2'>d S. X. Sept. 22. 'CO.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



233 



except as a reflexion upon the spurious edition. 

 It is singular that Wilson, who must have known 

 of the spurious edition, makes no direct mention 

 of it. Perhaps the parties connected with it were 

 friends, and acting honci fide. For Newton's 

 manuscripts had been about the world for many 

 years, and he had been edited by others in several 

 of his works. The possessor of one of Newton's 

 writings might think himself authorised to publish, 

 especially after Newton's death. Mr. Cockle's 

 copy belonged to Hellins, who, in ISO], edited 

 Colson's manuscript translation of the work of 

 Maria Agnesi, which was found among his papers. 

 Now, looking at the fact that Hellins had access 

 to Colson's papers, and probably to his books with 

 them ; and also at the rarity of this spurious edi- 

 tion, of which the copies were probably little 

 valued from the very first appearance, the genuine 

 edition having prior possession of the field — it is 

 by no means unlikely that Hellins's copy was that 

 which had belonged to Colson himself. 



The two translations are so nearly word for 

 word alike, that it is quite impossible they can be 

 really different. Hence it must be inferred that 

 Jones had a translation, which he communicated, 

 and which Colson revised. And Colson's work 

 looks like the other with the English dressed up 

 and polished. The first paragraph will show this : 

 nobody will imagine that the two quotations here 

 made are only different translations of the same 

 Latin : — 



Alson (1736.) Translation of i.737. 



Having observed that Having observ'd that 

 most of our modern Geo- most of our modern Geo- 

 metricians, neglecting the metricians, neglecting the 

 Synthetical Method of the synthetical Method of the 

 Ancients, have apply'd Ancients, have applied 

 themselves chiefly to the themselves chiefly to the 

 cultivating of the Analyti- analytical Art, and by the 

 cal Art; by the assistance Help of it have overcome 

 of which they have been so many and so great Diffi- 

 able to overcome so many culties, that all the Specu- 

 and so great difficulties, lations of Geometry seem to 

 that they seem to have ex- be exhausted, except the 

 hausted all the Specula- Quadrature of Curves, and 

 tions of Geometry, except- some other things of a like 

 ing the Quadrature of Nature which are not yet 

 Curves, and some other brought to {Perfection : [To 

 matters of a like nature, not this end I thought it not 

 yet intirely discussed : I amiss, for the sake of young 

 thought it not amiss, for Students in this Science, to 

 the sake of young Students draw up the following 

 in this Science, to compose Treatise ; wherein I have 

 the following Treatise, in endeavoured to enlarge the 

 which I have endeavoured Boundaries of Analyticks, 

 to enlarge the Boundaries and to make some Improve- 

 of Analyticks, and to im- ments in the Doctrine of 

 prove the doctrine of Curve- Curve Lines, 

 lines. 



The omissions, of which there are a few in the 

 work of 1737, are very slight indeed: far too 

 slight to allow of the supposition that they were 

 made designedly, to prevent the owner of the 

 manuscript from being able to publish a complete 



work. Newton's opening paragraph will look 

 very strange to those who imagine that he was 

 beginning to write upon an entirely new science of 

 his own invention. But hereby hangs another 

 tale, which has nothing to do with the present 

 article. 



Mention is due to the anonymous Franch trans- 

 lation of Colson, by Buffbn, La Methode des 

 Fluxions. Par M. le Chevalier Newton. Paris, 

 1740, 4to. The preface is controversial, and was 

 discussed by Wilson. A. De Mobgan. 



DATE OF THE CRUCIFIXION. 



(2"" S. X. 194.) 



I lately met with a curious little work which, 

 as it bears on this interesting topic, may not be 

 unworthy a passing notice in the pages of " N. & 

 Q." It purports to be 



" A Brief but true Account of the certain Year, Moneth, 

 Day, and Minute, of the Birth of Jesus Christ, &c. By 

 John Butler, B.D., and Chaplain to his Grace James, 

 Duke of Ormond, &c., and Eectour of Lichborrow, in the 

 Diocese of Peterburgh. Mat. ii. 2. ; ' For we have seen 

 his star,' &c. London: Printed by Joseph Moxon. 

 1671." 



In the "Epistle Dedicatory" to the Duke of 

 Ormond, the author thus quaintly introduces the 

 subject of his work : — 



" It was (tny Lord) the ambition of my gi-atefuU 

 thoughts to present your Grace with a large Chronology 

 in the English tongue, &c. But finding it swell too big 

 with any ease to lodge in a Womb, I thought rather meet 

 upon its own legs to give it Birth. And being an Egg 

 dropping from that Bird, which merit avows (my Lord) 

 is yours. I hate to be so much unjust, as to steale away 

 the apple otherwise, than as the Tree it self is justly de- 

 signed. And now this little Basket (my Lord) cannot 

 be expected to present your Grace with any Great Mat- 

 ter. The cloathing is too course to promise Jewels. But 

 as the Country man who loved his Prince, and to show 

 his love impregnated his good will to doe it's utmost; 

 which when at most it brought to pass, was no more but 

 a fair and goodly Carriott out of the poor man's garden, 

 Yet as 'twas the Good man's kindness to his Prince ; so 

 wanted it not the good acceptance of a gracious King. 

 No otherwise can these humble lines pretend to. Here 

 are (my Lord) three Books, that beg your gracious ear. 

 The first would gladly ascertain the very year. And the 

 second attempts to do as much by the day of Birth of our 

 Blessed Saviour, and points at the punctuall times of bis 

 Passion and Baptisme, and it's humbly presumed it has 

 not miss't the mark, &c. ^The third Book speaks a word 

 or two of Astrology ; and with submission to more Reve- 

 rend heads humbly undertakes both to describe the person 

 of Christ by the certain time of his Birth, and by the acci- 

 dents of his life, to find out and determine the certain 

 moment of that Time." 



The following brief abstract of the contents of 

 this curious and learned little volume may be of 

 interest to the reader. The first book contains 

 three chapters : — 



Chap. I. " Of the certain Year of the World's Age 



