mysterious desk, and make the public acquainted with its profound
treasures. He found some documents which did not refer exactly to the
subject of 'Polemical Mathematics;' but knowing the truth of the Hindoo
proverb, 'The words of the wise are precious, and never to be
disregarded,' and feeling sure that this Lady Professor of Girtham
College was entitled to that appellation, he ventured to include them in
this volume, and felt confident that in so doing he would be carrying
out the intention of the Authoress, had she expressed any wishes on the
subject. In fact, as he valued the interests of the State and his own
peace of mind, he dared not withhold any particle of that which he
conceived would confer a lasting benefit on mankind.

Internal evidence seems to show that the earlier portion of the MS. was
written during the period when the authoress was still _in statu
pupillari_; but her learning was soon recognised by the Collegiate
Authorities, and she was speedily elected to a Professorship. Her
lectures were principally devoted to the abstruse subject of Scientific
Politics, and are worthy of the attention of all those whose high duty
it is to regulate the affairs of the State.

The Editor has been able to gather from the varied contents of the desk
some details of the Author's life, which increase the interest which her
words excite; and he ventures to hope that the public will appreciate
the wisdom which created such a profound impression upon those whose
high privilege it was to hear the lectures for the first time in the
Hall of Girtham College.

CONTENTS.

PAPER PAGE
I. Some Remarks on Female Education:

Cambridge Man's Powers of Application.--Torturing Ingenuity
of Examiners.--Slaying an Enemy.--'Concentration.'--
'Tangential Action.'--'Gravity' 1

II. Lecture on the Theory of Brain Waves and the Transmigration
and Potentiality of Mental Forces 15

III. The Social Properties of a Conic Section, and the Theory of
Polemical Mathematics:

'Circle.'--'Parabola.'--'Ellipse.' 'Eccentricity of Curves' 25

IV. The Social Properties of a Conic Section (_continued_):

'Ellipse.'--Most favoured State.--Alarming Result of
Suppression of House of Lords.--Analogies of Nature.--
Directrix.--Contact of