ot_--you know that he has done it and what is if I
am not wrongly informed _you have been heard to say so_. He has done what
you nor any other mathematician as those who call themselves such have
done. And what is the reason that you will not candidly acknowledge to him
as you have to others that he has squared the circle shall I tell you? it
is because he has performed the feat to obtain the glory of which
mathematicians have battled from time immemorial that they might encircle
their brows with a wreath of laurels far more glorious than ever conqueror
won it is simply this that it is a poor man a {19} humble artisan who has
gained that victory that you don't like to acknowledge it you don't like to
be beaten and worse to acknowledge that you have miscalculated, you have in
short too small a soul to acknowledge that he is right.
"I was asked my opinion and _I_ gave it unhesitatingly in the affirmative
and I am backed in my opinion not only by Mr. ---- a mathematician and
watchmaker residing in the boro of Southwark but by no less an authority
than the Professor of mathematics of ---- College ---- ---- United States
Mr. ---- and I presume that he at least is your equal as an authority and
Mr. ---- says that the government of the U.S. will recompense M. D. for the
discovery he has made if so what a reflection upon Old england the boasted
land of freedom the nursery of arts and sciences that her sons are obliged
to go to a foreign country to obtain that recompense to which they are
justly entitled
"In conclusion I had to contradict an assertion you made to the effect that
'there is not nor ever was any reward offered by the government of this
country for the discovery of the quadrature of the circle.' I beg to inform
you that there _was_ but that it having been deemed an impossibility the
government has withdrawn it. I do this upon no less an authority than the
Marquis of Northampton.[41]
"I am, sir, yours ----"
"Dr. Morgan."
THE MOON'S ROTATION.
Notes on the Kinematic Effects of Revolution and Rotation, with
reference to the Motions of the Moon and of the earth. By Henry
Perigal, Jun. Esq. London, 1846-1849, 8vo.
On the misuse of technical terms. Ambiguity of the terms _Rotation_ and
_Revolution_, owing to the double meaning improperly {20} attributed to
each of the words. (No date nor place, but by Mr. Perigal,[42] I have
no doubt, and containing letters of 1849 and 1850.)
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