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THE ARGUMENTS OF THE LETTERS

Summaries,

Which we have arranged in this way so as not to disrupt the sequence of the Letters, which vary more than enough by their various addresses.

To Allacci. He expresses joy that Naudé and Gaffarel have joined in friendship with him. Leone Allacci was a librarian at the Vatican; Gabriel Naudé and Jacques Gaffarel were prominent French scholars and librarians. page 57

To Auvergne. He urges him to oversee the publication of the works of Simeon de Muis. Simeon de Muis was a noted Hebraist and biblical scholar. 294

To Bardi. He commends Bardi's book On the Natural Motion of Heavy Bodies, and returns thanks because Bardi was the first to initiate their correspondence. page 99

Regarding Liceti's book on the center and circumference, another on the Earth as the sole center of motion for individual particles of the Heavens, and another on the regular motion and the very small parallax of Comets, etc. Fortunio Liceti was an Italian scientist who often corresponded with Gassendi on physics and astronomy. 101

He encourages Bardi to hasten the publication of his works, and takes it upon himself to send Liceti's book On the Light of the Moon to Prince Valois. 169

To Beeckman. He promises to share the opinions of Epicurus with him. Isaac Beeckman was a Dutch philosopher and scientist who influenced both Descartes and Gassendi. 26

To Bernegger. He mourns the death of Schickard; and although he neither is a poet nor wishes to be addressed as one, he sends some verses which he poured out in his grief at the urging of Diodati. 84

To Berner. Regarding the experiments of Pecquet, which open a new path for the chyle and the blood, as well as various other experiments performed with the help of a mercury vacuum. Jean Pecquet discovered the thoracic duct, which carries chyle (a digestive fluid) to the bloodstream. The mercury experiments refer to early barometric studies. 317

To Bochart Sarron. Having left behind trifles, Gassendi adds encouragement so that he may complete the studies of good things happily begun in this letter. original: "Nucibus relictis." This Latin idiom literally means "leaving behind nuts," referring to children giving up their toys for serious adult pursuits. 161

To Böckler. He joyfully embraces the friendship with him established by the Knight Scaliger. 331

To Borienæus. He warns that the Bishop of Digne will not leave for his post (as an Agent of the Gallican Clergy) unless bound by golden chains. Gassendi served as the Provost of the Cathedral of Digne; "golden chains" refers to financial or honorary incentives. 96

He deeply grieves that he has therefore suffered a certain loss of his own. 97

To Born. He refuses to examine the Physics of Descartes, because it would be rude to voluntarily renew a settled disagreement and to pry into a book that does not specifically concern him. 202

Regarding the publication of his letters on impressed motion transferred by a mover. 211

He prays that Born may publish the Physics of Ravensperger. 253

To Boulliau. He shares observations of Venus and Mercury. Ismaël Boulliau was a French astronomer and a close friend of Gassendi. 58

Also regarding the Solar Eclipse of the year 1652, which he hopes Hevelius will also be informed of. Johannes Hevelius was a famous Polish astronomer known for his lunar maps. 315

To Cesi. Having been advised that he was producing a learned work on cosmography, Gassendi shares several observations of Mars performed at Grenoble and Vizille by the industrious Elzéar to be included. page 51

To Campanella. He sends a printed copy of his observation of Mercury seen in the Sun. Tommaso Campanella was a Dominican friar and philosopher. Gassendi was the first to observe the transit of Mercury across the sun in 1631. 48

He says he will purge the errors of Epicurus. Gassendi sought to reconcile Epicurean atomism with Christian theology. 54

He asks that Campanella reconcile Galileo with Father Scheiner. Christoph Scheiner was a Jesuit astronomer who famously disputed with Galileo over the discovery of sunspots. 56