise of
remarking in paper your thoughts of the Varieties you have mett with in the Apocalyps.
What ever I have not observ'd already in my Book, I would willingly add in my Ap
pendix which is goeing on, & willing have many things it it very considerable. My Book
as long as it is with you, is in as safe hands as I can desire. If you please you may
take the first fair Opportunity of Conveying it hither. I think the best way will be
by our Oxford Carrier, if the waters be low enough. You may send for him, and
put the book carefully pack'd up into his own hands. And if your servant go along
with Him, and see it put up in his Pack,'twill do well. We cannot be too carefull
in a matter of this Consequence. I have been mighty Curious since I saw you
last, in observing something which I have all along slighted as trivial hitherto,
the points of distinction in the old Alexandrian Copy. And now I find them
extraordinary accurate and regular. there is but one Note for all manner of
distinctions indeed, and 'tis at the top of a word as our modern Greek Colon:
but then 'tis plac'd with such exactness and Caution, every where, as to distin
guish e
we now do with all our modern Apparatus of distinctions. I am so very
fond of their way of distinguishing the Text, that I could heartily wish when
I collated ee
presume to beg your favour to transcribe any one single page in the Greek
and to print it exactly according to e
My most humble Service to my noble worthy Friend, your Master, as
also to Dr Covil. He put an Arabic Charm in my hands; which I have not yet return'd.
The next return of the Carrier, he shall surely receive it, with a translation of some
part of it. I hope our common friend Mr Laughton is well. Pray give him my thanks
for all Civilities.
But I doubt I trespass upon your time and studies. I wish you all imagi
nable Health and Happiness; and remain ever, with e
Worthy Sir,
Your most obedient humble
Servant,
Io: Mill.
St Edmund Hall Oxon
Nov. 7. 1693.
These
For the truely honor'd Mr Professor Newton
at his Lodgeings in
Trinity College
in
Cambridge