Mi". T. S. Davies on Geometry and Geometers. 521 



" You need not be afraid that Mr. Jack's Edition will have the 

 least influence on me to delay giving another when I get leisure, but 

 when I see the book I will be able to tell you more about it." (Let- 

 ter, 31st Dec. 1756.) 



Dr. Simson published the Data as an appendix to the 8vo 

 edition of Euclid in 1762, and indeed began printing imme- 

 diately. It appears that 1000 copies of this edition were pub- 

 lished ; and Nourse and Balfour bought them and the copy- 

 right together. The terms for the whole do not appear ; but 

 for the copyright alone 150/. appears to have been given (Let- 

 ter, Nov. 19, 1762). 



Nourse appears, after the publication of the Data, to have 

 raised some objection to the character of the notes; to which 

 the Doctor replies — 



" I know not well what you mean by remarks on the Data, there 

 are but very few. for the sake of Young Geometers I have given 

 the compositions to all of them but the easie ones in the first part of 

 the book, and have added some that were wanting." (Letter, 19th 

 April 1762.) 



In a subsequent letter, however, the apparently sharp tone 

 o\' this is moderated. 



" I believe the Data will fall a good deal below your expectation, 

 to have added as many problems as would have been proper to show 

 the use of them, would have made a good large book, but however 

 you shall think of them, I will be glad to have your impartial opinion 

 and censure of them." (Letter, 18th Oct. 1762.) 



" I am very glad that you receive any Satisfaction by what you 

 have read of the Short notes on the Data, and that the notes on the 

 29th Prop. Book 1st seem to be right, but I request you to give me 

 your censures on any thing with the utmost freedom, for they will 

 be very acceptable." (Letter, 19 Nov. 1762.) 



Another slight reference to the Data occurs in the letter of 

 25th June 1763. 



I have already given the principal part of the letters dated 

 11th April and 29th June 1767; and I shall close this series 

 with extracts from that of the 30th March, 1764. 



" I am pleased you have sent me Castiglione's Commentary. I 

 had about 20 years ago a letter from Castiglione when he resided at 

 Vevay on the lake of Geneva in which after commending the Conick 

 Sections very much he asked my leave to translate into Latin a book 

 of Mr. Thomas Simpsons by which I saw he took us for the same 

 person, but I think it strange he should have again fallen into the 

 same mistake. I shall give you some opinion about his book when 

 I have read some of it, for my age will not allow me to peruse fully 

 such large treatises on subjects that require a good deal of thought. 



Phil. Mag. S. 3. No. 225. Suppl, Vol. 33. 2 M 



