62 MISCEliLANEOtrs. 



in its fundamental definitions. Peacock concentrated what bad been done towards 

 amendment, and augmented it into a system, imperfect indeed, but presented in 

 such a manner as to show wliat was wanted, and what are the rational principles 

 on which the supply of the want must be attempted. This work was published in 

 1830; and in 1842-45 appeared another digestion of the subject into two volumes, 

 the fii'st containing solely arithmetical algebra, — the best work on this preliminary 

 which has appeared, — the second containing symbolical algebra. These works 

 show that thought which the mathematical workman scorns, and the mathmatical 

 philosopher prizes. A report on the recent progress of Analysis, made to the 

 British Association in 1833, contains an acute discussion of difficulties, and shows 

 that the wide reading of the author of the Examples was continued down to the 

 day in which he wrote. 



All Peacock's works have thought, labour, and finish. In none are these more 

 conspieious than in his life of Dr. Young C18o5), and his collection of Young's 

 miscellaneous works, in three volumes. Young was a man of very varied 

 pursuits and knowledge. These volumes occui^ied Peacock during many years ; 

 and are a monument both to Young and his editor which is worth many a statue. 

 Dr. Peacock's last writing was a collection of short, pithy, and efi^ective answers 

 to Lord Overstone's questions on the decimal coinage. He was a steady and 

 thorough-going supporter of the system approved by the House of Commons, called 

 the pound-and ?nil system : and he had, as usual, read deeply and thought long 

 on the subject, both in writing the history of arithmetic, and as one of the Royal 

 Commission on weights and measures. 



Peacock steadily upheld the liberal side in politics during the times of 

 greatest discouragement; and, considering how powerful an influence he had ex- 

 ercised in Cambridge, it would not have surprised the world if he had received 

 some speedy advancement. But our liberal statesmen, though rather conspieious 

 than otherwise for their early attention to family claims, have always appeared to 

 think that support given to their principles is but a secondary ground of patronage. 

 Accordingly, it was not till 1839, or thereabouts, that Peacock was made Dean of 

 Ely. His attention was now especially directed to his new station : and the cathe- 

 dral, the town, and the surrounding country bear marks of his zeal and of his skill in 

 the manao-eraent of men. For many years previous to his death he had to contend 

 with ill health, frequently acute in its symptoms. His writings on University 

 reform, and his labours on the Cambridge Commission, are perhaps the things by 

 which he is best known to the world at large. He held the Lowndean Professor- 

 ship for many years, and he attempted to lecture. But there was no audience for 

 a philosophical mathematician in the University of book-work and problems. Dr. 

 Peacock was fully aware of the tendency of the existing system, the end of which 

 is, in nine out of ten, examination and nothing beyond. He is lost to Cambridge 

 at the time when Cambridge most wants him. 



Dr. Peacock exercised grest influence over his contemporaries by soundness of 

 judgement, extent of knowledge, and suavity of manners. His various qualities 

 and attainments were perfectly blended, and lent force to each other : the combina- 

 tion was one of power; for he was a man of business, of science, of learning, and of 

 character. 



