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S I M 
the original works of the ancient geometers, as well as with 
their commentators and critics, encouraged him to hope that 
he should be able to restore to its original state that most 
useful of them all, the Elements of Euclid, and under the 
impression of this idea, he began seriously to make prepa¬ 
ration for a new and more perfect edition. The errors which 
had crept into this celebrated work appeared to require the 
most careful efforts for their extirpation ; and the data also, 
which were in like manner the introduction to the whole art 
of geometrical investigation, seem to call for the noblest ex¬ 
ertions of a real master in the science. The data of Euclid 
have fortunately been preserved, but the work was neglected, 
and the few ancient copies, which amount only to three or 
four, are said to be wretchedly mutilated and erroneous. It 
had, however, been restored, with some degree of success, by 
previous authors; but Dr. Simson’s view of the whole analy¬ 
tical system pointed out to him many parts which still re¬ 
quired amendment. He therefore made its restitution a joint 
task with that of the Elements, and all lovers of geometry 
are ready gratefully to acknowledge their obligations to him 
for his edition, which contains the Elements and the Data, 
and which has gone through many impressions in quarto 
and octavo, in the Latin and English languages. 
Another work on which Dr. Simson bestowed great labour 
and pains, was the Sectio Determinata of Apollonius, which, 
though begun early, was not given to the world till after his 
death, when it was printed with the work on Porisms of Eu¬ 
clid, at the expense of the late Earl Stanhope, who was him¬ 
self deeply read in mathematics, and who for many years had 
kept up a constant correspondence with Dr. Simson ; and at 
the death of the professor, in 1768, the noble lord engaged 
Mr. Clow, professor of logic in the university of Glasgow, to 
whose care he had left all his papers, to make a selection of 
such as might serve to support and extend his well-earned 
reputation as the restorer of ancient geometry. 
“ The life of a literary man,” says his biographer, “ is 
seldom marked with much variety; and a mathematician 
immersed in study, is more abstracted, perhaps, than any other 
person from the ordinary occurrences of life, and even the 
ordinary topics of conversation. Such was the case with Dr. 
Simson. As he never entered into the marriage slate, and 
had no occasion for the commodious house in the university 
to which as professor he was entitled, he contented himself 
with chambers, spacious enough for his own accommoda¬ 
tion, and for containing his large, but well-selected, collec¬ 
tion of books, but without any decoration, or even conveni¬ 
ent furniture. His official servant acted as valet, footman, 
and bed-maker; and as this retirement was entirely devoted 
to study, he entertained no company at his chambers, but on 
occasions, when he wished to see his friends, he repaired to a 
neighbouring house, where an apartment was kept sacred to 
him and his guests. He enjoyed a long course of uninterrupt¬ 
ed health, but towards the close of life he suffered from 
acute disease, which obliged him to employ an assistant in 
his professional labours. He died in 1768, at the age of 81, 
leaving to the university his valuable library, which is now 
kept apart from the rest of the books. It is still regarded as 
the most complete collection of mathematical works and 
manuscripts in the kingdom, many of them being rendered 
doubly valuable by the addition of Dr. Simson’s notes. 
It is open for the public benefit, but the use of it is li¬ 
mited by particular rules and restrictions. Dr. Simson was 
of a good stature, and he had a tine countenance, and even 
in his old age he retained much gracefulness and dignity 
of manner. He was naturally disposed to cheerfulness, and 
though he seldom made the first advances towards ac¬ 
quaintance, he always behaved with great affability to stran¬ 
gers.” See Dr. Wiliam Trail’s Account of the Life and 
Writings of Dr. Simson. 
SFMULACIIRE, .s. [ simulacrum , Lat.] An image. 
Not in use. Bullokar .—Phidias made of ivory the 
simulachre or image of Jupiter. Sir T. Eli/ot. 
SI'MULAR, s. [from simu/o, Latin.3 One that counter¬ 
feits. 
. Yol. XXIII. No. 1567. 
S I N 
Hide thee, thou bloody hand. 
Thou perjur’d, and thou simular of virtue. 
That art incestuous. Shakspeare. 
SI'MULAR, part. adj. [simulatus , Lat.] Feigned; 
pretended.—They had vowed a simulate chastity. Bale. 
To SI'MULATE, v. a. [simu/o, Lat.] To feign; to 
counterfeit.—I have known many young fellows, who, at 
the first setting out into the world, have simulated a passion 
which they did not feel! It has been used by medical writers 
for diseases putting on the appearance of others. Ld. Ches¬ 
terfield. 
SIMULATION, s. [simulation, French; simulatio, 
from simulo, Lat.] That part of hypocrisy which pre¬ 
tends that to be which is not.—For distinction sake, a 
deceiving by word is commonly called a lie; and deceiving 
by actions, gestures, or behaviour, is called simulation or 
hypocrisy. South. 
SIMULTANEOUS, adj. [simultaneus, Latin.] Acting 
together; existing at the same time.—Let not the distinct 
touches be so simultaneous, but that it may appear where 
the word begins, and where it ends. Da/garno. 
SIMULTANEOUSLY, adv. At the same time; to¬ 
gether; in conjunction.—He introduces the deities of both 
acting simultaneously. Shenstone. 
SI'MULTY, s. [simultas, Lat., secret hatred .] Private 
quarrel: a word used by Ben Jouson, but not adopted, and 
hardly worthy of notice.—In things unknown to a man, 
not to give his opinion;—nor seek to get his patron’s favour, 
by embarking himself in the factions of the family ; to en¬ 
quire after domestic sirnulties, their sports, or affections. 
B. Jonson. 
SIMUS, in Ichthyology, the name used by some authors 
for the nasus, or nase, a fish common in the large rivers in Ger¬ 
many, and somewhat resembling our chud, and in some re¬ 
spects our common rudd. 
SIN, s. [pyn, Sax.] An act against the laws of God ; a 
violation of the laws of religion. 
It is great sin to swear unto a sin. 
But greater sin to keep a sinful oath. Shakspeare. 
Habitual negligence of religion. 
Sin, death, and hell, have set their marks upon him, 
And all their ministers attend on him. Shakspeare. 
It is used by Shakspeare emphatically for a man enormously 
wicked. 
Thy ambition, 
Thou scarlet sin, robb’d this bewailing land 
Of noble Buckingham. Shakspeare. 
To SIN, v. v. To neglect the laws of religion; to 
violate the laws of religion.—Many also have perish’d, err’d, 
and sinn'd for women. Esdr.- —To offend against right. 
I am a man. 
More sinn'd against than sinning. Shakspeare. 
SIN , adv. [sen, sedan, Swedish.] Since. Used in the 
north. 
But when as Calidore was comen in 
And gan aloud for Pastorell to call, 
Knowing his voice, although not heard long sin 
She sudden was revived therewithall. Spenser. 
SIN, a town of China, of the third rank, in Shantong. 
SIN, or Bursin, a small kingdom of Western Africa’, 
extending about 10 leagues along the Atlantic, and con¬ 
taining a surface of about 140 square leagues. The territory, 
being very fertile, supports a population of about 60,000. 
There are three anchoring places on the coast, the best of 
which is at Joal, whence oxen, poultry, and provisions are 
shipped in considerable quantities for Goree. The other 
ports are Serena and Faghioup. 
SINA, a cape of the Mediterranean, on the east coast of 
Sardinia. Lat. 40. 7. N. long. 9. 58. E^ 
SINAAB, the ruins of an ancient city of Algiers, in the 
3 P province 
