This learned person dyed in St. Giles' parish aforesaid at the house of Mr. Cothorne the reader in Dyot Street on Saterday December the twelfth 1685, between 4 and 5 P.M. Dr. Busby, schoolmaster of Westminster, bought all his bookes and papers of Captain Raven, among which is the last thing he wrote (which he did at my earnest request) viz. THE TABLES, which are according to his promise in the last line of his printed tables of squares and cubes (if desired) and which Sir Cyrillus Wych (then president of the Royall Society) did license for the press. There only wants a leafe or two for the explanation of the use of them, which his death hath prevented. Sir Cyril Wych, only, knowes the use of them. I doe (imperfectly) remember something of his discourse of them, viz. whereas some questions are capable of severall answers, by the help of these tables it might be discovered exactly how many, and no more, solutions, or answers, might be given.
I desired Mr. Theodore Haake, his old acquaintance, to make some additions to this[561] short collection of memoires of him, but he haz donne nothing[562].
He dyed of a broaken heart.
[563]Dr. Whistler[564] invited Dr. Pell to his house in anno ..., which the Dr. likt and accepted of, loving good cheer and good liquour, which the other did also; where eating and drinking too much, was the cause of shortning his daies.
Dr. Pell had a brother a chirurgian and practitioner in physick, who purchased an estate of the natives of New-York and when he died he left it to his nephew John Pell, only son of the Doctor. It is a great estate 8 miles broad and ... miles long (quaere Capt. ... Raven).
He had 3 or 4 daughters.
[565]This <is> writt by Mr. Theodore Haake.
In the year 1638 I came first to be acquainted with Mr. Pell by Mr. S. Hartlib's meanes, who having heard of his extraordinarie parts in all kinde of learning, especially the mathematics, perswaded that the same might be farre more usefully employed and improoved for the publick advancement of learning, he never left soliciting and engaging frends heer to perswade Mr. Pell instead of keeping scool, as he then did at ... in Sussex, to come up to London, where he soon got into great esteem among the most learned, both natives and forreigners, with whom he conversed. But he so minded and followed still the cultivating of his more abstracting studies, and naturally averse from suing or stooping much for what he was worthy of, it was a good while before he obtained any suteable place or settlement.
I recommended him once to my Lord Bishop of Lincoln[566] (quondam Lord Keeper of England), who became very desirous to see the man, inviting us of purpose to dine once with his lordship for the freer discourse of all sorts of literature and experiments, to get a touch and taste that satisfaction Mr. Pell could give him. Which proved so pertinent and abundant that my lord put the question to him whether he would accept of a benefice which he was ready, glad, and willing to bestow on him for his encouragement. Mr. Pell thankd his lordship, saying he was not capacitate for that, as being no divine and having made the mathematics his main studie, for the great publick need and usefullnesse therof, which he had in a manner devoted himself to improve and advance to the uttmost of his reach and abilities. Which answer pleased my lord so well that he replyed, 'Alasse! what a sad case it is that in this great and opulent kingdome there is no publick encouragement for the excelling in any profession but that of the law and divinity.[567]Were I in place as once I was, I would never give over praying and pressing his majesty till a noble stock and fund might be raised for so fundamentall, universally usefull, and eminent science as mathematicks.' And therupon his lordship requested Mr. Pell to befriend him with his visits as often as he could spare time, promising him always a very hearty welcome. Yet Mr. Pell who was no courtier came there no more.