MOORE. 
rical bodies are as the cubes of their radii, come at Cambridge when lie took him un- 
the magnitude of the moon : magnitude of der his protection. In connection with Sir 
the earth : : 3’ : 11’ : ; 1 : 49 nearly. See 
Vince’s Astronomy. 
MOORE (Sir Jonas), in biography, an 
eminent English mathematician in the seven- 
teenth century, was born at Whitlee in Lan- 
cashire, about the year 1620. He enjoyed 
the advantages of a liberal school education, 
and afterwards applied himself principally 
to the study of the mathematics, for which, 
from his childhood, he had discovered a 
strong partiality. This favourite pursuit he 
cultivated with great diligence and success, 
and acquired such reputation for his profi- 
ciency, that during one of the expeditions 
of King Charles I. into the northern parts 
of England, he was introduced to his Ma- 
jesty, as a person studious and learned in , 
those sciences. Upon conversing with him 
the King expressed much approbation of 
his acquirements, and gave him a promise 
of encouragement ; which laid the founda- 
tion of his future fortune. Afterwards he 
was appointed mathematical tutor to the 
King’s second son, James, to instruct him in 
arithmetic, geography, the use of the globes, 
&c. During Cromwell’s government, he 
appears to have followed the profession of a 
public teacher of mathematics; for he is 
styled in tire title-pages of .some of his pub- 
lications, “ professor of the mathematics.’’ 
Mr. Granger says, in his “ Biograirhical 
History of England,” that he was employed 
by the commissioners, for di’aining and di- 
viding the fens ; and in Jiis survey took no- 
tice that the sea made a curve line on the 
beach, from which he tdok the hint to keep 
it effectually out of Norfolk. This added 
much to his reputation ; but no mention is 
made of the period of his life when he was 
thus occupied. After the restoration of 
King Charles H. he was noticed and em- 
ployed by that prince, who bestowed on 
him the honour of knighthood, and at I.ength 
promoted him to the important office of 
surveyor-general of the ordnance. He ap- 
pears to have been a favourite both with the 
King and the Duke of York, who often 
consulted him, and followed his advice upon 
many occasionij. To his honour it ought to 
be recorded, that he frequently availed 
himself of his interest at court for the ad- 
vancement of learning, the encouragement 
of merit, and the establishment of institu- 
tions liighly favourable and beneficial to the 
interests of tlie public, and of science in 
general. He patronised the famous Mr. 
Flamstead, who had but a very scanty in- 
Christopher Wren, he persuaded the King 
to erect Flamstead bouse at Greenwich, for 
a public observatory, in 167 o, recommend- 
ing Mr. Flamstead to be the King’s astrono- 
mer, to make observations there; and be- 
ing sni-veyor-general of the ordnance him- 
self, this was the reason why the salary of 
the astronomer-royal was made payable out 
of the office of ordnance. Being elected a 
governor of Christ’s hospital, he appears to 
have been instrumental in persuading the 
King to found the mathematical school 
there, with tlie allowance of a handsome 
salary for a master to instruct a certain 
number of the boys in mathematics and na- 
vigation, to qualify them for the sea-service. 
It ought not to be concealed, that the Duke 
of York also took a zealous and active part 
in determining his brother to found this 
useful establishment. This foundation pre- 
sented Sir Jonas with an opportunity of 
exerting his abilities in a manner agreeable to 
his wishes, namely, that of serving the rising 
generation. And reflecting within himself on 
the benefit which the nation might receive 
from a mathematical school if properly con- 
ducted, he made it his utmost care to pro- 
mote its improvement. In pursuance of 
his Majesty’s grant, the school was esta- 
blished ; but there was still w'anting a me- 
thodical institution, from which the youths 
might receive such necessary helps as their 
studies required : a laborious work, from 
which his other great and assiduous employ- 
ments might very w’ell have exempted him, 
had not a predominant regard to a more 
general usefulness determined him to devote 
all the leisure hours of his declining years 
to the improvement of such an useful and 
important seminary of learning. Having 
thus engaged hjmself in the prosecution of 
this generous undertaking, he‘sketched out 
a plan or system of mathematics for the use 
of the school, and afterwards drew up and 
printed several parts of it himself ; but 
death put an end to his labours, before the 
work was completed. We are not inform- 
ed of the year when tliis event took place ; 
but it could not be long before 1681, wdien 
the work was published by his sons-in-law, 
Mr. Hanway and Mr. Polinger, who spared 
neither expense nor labour to have it finish- 
ed in the best manner, and securing proper 
assistants for that purpose. Besides the 
New System of the Mathematics, &c. 
in two volumes, quarto, above mentioned. 
Sir Jonas published, Arithmetic, in two 
