London, for that |2| in the sixth Century of Christianity (I suppose, An. 550 the middle of that Century) it had[1] 15000, or rather 44000 Moschees, or Mahometan Temples; to which I reply, that I hope this Objector is but in jest, for that Mahomet was not born till about the year 570, and had no Moschees till about 50 years after.
[2]In the next place I reply to the excellent Monsr. Auzout[3] Letters from Rome, who is content that London, Westminster and Southwark, may have as many people as Paris and its Suburbs; and but faintly denieth, that all the Housing within the Bills, may have almost as many people as Paris and |3| Rouen, but saith that several Parishes inserted into these Bills, are distant from, and not contiguous with London, and that Grant so understood it[4].
- ↑ 1686, 'An. 550, it had.'
- ↑ 1686: 'The next is the excellent Monsieur Auzout from Rome, who is content that London, Westminster, and Southwark with the contigous Housing may have,' etc. The French version of 1687 has, 'Ensuite je repons aux lettres que l'excellent Mr. Auzout écrit de Londres.' In the 1699 edition "Londres" is altered to "Rome."
- ↑ Adrien Auzout, astronomer, was born at Rouen early in the seventeenth century. He was one of the first members of the Academie des Sciences, but lost his seat through an intrigue and went to Italy, dying at Rome in 1691. Auzout was a frequent correspondent of the Royal Society. Birch, iv. 162, 301; Philos. Trans. no. 1, p. 3, no. 2, p. 18, no. 3, p. 36, no. 4, pp. 55, 56, 63, 68, 69, 74, no. 7, p. 120, no. 12, p. 203, no. 21, p. 373. His letter or letters here referred to are not preserved at the Royal Society, nor do I find any allusion to his letter of 19 November in Justel's letters. He may have addressed himself to Petty directly.
- ↑ See p. 423.
The Travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the Past Indies (London: Moses Pitt, 1686, fº), in the same number of the Nouvelles. The passage of Chardin (p. 387), which Bayle translates, runs thus; "Opposite to this [Ech-mouil] are to be seen some footsteps of that famous City of Rey, the biggest city in Asia.... The Persian Histories report, that in the time of Calife Medybilla-abou-Mohamed-Darvanich, who liv'd in the ninth Age of Chnstianism the City of Rey was divided into 96 Quarters, of which every one contained 46 streets, and every Street 400 Houses and ten Mosques.... Arabian writers affirm in like manner, that in the third Age of Muhametism, which is exactly at the same time, that Rey was the best peopl'd City in Asia." This refers obviously to the ninth century, but Bayle summarizes "elle [la Geographie Persane] porte qu'au 6. siècle du Christianisme la Ville de Rey étoit divisée," etc. And it is exclusively against this chronological blunder, perhaps caused by a misprint, that Petty directs his answer to Bayle.
