A voyage to the world of Cartesius written originally in French, and now translated into English.

ADVERTISEMENT OF THE AUTHOR.

IT is almost three years since this Book was in a capacity of appearing; and if it were of any Concern to convince the World of this, it might be done by the Testimony of Persons unsuspected in this Affair; and such as would merit Credit when they determin'd it in favour of the Author. The Reader may per∣ceive it in two or three places, that have some reference to those times, which were not thought necessary to be alter'd. Such is the War betwixt M. Arnauld and Malebranche Father of the Oratory, of which there is an account given, without any mention of the Cessation of Arms, or any pretence of a Truce which hath been since concluded. But it may be presum'd not amiss, to advise such as think themselves not obligd to so exact an Inquiry into things of that Nature, that the Map of the Moon, whose

Hemisphere is describ'd at large in the Voyage to the World of Descartes, is no new thing, and that Pl••to, Aristotle, Gassendus, Mersennus, &c. are not Inhabitants of those Lands and Countries lately discover'd in that vast Continent, nor, of those wherewith the Author of this Book hath inlarg'd the Map. Our Astronomers have been acquainted with those places long ago, and have establish'd Principalities on behalf of those great Men whose Names they bear. This may be seen in the Almagestus of Ricciolus, and in ma∣ny other Mathematicians, who write Observa∣tions on the Eclipses of the Moon.

Some may be farther inquisitive to demand, why Father Mersennus had the Honour to be made Cartesius his Partner, in the framing of his World, rather than so many other famous Car∣tesians he might have made choise of. To which I return, that Father Mersennus had the Preference, not only on the account of the particular Esteem and Love Cartesius, as well as other excellent Philosophers of his time, had for him, but be∣cause he was the almost only Gentleman that was in a condition to be an Assistant in that great Enterprize when he began it; the other Ingenious Cartesians having not left our World till after him.