Benjamin Peirce. 169 
and embodied in a systematic treatise the latest and best meth- 
ods and Joris of conceptions of the great geometers. He aimed 
equations of motion. Both of these features, as well as Jacobi’s 
method of integration by his pee of the last multiplier, 
were at the time new in English treati 
The whole volume is marked by a aeons of thought and 
a brevity of expression which make it difficult reading for those 
who have been accustomed only to the usual forms of notation 
and reasoning, and who do not read the book in course from 
the beginning. Several of the chapters are made peculiarly 
problems as particular cases of general theorems. In his later 
years the author often said he wanted to rewrite the ‘‘ Analytic 
Mechanics ” and introduce quarternions into it. 
In 1842 Professor Peirce published, in connection with Pro 
fessor Lovering, four cmheds of the “ Cambridge Mizeellany,” 
a qnartenty journal devoted to mathematics, physics and as- 
tronomy. 
In the saine year he assumed the care of the gen aes 
part of the ‘“ American Almanac,” ten volumes o ich w 
prepares by him. In one of these (1847) he published a list of 
he known orbits of comets, arranged in convenient form, to 
ae he added to the usual cometic catalogue several approxi- 
mate orbits ye estes by him for historic comets that had been 
imperfectly obse 
In 1849 ree established a Bureau for the publication of 
the “American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac,” under the 
superintendence of Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral) Davis. 
rofessor Peirce was at once appointed Consulting Astronomer. 
In this capacity he prepared and penenees in 1353, his “ Ta- 
bles of the peg ” which have been used in vst De the “ Ephe- 
