on Mr. Meikle's Paper *^ On the Lunar Ohservations." 405 



fessor Leslie's Mathematics, about to be published, I found the 

 property which has been so,"long known;" and of course perceived 

 that I had laid myself open to an accusation so often chargeable 

 on correspondents to periodical mathematical works; viz, the 

 obliging the public with articles that are not new. However, as 

 this long-known property is immediately deduced from the other 

 two without any additional harangue, I hope I shall obtain par- 

 don from the reasonable part of your readers for the commission 

 of such a weighty offence. 



My investigation of the other two properties has still a decided 

 advantage over that proposed by your correspondent ; in that it 

 is founded on properties of the ellipsis to be found in every trea- 

 tise, and familiar to such as know very little of Conic Sections. 

 This end I had in view, in giving it the present form. 



My remarks, however, on periodical mathematical works were 

 not, as he supposes, so much aimed at such works themselves ; nor 

 yet at their editors, who, I well know, have enough to mind be- 

 sides ; but my strictures were chiefly intended for the proposers 

 of useless puzzling questions so very detrimental to the reputa- 

 tion of such works, and so much complained of by many who are 

 not at the trouble of doing so publicly. 



I readilv agree that every encouragement ought to be afforded 

 to periodical mathematical works, as of the utmost advantage to 

 the progress of science; while on the other hand, useless puzzHng 

 questions cannot be too much condemned. 



Before proceeding, however, to solve his questions, I would beg 

 to ask. Why he has allotted me the four last, rather than any of 

 the others. Was it, because one of them (the 12th) affords a 

 most striking instance of the truth of my former remarks, and of 

 the little consideration with which such questions are too often 

 proposed ? The fact is, that question is altogether absurd and 

 impossible, so long as the nature and diameter of the cylinder 

 as well as the exact dimensions of the table-land are not given. 

 Any one might see this at once who has ever heard of the law of 

 gravitation — *' a discovery of the great Newton which he did not 

 owe to reading." 



This therefore I consider a complete solution to the 12th ques- 

 tion, and hope the Editor of the Ladies' Diary will have the good- 

 ness to insert it for the amusement of the ladies. 



H. M. 



g c 3 LXX. Me- 



