204 Mr. T. S. Davies on Geometry and Geometers. 



cate these hints as your own thoughts, and request his assistance he 

 would very soon draw up a Preface to your purpose, and you might 

 have it in your power to oblige him again." 



" Secrets in all trades but mine /" The learned author and 

 the liberal bookseller combine to represent a mere speculation 

 of their own as the act and judgement of the "translator," — 

 that invisible, if not imaginary, personage of all ages as well 

 as our own. 



It does not appear who did draw up the " translator's pre- 

 face :" but it is executed pretty closely in accordance with the 

 above prescription ; and some changes are introduced into the 

 text as suggested by Dr. Hamilton, which form real improve- 

 ments upon an already valuable treatise. 



It seems somewhat strange that Dr. Abram Robertson 

 should print a ponderous 4to in seven books, only a few years 

 after (1792), also in Latin, and very much on the same plan 

 as those of Simson and Hamilton, though more closely imita- 

 ting the latter. The necessity that was felt, even by authors 

 and publishers, for putting the scientific works they issued in 

 a language which could be read by all, had produced no in- 

 fluence at Oxford ; but even there it was ultimately felt to be 

 absolutely necessary to give an English edition of at least a 

 part of the work, which was accordingly done in 8vo a few 

 years afterwards. 



Even Euclid was recently read in Latin in the Dublin Col- 

 lege; but as it has since been translated, I presume it is 

 now* read there in English. Dr. Elrington's edition, which is 

 there used, differs a good deal from Simson's, but most of all 

 in the treatment of proportion : but I only refer to it here as 

 another instance of the paramount necessity for writing all 

 books on science in our vernacular tongue. 



By some letters from the Rev. Francis Holliday, Rector of 

 West Marsham, Notts, it appears that the price paid for the 

 copyright of that gentleman's Fluxions was twenty-three 

 guineas ; that is, one guinea per sheet. ( Letter to Nourse, con- 



* Since this was written, a Dublin friend whom I had asked about the 

 motive for the retention of Latin as the medium of so much of the Trinity 

 College exercises, " wonders where I could have met with so antiquated a 

 thing as a Latin Euclid used in the College." My own copy is marked 

 " editio quarta, 1813." The Latin appears to be still the medium of ex- 

 amination for the junior fellowships; though (judging from the Dublin 

 University Calendar) dispensed with in the degree examinations. This 

 traditionary practice is hence gradually " wearing out " even in its last 

 stronghold; and certainly in the case of fellowship examinations, less ex- 

 ception can be taken to the practice, than in the case of degrees, whether in 

 honours or not. 



