my arrival here I have been hindered in my work by an illness which lasted six weeks, and which interfered with my studies and other useful employments; but I have at last recovered, and am beginning to make the acquaintance of the most learned men in this place. I have called upon, and made the acquaintance of, De La Hire, who is now a great astronomer, and who was formerly a well-known geometrician. I have also been frequently with Warrignon, who is the greatest geometrician and algebraist in this city, and perhaps the greatest in Europe. About eight days ago I called upon Abbé Bignon, and presented your compliments, on the strength of which I was very favorably received by him. I submitted to him for examination, and for introduction into the Society, three discoveries, two of which were in algebra. [The third was his new method of finding longitude.]. . . Here in town I avoid conversation with Swedes, and shun all those by whom I might be in the least interrupted in my studies. What I hear from the learned, I note down at once in my journal; it would be too long to copy it out and to communicate it to you. . . . During my stay in Holland I was most of the time in Utrecht, where the Diet [Congress[1]] met, and where I was in great favor with Ambassador Palmquist, who had me every day at his house; every day also I had discussions on algebra with him. He is a good mathematician and a great algebraist. . . . In Leyden I learned glassgrinding [for telescopes], and I have now all the instruments and utensils belonging to it. . . . You may rest assured that I entertain the greatest friendship and veneration for you; I hope, therefore, that you will not be displeased with me on account of my silence, and my delay in writing letters, if you hear that I am always intent on my studies, so that sometimes I omit more important matters."
Swedenborg's stay in Paris seems to have been less than a year, and here seems to end his aspiration for eminence in
- ↑ The famous Congress of Ambassadors, by which the Spanish Succession was ended and peace secured for a generation.
