NEWTON (ISAAC)Autograph letter signed ("Your most humble & most obedient/ Servant/ Is. Newton") to Samuel Pepys ("Sr"), rejoicing at receiving a letter from him, glad to hear of his good health from the bearer and hoping said bearer [Samuel Newton] will answer their expectations, going on "...He shewed me your Problem. Viz How seamen may be convinced of the possibilities of improving navigation. I know no certain way of convincing them; but the best way that I can think of is by shewing them out of history that navigation has been improved in all ages down to our own, that some things of great moment are still wanting... & that ships often miscarry through their unskilfulness, wch is your own argument. But when all is done there will be no certain way of convincing them but by improving it. And then they will be convinced only so far, as they see it improved. For what seaman would have expected the inventions of sails, Anchors, Rudders, the compass & Gunpowder till they were found out...", thanking him for the encouragement he is giving Sam Newton "...for tho' he is almost a stranger to me, yet I should be glad to find that he gives satisfaction as well for ye sake of my Recommendation as for the sake of the Hospitall...", integral address panel addressed "For the Honble Samuel Pepys Esq/ in York Buildings/ London", docketed in ink on recto "May.17.1695" in the hand of Pepys, and on verso in another hand, one page on a bifolium, crown and circle watermark with initials CC and P, seal tear, light dust-staining, creased at folds, losses along upper fold, not affecting text, 4to (210 x 150mm.), Trinity College, Cambridge, 17 May [16]95Footnotes'FOR WHAT SEAMAN WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE INVENTIONS OF SAILS, ANCHORS, RUDDERS, THE COMPASS & GUNPOWDER TILL THEY WERE FOUND OUT': AN IMPORTANT NEWLY DISCOVERED LETTER FROM ISAAC NEWTON TO SAMUEL PEPYS - ON IMPROVING THE TUITION IN NAVIGATION AT CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.
Remarkably little correspondence between two of the great figures of the age survives, which makes our newly-discovered letter a great rarity. Indeed, only four other letters from Newton to Pepys are recorded in the seven volume Correspondence of Isaac Newton (Vol.III, nos. 420, 432, 434 and 436, 13 September, 26 November, 16 December, 23 December 1693) and three from Pepys to Newton (Correspondence, Vol.III, nos. 431, 433 and 435, 22 November, 9 and 21 December 1693). The series begins with a curious letter from Newton written during a period of great anxiety and insomnia in September 1693 in which he seeks to cut off his friendship with Pepys. In December Pepys attempts to re-engage with Newton by posing a problem of chance and probability which is enthusiastically discussed on both sides. Our letter, written in May 1695, would appear to be Newton's response to Pepys' letter of the 13th of that month (ed. J.F. Scott, Correspondence of Isaac Newton, 1967, Vol.IV, no.508, British Museum Add.Mss 20732) in which Pepys expresses his future hopes for Samuel Newton (no relation), recently appointed to the position of mathematics master at Christ's Hospital on Newton's recommendation, writing: '...I have mighty hopes of seeing the Royll Foundation recover through ye Industry, Practice, & Spbriety of this Gentn...I do hope... that hee will therein fully make good ye Character You were latterly pleased to give him to ye Hospitall...'.
It is unfortunate that Pepys' diaries end years before he encountered Newton, but they had much common business and they are forever linked, according to Claire Tomalin (Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, 2002, p.252), through the Royal Society's publication of Newton's Principia Mathematica in 1687. Whilst not a scientist, Pepys was chosen as President of the Royal Society from 1684-86 for his administrative and fundraising skills at a time when the Society was depleted in numbers, in trouble financially and in need of reorganisation. The title page of Newton's seminal work gives Pepys' and the Society's imprimatur authorising the publication, although it was in fact Edmund Halley, later Astronomer Royal, who encouraged Newton to publish and actually paid for the publication. Newton was a guest in Pepys' home two days after the funeral of Robert Boyle in January 1692 at a time when, according to Newton's biographer Richard Westfall, Newton had '...established himself as the leading intellectual of the land... From every indication he relished a new role of scientific consultant...' (Richard Westfall, Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton, 1983, p.498).
Newton and Pepys also shared a common interest in Christ's Hospital, with which they both had a long-standing relationship. Within the establishment, a Royal Mathematical School had been set up in 1673 by Sir Robert Claydon, Alderman and later Lord Mayor, with the approval of Charles II, to teach boys mathematics and the art of navigation along the lines of Louis XIV and Colbert's French model. Forty 14-year-old boys from the school (known as 'Mathemats') were chosen to take up the first places, entitled to wear a silver plated badge designed by Robert Hooke and still worn by pupils today. Pepys had been appointed a governor of Christ's Hospital in 1676 and held the office of vice-president from 1699 until his death in 1703. Through his role at the Admiralty he wished to professionalise the navy by encouraging promotion by merit, with the aid of examinations in navigation and seamanship and with this in mind he persuaded the government to make a financial contribution to ships' masters to take on apprentices from the school. Others involved with the school included Sir Christopher Wren John Flamsteed, astronomer at the new Greenwich Observatory, and teacher to the boys, and of course Isaac Newton, who had a say in appointments and, as shown in our letter, had a considerable interest in the teaching of mathematics and modernising the curriculum. Our letter demonstrates Newton's influence in advancing the study of practical navigation. He argues here that new technology should be embraced, and that invention must be encouraged as a means to progress: "...For what seaman would have expected the inventions of sails, Anchors, Rudders, the compass & Gunpowder till they were found out..." he reasons. In 1694 Newton drew up a revised syllabus for the school which occupies eight closely written pages of the school's Committee Book. He sets this out in a letter to Nathaniel Hawes (Treasurer from 1683 to 1699) of 25 May 1694, as a New Scheme of Learning: '...the Mathematicall children, being the flower of the Hospital, may in time furnish the National wth a more skilfull sort of Sailors, Builders of Ships, Architects, Engineers and Mathematicall Artists of all sorts, both by Sea and Land, then France can at present boast of...' (Correspondence, no.452). The revised scheme drawn up by Sir Matthew Andrews in 1696 took this on board and recommended tuition '...in the use of globes and the use of instruments proper for observing the ships latitude at Sea, As the Cross Staffe, Quadrant, and other necessary instruments...' (Ernest Harold Pearce, Annals of Christ's Hospital, 1908, p.124). Ironically it was not until 1775 that the first teacher with considerable practical experience at sea was employed at the school, one William Wales who had served as navigator aboard the Resolution on Captain Cook's second voyage and whose log book inspired Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Our letter forms part of a series to other correspondents around that time which demonstrates Newton's continuing interest in the appointment of a suitable mathematics master at the school, something which had always been fraught with difficulties. Edward Paget, another Newton recommendation (at the time vigorously opposed by Pepys) resigned his post in February 1694/5 after, according to Flamsteed, taking to drink and neglecting his duties. Some five candidates were put forward to fill the post, including one Samuel Newton, again proposed by Newton. Samuel Newton evidently kept a mathematical school at Wapping but apart from that little is known of his background. Evidence for his support is shown in a letter from Newton to Flamsteed of 15 March 1694/5 (Correspondence, no.496), but the original letter of recommendation from Newton to Hawes assuring the governors of his namesake's good character has not been found (Correspondence, no.496, note 8). Newton's preferred candidate carried the day and he was appointed on 2 April. Within weeks, questions were raised as to his suitability and our letter shows that Newton may have had an inkling of this. Whilst pleased with the seemingly satisfactory progress of his appointee, he makes it clear that "...he is almost a stranger to me...". By the time he responds to concerns from the governors a month after our letter, he goes further in distancing himself from Samuel Newton and, in a swift about-face, confides to Nathaniel Hawes that '...I never took him for a deep mathematician, but recommended his as one who had Mathematicks enough for your business, wth such other qualifications as fitted him for a Master in respect of temper and conduct as well as learning...' and echoes the sentiments expressed in our letter, reiterating word for word '...I was almost a stranger to him when I recommended him...' (no.514, 14 June 1695). Pepys, too, seems to have changed his mind over the appointment, also writing to the Committee to complain of his teaching abilities. Despite all this, and despite gaining a reputation for a quick temper and dismal examination results, Samuel Newton held on to the post until 1709 (Annals, Chapter VI). On his departure, Newton recommended a Mr Hussey as his replacement, another candidate he admitted he barely knew, but this time his choice failed to win the nomination (Westfall, p.700).
The letter has been recently re-discovered in an album belonging to descendants of Dr William Silas Hathaway (1783-1853) of Wimbledon, who collected and edited the speeches of the younger Pitt and was painted by Edmund Havell in 1847, a lithograph of which painting is held by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG D22466). His son Dr Charles Hathaway (1817-1903) joined the East India Company in 1843 and was promoted to Special Sanitary Commissioner for Calcutta 1861-64, during which time he corresponded with Florence Nightingale. For the last two years of his career from 1864-1866, he became private secretary to John Lawrence 1st Baron Lawrence and Viceroy of India. Other letters in the album which also concern Christ's Hospital (see lot....) are addressed to one Matthias Hathaway who held the position of Steward at Christ's Hospital from 1790 to 1813 and is mentioned by Charles Lamb in his memoir 'Christ's Hospital Five & Thirty Years Ago'.
Provenance: Matthias Hathaway, Steward at Christ's Hospital 1790 to 1813; Dr William Silas Hathaway (1783-1853); his son Dr Charles Hathaway (1817-1903); thence by descent to the present owner.Additional informationAuction informationBuyers Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.Buyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Payment NoticesFor payment information please refer to the sale catalog.Shipping NoticesFor information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.Related DepartmentsBooks & ManuscriptsAuction ViewingsLondon, Knightsbridge18 June 2023, 11:00 - 15:00 BST19 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST20 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST21 June 2023, 09:00 - 10:00 BSTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale
NEWTON (ISAAC)Autograph letter signed ("Your most humble & most obedient/ Servant/ Is. Newton") to Samuel Pepys ("Sr"), rejoicing at receiving a letter from him, glad to hear of his good health from the bearer and hoping said bearer [Samuel Newton] will answer their expectations, going on "...He shewed me your Problem. Viz How seamen may be convinced of the possibilities of improving navigation. I know no certain way of convincing them; but the best way that I can think of is by shewing them out of history that navigation has been improved in all ages down to our own, that some things of great moment are still wanting... & that ships often miscarry through their unskilfulness, wch is your own argument. But when all is done there will be no certain way of convincing them but by improving it. And then they will be convinced only so far, as they see it improved. For what seaman would have expected the inventions of sails, Anchors, Rudders, the compass & Gunpowder till they were found out...", thanking him for the encouragement he is giving Sam Newton "...for tho' he is almost a stranger to me, yet I should be glad to find that he gives satisfaction as well for ye sake of my Recommendation as for the sake of the Hospitall...", integral address panel addressed "For the Honble Samuel Pepys Esq/ in York Buildings/ London", docketed in ink on recto "May.17.1695" in the hand of Pepys, and on verso in another hand, one page on a bifolium, crown and circle watermark with initials CC and P, seal tear, light dust-staining, creased at folds, losses along upper fold, not affecting text, 4to (210 x 150mm.), Trinity College, Cambridge, 17 May [16]95Footnotes'FOR WHAT SEAMAN WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE INVENTIONS OF SAILS, ANCHORS, RUDDERS, THE COMPASS & GUNPOWDER TILL THEY WERE FOUND OUT': AN IMPORTANT NEWLY DISCOVERED LETTER FROM ISAAC NEWTON TO SAMUEL PEPYS - ON IMPROVING THE TUITION IN NAVIGATION AT CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.
Remarkably little correspondence between two of the great figures of the age survives, which makes our newly-discovered letter a great rarity. Indeed, only four other letters from Newton to Pepys are recorded in the seven volume Correspondence of Isaac Newton (Vol.III, nos. 420, 432, 434 and 436, 13 September, 26 November, 16 December, 23 December 1693) and three from Pepys to Newton (Correspondence, Vol.III, nos. 431, 433 and 435, 22 November, 9 and 21 December 1693). The series begins with a curious letter from Newton written during a period of great anxiety and insomnia in September 1693 in which he seeks to cut off his friendship with Pepys. In December Pepys attempts to re-engage with Newton by posing a problem of chance and probability which is enthusiastically discussed on both sides. Our letter, written in May 1695, would appear to be Newton's response to Pepys' letter of the 13th of that month (ed. J.F. Scott, Correspondence of Isaac Newton, 1967, Vol.IV, no.508, British Museum Add.Mss 20732) in which Pepys expresses his future hopes for Samuel Newton (no relation), recently appointed to the position of mathematics master at Christ's Hospital on Newton's recommendation, writing: '...I have mighty hopes of seeing the Royll Foundation recover through ye Industry, Practice, & Spbriety of this Gentn...I do hope... that hee will therein fully make good ye Character You were latterly pleased to give him to ye Hospitall...'.
It is unfortunate that Pepys' diaries end years before he encountered Newton, but they had much common business and they are forever linked, according to Claire Tomalin (Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, 2002, p.252), through the Royal Society's publication of Newton's Principia Mathematica in 1687. Whilst not a scientist, Pepys was chosen as President of the Royal Society from 1684-86 for his administrative and fundraising skills at a time when the Society was depleted in numbers, in trouble financially and in need of reorganisation. The title page of Newton's seminal work gives Pepys' and the Society's imprimatur authorising the publication, although it was in fact Edmund Halley, later Astronomer Royal, who encouraged Newton to publish and actually paid for the publication. Newton was a guest in Pepys' home two days after the funeral of Robert Boyle in January 1692 at a time when, according to Newton's biographer Richard Westfall, Newton had '...established himself as the leading intellectual of the land... From every indication he relished a new role of scientific consultant...' (Richard Westfall, Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton, 1983, p.498).
Newton and Pepys also shared a common interest in Christ's Hospital, with which they both had a long-standing relationship. Within the establishment, a Royal Mathematical School had been set up in 1673 by Sir Robert Claydon, Alderman and later Lord Mayor, with the approval of Charles II, to teach boys mathematics and the art of navigation along the lines of Louis XIV and Colbert's French model. Forty 14-year-old boys from the school (known as 'Mathemats') were chosen to take up the first places, entitled to wear a silver plated badge designed by Robert Hooke and still worn by pupils today. Pepys had been appointed a governor of Christ's Hospital in 1676 and held the office of vice-president from 1699 until his death in 1703. Through his role at the Admiralty he wished to professionalise the navy by encouraging promotion by merit, with the aid of examinations in navigation and seamanship and with this in mind he persuaded the government to make a financial contribution to ships' masters to take on apprentices from the school. Others involved with the school included Sir Christopher Wren John Flamsteed, astronomer at the new Greenwich Observatory, and teacher to the boys, and of course Isaac Newton, who had a say in appointments and, as shown in our letter, had a considerable interest in the teaching of mathematics and modernising the curriculum. Our letter demonstrates Newton's influence in advancing the study of practical navigation. He argues here that new technology should be embraced, and that invention must be encouraged as a means to progress: "...For what seaman would have expected the inventions of sails, Anchors, Rudders, the compass & Gunpowder till they were found out..." he reasons. In 1694 Newton drew up a revised syllabus for the school which occupies eight closely written pages of the school's Committee Book. He sets this out in a letter to Nathaniel Hawes (Treasurer from 1683 to 1699) of 25 May 1694, as a New Scheme of Learning: '...the Mathematicall children, being the flower of the Hospital, may in time furnish the National wth a more skilfull sort of Sailors, Builders of Ships, Architects, Engineers and Mathematicall Artists of all sorts, both by Sea and Land, then France can at present boast of...' (Correspondence, no.452). The revised scheme drawn up by Sir Matthew Andrews in 1696 took this on board and recommended tuition '...in the use of globes and the use of instruments proper for observing the ships latitude at Sea, As the Cross Staffe, Quadrant, and other necessary instruments...' (Ernest Harold Pearce, Annals of Christ's Hospital, 1908, p.124). Ironically it was not until 1775 that the first teacher with considerable practical experience at sea was employed at the school, one William Wales who had served as navigator aboard the Resolution on Captain Cook's second voyage and whose log book inspired Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Our letter forms part of a series to other correspondents around that time which demonstrates Newton's continuing interest in the appointment of a suitable mathematics master at the school, something which had always been fraught with difficulties. Edward Paget, another Newton recommendation (at the time vigorously opposed by Pepys) resigned his post in February 1694/5 after, according to Flamsteed, taking to drink and neglecting his duties. Some five candidates were put forward to fill the post, including one Samuel Newton, again proposed by Newton. Samuel Newton evidently kept a mathematical school at Wapping but apart from that little is known of his background. Evidence for his support is shown in a letter from Newton to Flamsteed of 15 March 1694/5 (Correspondence, no.496), but the original letter of recommendation from Newton to Hawes assuring the governors of his namesake's good character has not been found (Correspondence, no.496, note 8). Newton's preferred candidate carried the day and he was appointed on 2 April. Within weeks, questions were raised as to his suitability and our letter shows that Newton may have had an inkling of this. Whilst pleased with the seemingly satisfactory progress of his appointee, he makes it clear that "...he is almost a stranger to me...". By the time he responds to concerns from the governors a month after our letter, he goes further in distancing himself from Samuel Newton and, in a swift about-face, confides to Nathaniel Hawes that '...I never took him for a deep mathematician, but recommended his as one who had Mathematicks enough for your business, wth such other qualifications as fitted him for a Master in respect of temper and conduct as well as learning...' and echoes the sentiments expressed in our letter, reiterating word for word '...I was almost a stranger to him when I recommended him...' (no.514, 14 June 1695). Pepys, too, seems to have changed his mind over the appointment, also writing to the Committee to complain of his teaching abilities. Despite all this, and despite gaining a reputation for a quick temper and dismal examination results, Samuel Newton held on to the post until 1709 (Annals, Chapter VI). On his departure, Newton recommended a Mr Hussey as his replacement, another candidate he admitted he barely knew, but this time his choice failed to win the nomination (Westfall, p.700).
The letter has been recently re-discovered in an album belonging to descendants of Dr William Silas Hathaway (1783-1853) of Wimbledon, who collected and edited the speeches of the younger Pitt and was painted by Edmund Havell in 1847, a lithograph of which painting is held by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG D22466). His son Dr Charles Hathaway (1817-1903) joined the East India Company in 1843 and was promoted to Special Sanitary Commissioner for Calcutta 1861-64, during which time he corresponded with Florence Nightingale. For the last two years of his career from 1864-1866, he became private secretary to John Lawrence 1st Baron Lawrence and Viceroy of India. Other letters in the album which also concern Christ's Hospital (see lot....) are addressed to one Matthias Hathaway who held the position of Steward at Christ's Hospital from 1790 to 1813 and is mentioned by Charles Lamb in his memoir 'Christ's Hospital Five & Thirty Years Ago'.
Provenance: Matthias Hathaway, Steward at Christ's Hospital 1790 to 1813; Dr William Silas Hathaway (1783-1853); his son Dr Charles Hathaway (1817-1903); thence by descent to the present owner.Additional informationAuction informationBuyers Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.Buyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Payment NoticesFor payment information please refer to the sale catalog.Shipping NoticesFor information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.Related DepartmentsBooks & ManuscriptsAuction ViewingsLondon, Knightsbridge18 June 2023, 11:00 - 15:00 BST19 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST20 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST21 June 2023, 09:00 - 10:00 BSTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
Testen Sie LotSearch und seine Premium-Features 7 Tage - ohne Kosten!
Lassen Sie sich automatisch über neue Objekte in kommenden Auktionen benachrichtigen.
Suchauftrag anlegen
