tinned till 1698, Newton making constant application for observations to compare with his theory of the planetary motions; while Flamsteed, not sufficiently aware of the importance of the inquiry, received his requests as if they were idle intrusions in which the interests of science were but slightly concerned.*

In reviewing the details which we have now given respecting the health and occupations of Newton from the beginning of 1692 till 1695, it is impossible to draw any other conclusion than that he possessed a sound mind, and was perfectly capablo of carrying on his mathematical, his metaphysical, and his astronomical inquiries. His friend and admirer, Mr. Pepys, residing within fifty miles of Cambridge, had never heard of his being attacked with any illness till he inferred it from the letter to himself written in September, 1693. Mr. Millington, who lived iu the same University, had been equally unacquainted with any such attack; and, after a personal interview with Newton, for the express purpose of ascertaining the state

* It is not desirable here to enter in detail into the unfortunate dispute between these two great men. Tho late Mr. Baily, as is well known, in his Account of Flmmteed, published in 1835, gives a view of it which reflects very strongly upon the conduct of Newton in the matter. Brewster, in tho onlargod edition of his "Life of Newton," devotes a groat deal of space to a refutation of this view, and succeeds in proving that, though Newton might have shown occasional irritability of temper, the fault rested chiefly with Flamsteed, who " was prone to take an unfavourable view of the motives as well as the conduct of those with whom he differed, and when such impressions were once made upon his mind, it was almost impossible to dislodge thonu"—" Newton," bo proceeds to remark, " was not in good health duriug tho correspondence. The depths of his mind were stirred with the difficulties of tho lunar problem. The new views which burst upon him in its solution could be tested only by observation; and they who have felt the impatience of spirit when a speculation waits for the verdict of an experiment or a fact, or who have started from their midnight couch to submit a happy idea to the ordeal of observation, will understand the sensitiveness of Newton when he waited whole weeks for tho precious numbers which the Observatory of Greenwich only could supply." —Editor.

of his health, he assures Mr. Pepy9 "that he is very well, —that he fears he is under some small degree of melancholy, but that there is no reason to suspect that it hath at all touched his understanding."

During this period of bodily indisposition, his mind, though in a state of nervous irritability, and disturbed for want of rest, was capable of putting forth its highest powers. At the request of Dr. Wallis he drew up an example of one of his propositions on the quadrature of curves in second fluxions. He composed, at the desire of Dr. Bentley, his profound and beautiful letters on the existence of the Deity. He was requested by Locke to reconsider his opinions on the subject of innate ideas. Dr. Mill engaged him in profound biblical researches; and we find him grappling with the difficulties of the lunar theory.

But with all these proofs of a vigorous mind, a diminution of his mental powers has been rashly inferred from the cessation of his great discoveries, and from his unwillingness to enter upon new investigations. The facts, however, here assumed are as incorrect as the inference which is drawn from them. The ambition of fame is a youthful passion, which is softened, if not subdued, by age. Success diminishes its ardour, and early pre-eminence often extinguishes it. Before the middle period of his life Newton was invested with all the insignia of immortality; but, endowed with a native humility of mind, and animated with those hopes which teach us to form a humble estimate of human greatness, he was satisfied with the laurels which he had won, and he sought only to perfect and complete his labours. His mind was principally bent on the improvement of the Principia; but he occasionally diverged into new fields of scientific research—he created his fine theory of astronomical

refractions—he made great improvements on the lunar

p

theory—he solved problems of great difficulty which had been proposed to try his strength—he made valuable additions to his "Opticks "—he continued his chemical experiments—and he devoted much of his time to profound inquiries in chronology and in theological literature.

The powers of his mind were therefore in full requisition; and, when we consider that he was called to the discharge of high official functions which forced him into public life, and compelled him to direct his genius into new channels, we can scarcely be surprised that he ceased to produce any very original works on abstract science. In the direction of the affairs of the Mint, and of the Royal Society, to which we shall now follow him, he found ample occupation for his time; while the leisure of his declining years was devoted to those exalted studies in which philosophy yields to the supremacy of faith, and hope administers to the aspirations of genius.

CHAPTER XIV

No Mark of National Gratitude yet conferred upon Newton— Friendship between him and Charles Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax—Mr. Montague appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1694—He resolves upon a re-Coinage— Nominates Newton Warden of the Mint in 1695—Newton appointed Master of the Mint in 1699—Notice of the Earl of Halifax—Newton elected Associate of the Academy of Sciences in 1699—Member for Cambridge in 1701—and President of the Royal Society in 1703—Queen Anne confers upon him the Honour of Knighthood in 1706—Second Edition of the Principia, edited by Cotes—His Conduct respecting Mr. Dillon's Method of finding the Longitude.

Hitherto we have viewed Newton chiefly as a philosopher leading a life of seclusion within the walls of a college, and either engaged in the duties of his professorship, or ardently occupied in mathematical and scientific inquiries. He had now reached the fifty-third year of his age, and while those of his own standing at the university had been receiving high appointments in the church, or lucrative offices in the state, he still remained without any mark of the respect or gratitude of his country. Though his friends had exerted themselves to procure him some permanent appointment, they had failed in the attempt. An event, however, now occurred which relieved him from his labours at Cambridge, and placed him in a situation of affluence and honour.

Among his friends at Cambridge Newton had the good fortune to number Charles Montague, grandson of Henry, first Earl of Manchester, a young man of high promise, and every way worthy of his friendship. Though devoted to literary rather than scientific pursuits, and twenty years younger than Newton, he cherished for the philosopher all the veneration of a disciple, and his affection for him gathered new strength whilst himself rising to the highest honour and offices of the state. In the year 1684 we find him co-operating with Newton in the establishment of a Philosophical Society at Cambridge; but though both of them had made personal application to different individuals to induce them to become members, yet the plan failed, from the want, as Newton expresses it, of persons willing to try experiments.

Mr. Montague sat along with Newton in the Convention Parliament, and such were the powers which he displayed in that assembly as a public speaker, that he was made a commissioner of the Treasury, and soon afterwards a Privy Councillor. In these situations his talents and knowledge of business were highly conspicuous, and in 1694 he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. The current coin of the nation having been adulterated and debased, one of his earliest designs was to re-coin it, and restore it to its original value. This scheme, however, like all measures of reform, met with greatopposition. It was characterized as a wild project unsuitable to a period of war, aa highly injurious to the interests of commerce, and as likely to sap the foundation of the government. But he had studied the subject too deeply, and had intrenched himself behind opinions too impartial and too well founded, to be driven from a measure which the best interests of his country seemed to require.

The persons whom Mr. Montague had consulted about the re-coinage were Newton, Locke, and Halley; and when Mr. Overton, the warden of the Mint, was appointed a commissioner of customs, he embraced the opportunity