Proceedings. 59 



Ordinary Meeting, December 27th, 1887. 

 Mr. W. H. Johnson in the Chair. 



Reference was made to the untimely loss sustained by 

 the Society in the sudden death of its President, the late 

 Prof. Balfour Stewart. It was thought more suitable to 

 postpone passing a vote of condolence to the late President's 

 family in consequence of the attendance being very small. 



Mr. James Smith communicated the following note on 

 the bi-centenary of the Principia : — 



This year being the bi-centenary of the publication ot 

 Newton's Principia^ I think the fact should be noted in our 

 Memoirs, as it ought not to be allowed to pass over without 

 attention being directed to it. The second edition of the 

 Principia was published in 171 3, and is known as "Cotes' 

 Edition," he having assisted Newton in the revision of the 

 work, and written a preface to it. Newton had a very high 

 opinion of his mathematical abilities. The third edition, 

 and the last published during the life-time of the great 

 author, is dated 1726, and is known as " Pemberton's 

 Edition," he having had charge of revising it under the 

 direction of Newton. It was the intention of Dr. Pemberton 

 to have published an English translation of the Principia, 

 with a comment, but the publication of Motte's translation 

 in 1729, prevented him from proceeding with his design. 

 Very little appears to be known about Andrew Motte, whose 

 name is thus associated with the Principia, and who deserves 

 much praise for his labours in connection with it. 



