Front Matter to the Opticks (1718) Isaac Newton c. 542 words Newton Project Sussex University 2009 Newton Project, Sussex University

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 1718, c. 458 words. The First Book of Opticks. Part I (1718) [Opticks (1718)]Opticks (1718) Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. The Second Edition, with Additions (London: 1718). Isaac Newton Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. The Second Edition, with Additions Opticks London Printed for W. and J. Innys, printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's-Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1718 1718 England English Print ScienceOptics Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Abdul Q. Sami tagged transcription Yvonne Santacreu audited coding Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
OPTICKS: OR, A TREATISE OF THE Reflections, Refractions, Inflections and Colours OF LIGHT.

The Second Edition, with Additions.

By Sir Isaac Newton, Knt.

LONDON:

Printed for W. and J. Innys, Printers to the Royal Society, at the Prince's-Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard. 1718.

Advertisement I.

PART of the ensuing Discourse about Light was written at the Desire of some Gentlemen of the Royal Society, in the Year 1675, and then sent to their Secretary, and read at their Meetings, and the rest was added about twelve Years after to complete the Theory; except the Third Book, and the last Observation in the last Part of the Second, which were since put together out of scatter'd Papers. To avoid being engaged in Disputes about these Matters, I have hitherto delayed the printing, and should still have delayed it, had not the Importunity of Friends prevailed upon me. If any other Papers writ on this Subject are got out of my Hands they are imperfect, and were perhaps written before I had tried all the Expertments here set down, and fully satisfied my self about the Laws of Refractions and Composition of Colours. I have here publish'd what I think proper to come Abroad, wishing that it may not be translated into another Language without my Consent.

The Crowns of Colours, which sometimes appear about the Sun and Moon, I have endeavoured to give an Account of; but for want of sufficient Observations leave that Matter to be farther examined. The Subject of the Third Book I have also left imperfect, not having tried all the Experiments which I intended when I was about these Matters, nor repeated some of those which I did try, until I had satisfied my self about all their Circumstances. To communicate what I have tried, and leave the rest to others for farther Enquiry, is all my Design in publishing these Papers.

In a Letter written to Mr. Leibnitz in the year 1676, and published by Dr. Wallis, I mention'd a Method by which I had found some general Theorems about squaring Curvilinear Figures, or comparing them with the Conic Sections, or other the simplest Figures with which they may be compared. And some Years ago I lent out a Manuscript containing such Theorems, and having since met with some Things copied out of it, I have on this Occasion made it publick, prefixing to it an Introduction, and subjoining a Scholium concerning that Method. And I have joined with it another small Tract concerning the Curvilinear Figures of the Second Kind, which was also written many Years ago, and made known to some Friends, who have solicited the making it publick.

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April 1. 1704.

Advertisement II.

IN this Second Edition of these Opticks I have omitted the Mathematical Tracts published at the End of the former Edition, as not belonging to the Subject. And at the End of the Third Book I have added some Questions. And to shew that I do not take Gravity for an essential Property of Bodies, I have added one Question concerning its Cause, chusing to propose it by way of a Question, because I am not yet satisfied about it for want of Experiments.

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July 16. 1717.