A reply to a critical and monthly reviewer, in which is inserted Euler's demonstration of the binomial theorem / by Abram Robertson.

  • Robertson, Abram, 1751-1826.
Date:
1808
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A reply to a critical and monthly reviewer, in which is inserted Euler's demonstration of the binomial theorem / by Abram Robertson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    of all this inftrudtion, I turned to the Monthly Review, number after number, and, Grange to tell, I found that in this publication he deferted Mr. W. on this occafion, al- though on others he uniformly approves of his writings, and adopts his opinions3: the Monthly Review is filent as to the merits of the above-mentioned performance. But in the developement of fecret proceedings it frequently happens, that the difeovery of one circumfiance enables the inquirer to follow his object; and this was the cafe in the prefent inftance. In confequence of the informa- tion, which I dated in the note in page i. of this Reply, I proceeded to examine the internal evidence in fupport of the aflertion, that the fame perfon frequently wrote in the Critical Review; and on turning to that publication' for June 1803, I found the fame learned critic holding forth with all his eloquence on the tranfeendent merits of his friend’s publication. Like a fkilful general, he had only moved out of the reach of Dr. Hutton’s galling fire. His friendfhip towards Mr. W. was unabated ; and it was exerted, as it appears from dates, with remarkable promptitude. The order of the Syndics of the Prefs, for fixing the price of the book, is dated the 12th of Februa- ry, 1803. There muft have been fome interval between this time and the publication of the work, fo that the critic muft have been very quick in reading and compre- hending his author, and very afiiduous in drawing up a condenfed but minute account of its excellence, before June. The volume, it is true, is thin ; but w^e are told by the critic, that “ it will exercife the talents of the “ higher mathematicians.” The fame friend to Mr. W. appears in the Critical Re- view for July 1805, and, in contemplating his merits, the critic feems to be overwhelmed with admiration. e‘ His “ fcience and Ikill,” the reviewer obferves, “ can be ap- “ preciated only by the higher mathematicians. A com- * See the Monthly Review for January and December 1S02, and for May 1805. See alfo the Critical Review for June 1805, from page 147 to 155. “ parifon
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