PREFACE That one so distinguished in natural philosophy, as Sir David Brewster should write the biography of Sir Isaac Newton, who by common consent stands at the head of all natural philosophers of all ages, must teem exceedingly appropriate; and it is generally allowed that he accomplished his difficult task in a manner worthy of the subject. In passing this new Edition of it through the press, I have carefully preserved the author's text as it stands, and have simply affixed such notes as in the present day appear to me to be desirable. The text followed is principally that of 1831, but it has been collated throughout with that of the larger edition published in two volumes in 1855, and thus every possible accuracy, according to the author's latest researches, secured. W. T. L. |