1696. 1697. Mint. Fluxions. Solution of Problem of swiftest Descent. Clarke's Notes on Rohault. Newtonian System studied at Cambridge. 1698. 1699. Commencement of Controversy on the Invention of Fluxions: De Duillier, Keill, Leibnitz, &c. Newton, Master of the Mint, and Member of the Academy of Sciences. Thermometrical Scale. 1700. 1701. La Hire and Cassini resume Arc of Meridian. 1702. Attacks on Differential Calculus, by Rolle and Gallois : answered by Leibnitz, Bernoulli, &c. 1703. Newton resigns Professorship; elected President of the Royal Society. 1704. Publication of the Optics and Mathematical Tracts. Vanishing Fractions: Bernoulli. Keill's Lectures at Oxford. 1705. Newton knighted. Review of 1706. his Tracts in Leipsic Journal. 1707. Arithmetica Universalis put lished by Whiston. 1708. Keill replies to Leipsic Journal 1709. 1710. 1711. Newton's Analysis per Æquationes, &c. published. Leibnitz appeals to the Royal Society. 1712. Report and Commercium Epis. tolicum published. 1713. Desagulier's Lectures. Second Edition of Principia, by Cotes. 1714. Newton's Report on Longitude. Establishment of Board of Longitude. 1715. Taylor's Method of Increments. Leibnitz attacks Newton's Doctrines: Reply by Newton and Clarke. Division of Saturn's Ring: Cassini. 1716. Problem of Trajectories. 1717. Stirling's Commentary on New. ton's Lines of 3d Order. 1718. Arc in North of France. Deduction of prolate Spheroid. Brewster. 1814. Theory of Dew: Wells. 1815. Parallax: Pond and Brinkley (continued till 1825). Theory of Waves: Poisson and Cauchy. 1816. Theory of Flame: Safetylamp: Davy. Stability of System: Poisson. Interferences of polarised Light: Fresnel. Colours in unannealed Glass, &c. Brewster. Calculus of Functions: Babbage. Integrations: Bromhead. 1817. Berard: Radiant Heat. Biaxial Rings: Brewster. Integrations: Herschel. 1818. Dulong and Petit: Law of Cooling, and Specific Heat. Kater on the Pendulum. Seebeck on Prismatic Heat. 1819. Electro-Magnetism: Ersted. polarised Tints: Herschel. Periodical Comet : Encke. Absorption of Light: Brew- Biaxial Crystals: Biot. Laws 1820. Foundation of Astronomical Society. Struve Double Stars. 1821. Magnetism: Scoresby, Sabine, &c. Electro-Magnetism: Ampère, Arago, Davy, &c. Extension of Arc to Shetland and Minorca: Biot and Arago. Attractions of Spheroids: Ivory. Analysis: Cauchy. 1822. Double Stars: Herschel and South. Thermo-Electricity and Thermo- Magnetism: Seebeck, Cumming, Moll, &c. Savart. Acoustics. 1823. Velocity of Sound: Moll and Van Beek. Effect of Heat on Crystals: Mitscherlich. Condensation of Gases: Faraday. Frauenhofer Lines in Spectrum. 1824. Perturbations: Bessel. Double Stars: Herschel and South (continued 1826). Systems of Rays: Hamilton. 1825. Pendulum: Sabine. Figure of Earth. Biela: Comet. Figure of Equilibrium: Ivory (continued 1831). Magnetism by Rotation: Barlow, Christie, Babbage, &c. (continued 1827). Radiant Heat: Powell and Ritchie (continued 1826-7). Angular Sections: Poinsot. 1826. Atmosphere: Dalton. Light and Magnetism: Christie, Mrs. Somerville. Parallax: Herschel. Compression of Water: Perkins. Magnetism: Parry, Foster, Christie, &c. (continued 1827). 1827. Solar Theory: Airy (continued 1828). Laplace died, Pouillet: Me. teorology. 1828. Astronomical Observations at Paramatta : Dunlop and AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF THE PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES, FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE PRESENT TIMES. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. AMONG a systematic collection of treatises on the different branches of human knowledge, and more particularly in that branch which relates to mathematical and physical truth, the object of those which are professedly scientific is to convey, in the order best suited to the purposes of elementary instruction, a connected view of the principles and results of each department of science. There is, however, another class of treatises of a more mixed character; in which the exactness of scientific discussion may be blended with the lighter character of the narrative style, and whose object is not to exhibit or explain the actual facts, reasonings, or conclusions, but rather to recite the history of that train of events and circumstances by which they were originally brought to light; and to record the labours and achievements of those distinguished individuals by whose abilities and exertions the discovery of new truths, and the new applications of those before known, were effected. this class the ensuing volume is intended to belong. To B The province of history has been usually restricted to the record of events connected with the revolutions of states and empires. It has hence commonly presented little else than a varied representation of intrigue and violence; the artifices of ambition and the calamities of war; the crimes and miseries whether of despotism or of anarchy. In these stirring scenes of the pageant the interest of the many is usually engrossed. The contemplation of the more quiet progress of civilisation, of the arts of life and of literature as connected with them, is comparatively devoid of excitement, and therefore far less generally attractive, even if these topics should sometimes find a place in the narrative of the judicious historian. But in a more especial degree is this the case with respect to the progress of abstract science. Intimately as it is in reality connected with the advance of the arts, and, above all, with the intellectual improvement of mankind, its effects are remote and not easily traced; and the subjects of its enquiries bear an appearance of abstruseness which causes them to be but little generally studied or understood. Hence the history of science is hardly ever a matter of popular interest or attention. The common impression has even been unfavourable to physical science. Those who cultivate it have been regarded as a set of men isolated as it were from the rest of the world, and immersed in occupations with which the body of mankind feel no sympathy. Their speculations are imagined to be little applicable to any useful purposes, and often of doubtful or even dangerous tendency. Hence, the pursuits of science have not uncommonly been regarded with suspicion, dislike, or ridicule. And, upon the whole, it will not be matter of surprise, that to trace their progress in different ages should have been so little recognised as a legitimate portion of the historian's province. An attempt, therefore, to supply this deficiency is certainly needed. And though much detailed information of the highest value on these points may be found |