Memoir oj the lute Dr. Hutlon, 



138 



ries of useful science. Dr. Hutton's 

 oftlce of editor of this work also 

 adorded hiui an opportunity of pro- 

 curing' liiograpliical notices of the most 

 eminent of his correspondents ; with 

 which ho afterwards enriched his 

 Mathematical Dictionary, and his 

 Abridgment of the Philosophical 

 Transaclious. 



We should not neglect to notice 

 here, tliat Dr. Hutton, about the year 

 1770, was employed by the magistrates 

 of Newcastle, to make a survey of the 

 town and the adjoining country, in 

 order that a correct plan of it might be 

 engraved and published. In this la- 

 borious undertaking, the Doctor gave 

 great satisfaction, the plan liaving 

 been executed with much beauty and 

 accuracy. It is still on sale. 



On the 17th of November, 1771, the 

 bridge of Newcastle was almost en- 

 tirely destroyed, by a very great flood, 

 which swelled the waters in the river 

 about nine feet higher than the usual 

 spring-tides. This event was the 

 meant of considerably increasing Dr. 

 Hutton's ma!thematical reputation. 

 Previous to commencing the repairs 

 of the extensive damage which the 

 bridge had sustained, it was desir- 

 able to endeavour to prevent, as far 

 as possible, the recurrence of similar 

 accidents ; and the principal archi- 

 tects and civil engineers of the coun- 

 try were invited to furnish plans 

 for the purpose. Dr. Hutton now, 

 for the first time, directed his attention 

 to the subject ; and his suggestions' 

 were adopted, in preference to nu- 

 merous others, which had been pre- 

 sented from various quarters. On 

 the spur of the occasion, the Doctor 

 drew up a Treatise on the Principles 

 of Bridges, demonstrating the best 

 mathematical curves for the arches, 

 with the due proportion of the piers, 

 &c. And this publication, though so 

 hastily composed, has, notwithstand- 

 ing, always been considered a valuable 

 work on the subject, and continues 

 to be frequently consulted by the most 

 eminent architects. 



It may here be remarked, that Dr- 

 Hutton's earJy publications, particu- 

 larly his Mensuration, the Diarian 

 JMiscellany, and his Work on Bridges, 

 were the means of rearing and bringing 

 into notice the ingenious Mr. Bewicke 

 of Newcastle, the most celebrated 

 wood-engraver that the world has, 

 perl-.aps, ever produced. Nor should 

 it he forgotten, that, by Dr. Hutton's 

 2 



[March I, 



suggestions and observations, the art 

 of printing has been very considerably 

 improved. 



In 1773, the situation of Mathemati- 

 cal Professor totheRoyalJMilitary Aca- 

 demy at Woolwich having become va- 

 cant, numerous gentlemen of the first 

 eminence in science applied for the 

 appointment; and, among the number, 

 Dr. Hutton presented himself as a 

 candidate. The office was in the gift 

 of the Master-General of the Ord- 

 nance, and the strongest interest was 

 made by various noblemen and gentle- 

 men for their respective friends ; but, 

 to the honour of the tiien Master-Ge- 

 neral, Lord Viscount Townshcnd, 

 nothing but superior qualifications 

 were allowed to avail. His lordship 

 gave public notice, that merit alone 

 should decide the preference, which 

 must be determined by a strict and im- 

 partial examination. With this view, 

 four eminent mathematicians were se- 

 lected as examiners on the occasion, 

 viz. Dr. Horsley, afterwards Bishop of 

 Rochester, Dr. Maskelyne, the Astro- 

 nomer Royal, Colonel W^atson, the 

 Chief Engineer to the East India 

 Company, and the celebrated Mr. 

 Landen. 



Nothing could be more strictly im- 

 partial tlian the examination. The 

 candidates were eight in number, and 

 each was separately examined, not 

 only in the principles, but in the 

 history of mathematics. Several ab- 

 struse problems were afterwards given 

 for solution ; and, when the answers 

 were received, the report of the exa- 

 miners expressed high approbation of 

 all the candidates, but gave a decided 

 preference in favour of Dr. Hutton. 

 'i'his was, indeed, an unequivocal 

 test of superior merit. The judicious 

 determination of the Master-General, 

 by conferring the appointment on Dr. 

 H. was in a short time found to be 

 most advantageous to the Institution. 

 It is, indeed, well known, that Dr. 

 Hutton raised the Royal Military Aca- 

 demy, from a state of comparative in- 

 feriority, to the highest degree of cele- 

 brity and national importance. To 

 his steady and persevering conduct for 

 thirty-five years, and his improvements 

 in military science, his country is essen- 

 tially indebted, for the success of the 

 British artillery and engineers in all 

 parts of the world, during the last half 

 century. 



His removal from Newcastle to so 

 distinguished a situation near the me- 

 tropolis, 



