Descartes: A Biography

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 Descartes: A Biography

days later at Dordrecht, onMay.Onhearing that news, Descartes

wrote a rather brief and unemotional letter to Colvius, a Calvinist minister

atDordrecht.

In passing through this town [Leiden] on my return from a journey that took more

than six weeks, I found the letter that you took the trouble to write to me, in which I

learn the sad news of Mr. Beeckman’s death. I regret it, and I am certain that, as one

of his best friends, you will be distressed. However, Sir, you know much better than

Idothat the time we live in this world is so short in comparison with eternity, that

weshould not worry ourselves too much if we are taken a few years earlier or later.

Since Mr. Beeckman was extremely philosophical, I have no doubt that he had been

resigned for a long time to what has happened to him. I hope that God enlightened

him so that he died in his grace. (i.)

Beeckman’s passing is acknowledged with a rather detached, philosoph-

ical reference to the brevity and unpredictability of human life. At about

the same time, Descartes mentions Beeckman’s name when writing to

Mersenne about those who ‘try to acquire a reputation by false advertis-

ing’ (i.). It is clear that, whatever the deep source of their dispute, it

had merely been camouflaged during the intervening years by a respect-

ful and intermittent correspondence about matters of common scientific

interest.

The long-awaited privilege for Descartes’ first book was given in Paris

onMay, and Jan Maire was able to print the last folio onJune,

using an abbreviated version of the privilege that omitted the author’s

name.Descartes returned to Leiden and sent the good news immedi-

ately to Huygens. He asked him to present a copy to ‘his Highness’ the

prince of Orange, though not in the name of the author, who had suc-

ceeded in remaining anonymous.Huygens co-operated with the request

before Frederik Hendrik embarked on a new siege of Breda in July, which

concluded successfully onOctober. Descartes had contracted with his

publisher to provide him with two hundred copies of the book, which he

would be free to distribute to his friends and correspondents, and which

would allow the publisher to sell as many copies as he wished during the

term of their contract.

The proud author began immediately to distribute copies of his first

book to supportive friends and potential patrons. One copy was sent to

the French ambassador to the United Provinces, Baron de Charnace, who ́

was also commander of a French regiment that was assisting at the suc-

cessful siege and recapture of Breda. Huygens told Descartes that the