Opera mechanica, geometrica, astronomica et miscellanea

HUGENII VITA. Life of Huygens

See page 765.

...having been rendered more perfect, he initiated various experiments with its assistance.

In the same year, he discovered the rules regarding the collision of elastic bodies, which were later also discovered in England by the most celebrated men, Wallis and Wren, with the latter of whom our Huygens had a dispute concerning this invention.

In the year 1663, he again traveled to Paris, and undertook a journey to England with his father, where he was enrolled as a member of the Royal Society of London.

He stayed there for only a few months and returned to France.

In the year 1664, upon his return to The Hague, a dispute arose with a certain envious individual regarding his invention of the application of pendulums to clocks.

At this time, in France, the illustrious Colbert demonstrated himself to be a patron of studies; the King of France willingly listened to his plans for the promotion of learning. Men distinguished by their knowledge were invited to France from everywhere, among whom was Huygens.

In the year 1665, he was invited in the name of the King, by letters from Colbert, to travel to Paris and choose a residence there, with the promise of a large annual stipend and the offer of living quarters in a building intended for the preservation of the Royal Libraries.

He lived there from the year 1666 to the year 1681. During this time, the most beautiful and subtle