Huygens and Gregorie had a long feud about his Paduan book. Its faults as the Dutchman thought were lack of ‘distinguished perspicuity’ and intricacy in its invention. But Huygens must have lived to regret his criticisms, however well founded they were, for with a sudden burst of the M’Gregor spirit, Professor James sent forth a volley of answers, his official statements through the medium of the Philosophical Transactions, and his unofficial through his many letters. Neither his great opponent, nor his great opponent’s allies were spared. ‘I am not yet so much a Christian as to help those who hurt me. I do not know (neither do I desire to know) who calleth in that preface, Hugenius his animadversions of November 12th 1668, judicious, but I would earnestly desire that he would particularize (if he be not an ignorant) in what my answer, which is contradictory to Hugenius his animadversions is faulty; for in geometrical matters, if anything be judicious its contradictory must be nonsense. I do not know what need there was for an apology for inserting my answer, but to compliment Hugenius, and violently (if it be possible) to bear down the truth. I imagined such actions below the meanest member of the Royal Society, however, I hope I may have permission to call to an account in print the penners of that Preface.’ The account was never called for, because Newton in the meantime, gave the simpler solution, which Gregorie had been declaring an impossibility, but it must be remembered that Gregorie’s method although almost impossible to any but the most clear mathematical mind, was easy to him and was correct as far as it went. Can anyone help loving Huygens, even though they know no more of him than what is seen in his intercourse with Gregorie? What graciousness and kindness was returned in exchange for the thunderous treatment he received! Sick, as he thought he was unto death, he suggested Gregorie as a fit successor to him in the favour of Louis XIV., and we find his father, who was secretary to the Prince of Orange and a poet—the poet of the garden—similarly occupied, trying to influence the great folk with whom he came in contact to further Gregorie’s interests. But in spite of the recommendation of the Académie des Sciences, the Royal Society, and such friends as he had at court, Gregorie never received any Royal patronage; the want of which he took very calmly and with a great deal of broad good sense, never having expected any other result. ‘I have had sufficient experience in the uncertainty of things of that nature before now, which maketh me since I came to Scotland, how mean and despicable so ever my condition be, to rest contented and satisfy myself with that, that I am at home in a settled condition by which I can live. I have known many learned men far above me upon every account with whom I would not change my condition.’