Meditations on First Philosophyby Rene Descartes1641Prefatory Note To The Meditations.The first edition of the Meditations was published inLatin by Michael Soly of Paris "at the Sign of the Phoenix" in1641 cum Privilegio et Approbatione Doctorum. The Royal"privilege" was indeed given, but the "approbation" seems tohave been of a most indefinite kind. The reason of the bookbeing published in France and not in Holland, where Descarteswas living in a charming country house at Endegeest nearLeiden, was apparently his fear that the Dutch ministers mightin some way lay hold of it. His friend, Pere Mersenne, tookcharge of its publication in Paris and wrote to him about any...