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LVI. Geometrij and Geometers. Collected hy T. S. Davies, 

 Esq., F.R.S. and F.S.A. 



No. I. 



THERE are many interesting scraps of minor information 

 respecting Mathematics and its cultivators, contained in 

 letters and stray papers, wliich it is desirable to preserve; 

 either as affecting the characters of the men or explaining the 

 circumstances attending their discoveries and publication. A 

 few such have fallen in my way at different times; and if you 

 think them adapted to the pages of your Magazine, I shall now 

 and then send a iew, as you can find room for them. 



I shall in all cases state the sources of my information, and 

 where the documents are deposited ; so that the extracts may 

 be hereafter verified by any one who shall feel desirous of 

 doing so. Possibly some of your readers who may take an 

 interest in the minutiae of scientific history, may be induced 

 also to contribute an3'thing of a similar kind that may fall in 

 their way. 



My first set of extracts will be made from a series of letters 

 addressed by different mathematicians to the celebrated pub- 

 lisher, John Nourse of the Strand, which were placed in my 

 hands by Mr. Maynard (of Earl's Court, Leicester Square), 

 and which, when fully examined, will be returned to him. 

 Meanwhile, he has allowed me to make this or any other use 

 of them that I may think proper. 



These letters place Nourse in a very estimable light as a 

 liberal patron of mathematical authors ; and they prove that 

 he v/as well-versed in the science in which he principally 

 dealt — not " the mere merchant of other men's brains." 



Amongst the letters are twenty-seven from Dr. Robert 

 Simson, commencing in 1751 and terminating in 1768, the 

 year before the Doctor's death. They mainly relate to the 

 Eiiclide and the Loci Plani. From these I shall send a few 

 extracts for your next number ; for as this introductory notice 

 will take up some space, there would scarcely be room in the 

 present one. On this account, 1 shall now give a copy of a 

 letter from the son of the great MacLaurin to Nourse, respect- 

 ing one of those vulgar attempts to render eminent men ridi- 

 culous (even where there was not the least ground for the 

 story) which were so common in the last century. Even 

 within the last few months this story has been repeated in one 

 at least (probably in more) of our periodicals. Most likely 

 the story was originally a hoax upon Goldsmith. 



" EdiiibiirgI), 2;ird December, 1775. 



" Sir, — As I see from the title-page of Goldsmith's History 

 2 E 'J 



