A selection of scientific notes and diagrams in Voltaire’s hand.
Detailed Summary:
A series of scientific notes relating to the principles of Newtonian gravitation. The longest set of notes concerns the conclusions drawn by Voltaire from the work of Broadley on the progression of light and the movements of the Earth which were published in les Élémens de la philosophie de Neuton (Amsterdam, 1738). Another, illustrated with several figures and equations, reflects on the illumination of celestial bodies. The third recounts pendulum experiments of gravitation.
The pages feature horizontal fold lines. The top of the largest page and the bottom of the smallest page have been torn.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
The notes are corrected throughout by Voltaire in the form of crossings out and additional text added superscript. Brackets have occassionally been added in the left-hand margin.