Seeking Truth: Roger North's Notes on Newton and Correspondence with Samuel Clarke C.1704-1713

In the early 1690s Roger North was preparing to remove from London to Rougham Norfolk where he planned to continue his search for truth which for him meant knowledge of nature including human nature. But this search was interrupted by three events. First between c.1704 and the early part of 1706 he read Newton's book on rational (quantitative) mechanics and afterwards his book on optics in Clarke's Latin translation. Second towards the latter part of 1706 he and Clarke a Norfolk clergyman corresponded about matters relating to Newton's two books after which Clarke removed to London and the correspondence ceased. Third in 1712 North received a letter from Clarke requesting him to read and respond to his new publication on the philosophy of the Godhead. As Kassler details each of these events presented a number of challenges to North's values as well as the way of philosophising he had learned as a student and practitioner of the common law. Because he never made public his responses to the challenges her book also includes editions of North's notes on reading Newton's books as well as what now remains of the 1706 and later correspondence with Clarke. In addition she presents analyses of some of North's 'second thoughts' about the issues raised in the notes and 1706 correspondence and from an examination of Clarke's main writings provides a context for understanding the correspondence relating to the 1712 book.