ON THE 



FORMS OF THE CATENARY 

 IN 



SUSPENSION BRIDGES 



BY MR. EATON HODGKINSON. 



(Read February 8Ui, 1828.) 



!• X HE problem of the catenary has long been 

 interesting ; it was attempted by Galileo without 

 success, the science of his time being inadequate to 

 its solution. It afterwards engaged the attention 

 of Leibnitz, the BernouUis, Maclaurin, Huy- 

 gens, cScc. and was one of the earliest applications 

 of the integral calculus, which was necessary 

 to its investigation. But it is only in the present 

 age, when the results of science are so frequently 

 brought down to the uses of mankind, that this 

 curve forming an element of suspension bridges 

 has obtained an interest, it did not possess before, 

 in becoming an object of practical utility. 



But after the labours of the great men above, 



