SIMSON. 475 



Again, in the ' Encyclopedic,' the word Analysis, 

 as meaning the Greek method, and not algebra, is not 

 even to be found. Nor do the words synthesis, or 

 composition, inclinations, tactions or tangencies occur 

 at all ; and though Porisms are mentioned, it is 

 only to show the same ignorance of the subject : for 

 that word is said to be synonymous with ' lemma,' 

 because it is sometimes used by Pappus in the sense 

 of subsidiary proposition. When Clairault wrote 

 his inestimable work on curves of double curvature, 

 he made no reference whatever to Euclid's ' Loci ad 

 Superficiem,' much less did he handle the subject 

 after the same manner ; he deals, indeed, with matters 

 beyond the reach of the Greek geometry. 



Such was the state of this science when Robert 

 Simson first applied to it his genius, equally vigorous 

 and undaunted, with the taste which he had early 

 imbibed for the beauty, the simplicity, and the close- 

 ness of the ancient analysis. 



ROBERT SIMSON was born on the 14th October (O.S.), 

 1687, at Kirton Hill, in the parish of Wester Kilbride, 

 in Ayrshire. His father, John Simson, was a mer- 

 chant in Glasgow : his grandfather, Patrick, was mini- 

 ster of Renfrew, and Dean of the Faculties in the Uni- 

 versity of Glasgow. Having been deprived at the Re- 

 storation, on being reinstated at the Revolution, he 

 accompanied Principal Carstairs and a deputation as one 

 of the Commissioners from the Kirk of Scotland to ad- 

 dress the Sovereigns. Being a man of fine presence, 

 it is related that the Queen and her maids of honour 

 mistook him for the Principal, till the King set them 



