A supplement to the Philosophical transactions of July, 1670 : With some reflexions on Dr. John Wallis, his letter there inserted.

  • Holder, William, 1616-1698.
Date:
1678
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A supplement to the Philosophical transactions of July, 1670 : With some reflexions on Dr. John Wallis, his letter there inserted. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    being before returned home to his Friends, began to lofe what he had been taught by Dr .Holder. From thence¬ forth Dr. Wallis praftifod to aflame Mr. Fophams (peaking wholly to himfolf 5 not that he dared to challenge it, but he contrived always to have it believed 3 which he did with fo much induftry and eff’eft, that there are at this day very few in Oxford, who know or think otherwife, but that it was the effeB of the Doctors skill, as he has caufed it to be published in the Tranfaftions. By thefo Confiderations therefore, his defign was to make the world believe that he was the firft who thought of it, which he could not then do whilft things were frefli in memory and knowledg about Oxford. Thefe Confidera- tions did not foe the light till about eight years after, and weretoufher in a Poftfoript or Comment upon his Let¬ ter, which was to pals, as if written by the Publifher of the Tranfa&ions, but was wholly penned by himfolf, as Mr. Gldenburgh avowed to Dr .Holder^ and after to the Right Honourable President, and to others of the Society* Which is not the firft nor.the laft ejfett of the faid Dottors skill, in thus penning and fpreadinghis own fame. The Reader may find and foe in foveral Authors Works, who would fuffer themfelves to be fo impofod upon, the Fame and Praife of Dr. Wallis in large Characters ingra- ven by himfolf For that purpofo the Tranfachons wero his common Market., and a new Book upon the Anvii, if he could find way and leave to croud himfolf in, was a* Fair for this Merchant of Glory. And when he got a hint (for which he always lay in wait) of any confiderable new Invention or Improvement, prefently comes out an, Epiftle or (mail Tra&ate of Dr. John Wallis upon that fob- jeft, to entitle it to himfolf As to this particular, the Reader will find a fummary account of it in this enfuing Paper, which is for down a$ it was intended to be inferted in the Tranfaftions, And though this prefont Vindication appears fo late, the com¬ plaint and add reft to the Royal Society were more early,, but met with delays, which were alto favoured by the-.