MEMOIRS 



OP THB 



Uitetara mi 1^6(lojs?op8fcal Societfl of 

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I. — An Account of the Early Mathematical and Philoso- 

 phical Writings of the late Dr, Dalton. 



By T. T. Wilkinson, F.R.AS., &c. 



[Read October ISth, 1853.] 



The miscellaneous mathematical and philosophical writings 

 of the late Dr. Dalton extend over a period of many years, 

 and lie scattered in the pages of several periodicals issued at 

 intervals towards the close of the last century. Their nature 

 and their existence are almost alike unknown to the majority 

 of the present generation ; nor is it too much to assert, that 

 many of those who admire and appreciate his subsequent 

 writings and discoveries, possess little or no information as to 

 the means by which he was enabled to attain his high position 

 in the world of science. His earliest efforts were directed 

 towards the solution of a few simple questions in mathematics 

 and natural philosophy; but, aided by the advice of his 

 friends, and encouraged by the editors of those great pro- 

 moters of self-exertion, the Ladies* and Gentleman* s Diaries, 

 he rapidly succeeded in establishing his reputation as an 

 accomplished mathematician and philosopher. The object of 

 the present paper is to rescue a portion of these interesting 

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