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SIMSON. 
gfeat argument in favour of the symbolic 
analysis when this most successful practical 
artist (for so we must call Newton when 
engaged in a task of discovery) found it con- 
ducive either to dispatch or perliaps to his 
very progress. Returning to liis academical 
chair. Dr. Simson discharged the duties of 
a professor for more than fifty years with 
great honour to the university and to him- 
self. It is almost needless to say, that in 
his prelections he followed strictly the Eu- 
clidian method in elementary geometry. 
He made use of Theodosius as an introduc- 
tion to spherical trigonometry. In the 
higher geometry he lectured from his own 
Conics ; and he gave a small specimen of 
the linear problems of the ancients, by ex- 
plaining the properties, sometimes of the 
conchoid, sometimes of the cissoid, with 
their application to the solution of such 
problems. Iii the more advanced class he 
Mas accustomed to give Napier’s mode of 
conceiving logarithms, i. e. quantities as ge- 
nerated by motion ; and Mr. CoAs’s view 
of them, as the sums of raliuncute ; and to 
demonstrate Newton’s lemmas concerning 
the limits of ratios ; and then to give the 
elements of the fluxionary calculus ; and to 
fiiiish his course M’ilh d select set of propo- 
sitions in optics, gnomonics, and central 
forces. His method of teaching was sim- 
ple and perspicuous, his elocution clear, 
and his manner easy and impressive. He 
had tlie respect, and still more the affec- 
tion, of his scholars. 
It was chiefly owing to the celebrated 
Halley that Dr. Simson so early directed his 
efforts to the restoration of the ancient geo- 
meters. He had recommended this to liira, 
as the most certain way for him, at that time 
very young, both to acquire reputation, and 
to improve his own knowledge and taste, 
and he presented him with a copy of 
Pappus’s Mathematical collections, enriched 
with his own notes. Hence he undertook 
the restoration of Euclid’s porisms, a work 
of .some difficulty, that his biographer says 
nothing but success could justify in so young 
an adventurer. From this he proceeded to 
other works of importance, which he exe- 
cuted with so much skill, as to obtain the 
reputation of being one of the most elegant 
geometers of the age. His edition of Eu- 
clid’s “ Elements” has long been reckoned 
the very best that exists. Another woik, 
on which Dr. Simson bestowed much la- 
bour, was the “ Sectio determinata,” 
which was published after his death, by the 
late Earl Stanhope, witli the great work, 
“ The Porisms of Euclid.” This nobleman 
had kept up a correspondence with Dr. Sim- 
son till his death in 176a, when he engaged 
Mr. Clow, to whoso care the Doctor had left 
his papers, to make a selection of such as 
would serve to support and increase his re- 
putation, as the restorer of ancient geo- 
metry. This selection Lord Stanhope printed 
at his own expense, 
“ The life of a literary man rarely teems 
with anecdote ; and a mathematician, de- 
voted to his studies, is perhaps more ab- 
stracted than any other person from the or- 
dinary occurrences of life, and even the or- 
dinary topics of conversation. Dr. Simson 
was of this class ; and, having never mar- 
ried, lived entirely a college life. Haying 
no occasion for the commodious house to 
which his place in the university intitled 
him, he contented himself with chambers, 
good indeed, and spacious enough for his so- 
ber accommodation, and for receiving his 
clioice collection of mathematical writers, 
but without any decoration or commodious 
furniture. His official servant sufficed for 
valet, footman, and chambermaid. As this 
retirement was entirely devoted to study, 
he entertained no company in his chambers, 
but in a neighbouring house, wliere his 
apartment w'as sacred to him and his guests. 
Having in early life devoted himself to the 
restoration of the works of the ancient geo- 
meters, he studied them with unremitting 
attention ; and retiring from the promiscu- 
ous intercourse of the world, he contented 
himself with a small society of intimate 
friends, with whom he could lay aside 
every restraint of ceremony or reserve, and 
indulge in all the innocent frivolities of life. 
Every Friday evening was sp,»nt in a party 
at whist, in which he excelled, and took de- 
light in instniefing others, till increasing 
years made him less patient with the dull- 
ness of a scholar. The card-party was fol- 
lowed by an hour or two, dedicated solely 
to playful conversatiou. In like manner, 
every .Saturday he had a less select party to 
dinner at a house about a mile from town. 
The Doctor’s' long life gave him occasion 
to see the dramatis personae of this little 
theatre several times completely changed, 
while he continued to give it a personal 
identity ; so that, without any design or 
wish of his own, it became, as it were, his 
own house and his own ffimily, and went by 
his name. Dr. Simson was of an advanta- 
geous stature, with a fine countenance ; 
and even in his old age liad a graceful car- 
riage and manner, and always, except when 
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