Descartes: A Biography

P: PHU
c CUNYB/Clarke     December, :

Death in Sweden 

Leaving Egmond

Descartes mentioned in passing, when writing to Chanut in March,

the danger of losing his life at sea in a shipwreck.This was more than a

casual reference to the dangers associated with sea travel in the seventeenth

century, because he wrote about the same concern as he was about to

embark for Sweden at the end of August. Before leaving, he took time to

review his outstanding debts and arrange for their repayment if he were

to die en route. As usual, he charged Picot with his financial affairs. ‘Since I

am about to depart for Stockholm, and since I may die on the journey, I am

writing this letter to advise you that I borrowed money on many occasions

from Mr. Anthony Studler van Zurck....’(v.)These letters had

the formal character and legal effect of a last will and testament. ‘If God

takes me from this world, he [Van Zurck] may contact my brothers and

advise them’ about his legal claim on Descartes’ estate. He then bids what

reads like a final adieu to Picot, very reminiscent of his final message to

Beeckman before travelling to Denmark in.‘IpraythatGod may

keep you in good health for a long time, and I assure you that I have now

and shall continue to have a very sincere and very perfect affection for you

as long as my soul retains some memory of the things of this world.’

Descartes also turned his attention to one of his other stalwart friends

of many years, Cornelis van Hogelande, to whom he entrusted a trunk

containing some of his personal papers. These were mostly letters written

byDescartes’ correspondents. Since the original authors might not agree

to have them read by others, Descartes advised that, in the event of his

death, Van Hogelande should burn all of them – with one exception. He

should preserve the letters written by Voetius to Mersenne, when Voetius

inquired secretly and mischievously about Descartes’ alleged atheism,

and he would find them ‘inserted into the lid of the trunk’. Descartes

instructed: ‘I want them preserved for use as a protection against his

calumnies’ (v.). However, Descartes left the final decision about all the

other material to his trusted Dutch friend. ‘You may also read all the other

letters or allow them to be read by some discreet friends before burning

them, or you may even burn only those that you choose. For I leave the

whole matter to your discretion’ (v.).

Having made these detailed arrangements, Descartes travelled on

Septemberto Amsterdam, where he met some local friends who

gathered to wish him bon voyage. One of them, Bloemaert, arranged to