Stanhope, Philip, 2nd Earl Stanhope (1714-1786)
Autograph letter, signed, referring to his son's, Charles Stanhope, experiments with electricity
Estimate: £300 - £400
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
Written to Frans Hermsterhuis, referring to his son's experiments "il est actuellement occupé à faire achever l'impression déja assez avancée sur l'électricité, matiere dans laquelle il se flatte d'avoir fait quelques découvertes intéressantes et utiles", thanking his correspondent for four copies of his "Aristée" "je n'ose pas, après une seule lecture bien rapide de votre nouvel ouvrage, hazarder mon suffrage sur un sujet si abstrait et si difficile", preferring to await the arrival of his "Simon", 1 page, Chevening, 27th December 1779
Footnote
The Dutch philosopher Frans Hemsterhuis's remarkable and original observations on human nature were published anonymously in small numbers for distribution among friends only. Published in 1779, Aristée ou de la divinité is composed in the form of a dialogue between Aristée and Dioclès, and is dedicated by Dioclès to Diotime, friend of Socrates. The philosophy of Hemsterhuis has been summarized as 'in spite of its own rationalism an early reaction against rationalism and enlightenment'.