ROBERT HEATH v. JOHN TURNER 213 



and **Y Secundus. " These documents evidently 

 emanated from the pen of Robert Heath, assìsted 

 possibly by some other adherents of William 

 Emerson. At the risk, perhaps, of not observing 

 strict chronological sequence, we proceed to the 

 consideration of ali parts of TrutJi TriinupJiant. 

 In the dedication ''to the Sun," it is stated that 

 "the Family of the Wou'd-be's in this Island is 

 become very numerous, by uniforvily continuing in 

 their Errors." Thus, both the title-page and the 

 dedication play on Simpson's definition of fluxions 

 and its alleged defects. In the Preface one reads : 

 "Fluxions, then, Ladies, that have so puzzled our 

 wise Mathematicians to define, are the respective 

 Degrees of Motion, at any Instant of Time, of any 

 two things or Bodies that continually flow, or move 

 on, over Space." Four pages are devoted to the 

 explanation of fluxions. 



187. Then follow the two criticisms of John 

 Turner's defence of Simpson, signed "X Primus " 

 and "Y Secundus," to which we have alluded above. 

 In the former of these articles John Turner is 

 treated with contempt. " Who this John Turner 

 is, whether he is Mr. Simpson's Clerk, or his Pupil, 

 or some Dependant on him ; or whether he be 

 Mr. Simpson himself, is not very material to the 

 Reader ..." Turner is continually referred to 

 as "John." To Turner's reply to the first criticism 

 on Simpson's text, "X Primus" makes rejoinder : 

 ''''John says, the Pluent being the Ouantity already 

 produced — Pray how was this Ouantity produced. 



