Mr Harvey an the Method of Minimum Squares. £9S 
ed man. Every mathematician acquainted with the labours of 
Legendre, must have had ample reason for admiring the purity, 
elegance and fertility, which almost every page of his writings 
display. As a proof of his powers as a geometrician, we need 
only refer to his celebrated Elemens de Geometrie ; a work 
which has long been the admiration of Europe, and which will, 
doubtless^ continue to be admired, as long as a correct geometri- 
cal taste shall prevail Of his attainments as an analyst, his 
large W^ork, entitled Exercises de Calcul Integral^ bears the most 
ample proofs* This latter performance, indeed, from its pro- 
* i am happy to find, that the wide circulation of Legendre’s Elemens de Geo-, 
metric^ is likely to be still farther increased by the intended translation edited by 
Dr Brewster, It will extend the fame of Legendre, and, at the same time, confer 
an essential benefit on the young mathematicians of this island ; and particularly, 
indeed, on a class of men of no little importance to the country, and who have con- 
tributed in a large degree to the successful advancement of its arts, its sciences, and 
its w^ealth. I allude to those self-taught men, who, pursuing humble occupations 
in towns, or living in villages and other retired spots, pass a life of labour in virtu- 
ous obscurity, filling up the intervals of their leisure with mathematical, and philo- 
sophical pursuits. Cornwall, in particular, has long been distinguished for an in- 
telb'gent class of this kind, arising, most probably, from the practical utility of such 
information in the operations of mining, tri a recent geological tour through that ’ 
country, I went from the Land’s End in a direction nearly parallel to Whitesand 
Bay to Cape Cornwall, ahd from thence to the little tow'n of St Just, which is situ- 
ated in the neighbourhood of a mining district, famous for the rich variety of its 
minerals, and for the bold and stupendous character of its rocky scenery. In this 
obscure spot, and which appeared to present but few facilities for the attainment of 
science, I called on a Mr John Davy, whose ingenious mathematical investigations 
in that useful publication. The Ladies’ Diary, had long attracted my attention. In a 
little cottage I found this w'orthy man, surrounded w'ith a numerous and healthy 
family, and in whose countenances I could read contentment and peace. His scanty 
library consisted of a few choice English mathematical- waiters, and whose state 
plaimy proved, how often the volumes had been examined and read. His know- 
ledge, I found, to be far above the elements of science. Of the Foreign waiters, 
indeed, he had but the slightest knowledge ; and appeared considerably surprised 
when I mentioned to him a few of their celebrated works, and what the powers of 
the modern analysis had achieved. He mentioned the names of Emerson, Simpson 
and Maclaurin, with enthusiasm and respect 3 and I shall never forget the honest 
pride with Which he shewed a complimentary letter that he once received from the 
venerable Dr Hutton. To such a man, a work in a foreign tongue presents a 
peat, and, I have known in more instances than one, ah insuperable obstacle ; and 
it is to this very numerous class, that the translation of Legendre’s Geometry will 
be so peculiarly acceptable. It is from this class that unnumbered improvements 
in the sciences and the arts have proceeded. Need I mention, in confirmation of 
this, the names of Simpson, of Arkwright, of Brindly, and of Hutton. 
VOb. VII. NO. 14. OCT. 18^22. 
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