care of Lord Macclesfield, who promised to publish it, as well for the honour of the author, as for the benefit of the family, to whom the property of the work belonged. The Earl survived his friend many years; but The Introduction to the Mathematics (the alleged title of the work) was forgotten; and, after his death, the manuscript was not to be found. There is no evidence in the memoranda left by Sir William Jones, to confirm or disprove these assertions. Such of the mathematical works of Mr. Jones as have been published, are much admired for neatness, brevity, and accuracy*.

The

* In Hutton's Philosophical Dictionary, we have the following enumeration of the works of Mr. Jones:

A New Compendium of the whole Art of Navigation, small 8vo. 1702.

Synopsis palmariorum Matheseos; or a new Introduction to the Mathematics, containing the principles of arithmetic and geometry, demonstrated in a short and easy method; 8vo. 1706.

The care of the education of William now devolved upon his mother, who, in

many

In the Philosophical Transactions :

A Compendious Disposition of Equations for exhibiting the Relations of Geometrical Lines.

A Tract of Logarithms.

Account of a Person killed by Lightning in Tottenham-court Chapel, and its Effects on the Building.

Properties of Conic Sections, deduced by a compendious method.

He was also the editor of some mathematical works of Sir Isaac Newton, under the title of "Analysis, per quantitatum series, fluxiones, ac differentias: cum enumeratione linearum tertii ordinis.”

In the library of Trinity-college, Cambridge, some letters from Mr. Jones to Mr. Cotes, who was at that time engaged in giving lectures at the college, are preserved. They do not contain any material information: but having, with the permission of the college, obtained copies of them, by the polite assistance of Mr. Brown, I annex them to this note, together with one from Mr. Cotes to Mr. Jones.

Letter from Mr. JONES to Mr. COTES.

SIR;

London, September 17th, 1711. The paper concerning Sir Isaac Newton's method of interpolation, which you have been pleased to send me, being done so very neat, that it will be an

many respects, was eminently qualified for the task. Her character, as delineated by

injury to the curious in these things to be kept any lon ger without it; therefore must desire that you would grant me leave to publish it in the Philosophical Transactions. You may be assured that I do not move this to you without Sir Isaac's approbation, who I find is no less willing to have it done. The new edition of the Principia is what we wait for with great impatience, though at the same time I believe the book will be far more valuable than if it had been done in a hurry, since I find the interruptions are necessary, and such as will render it complete. We have nothing considerable in hand here at present, only Mr. Demoire's Treatise on Chances, which makes a whole transaction. He is very fond of it, and we may expect it well done, Mr. Raphson has printed off four or five sheets of his history of Fluxions, but being shewed Sir Isaac Newton's (who it seems would rather have them write against him, than have a piece done in that manner in his favour) he got a stop put to it, for some time at least. Dr. Halley has almost finished the printing of the Greenwich Observations, which will be a work of good use, especially as it is now freed from the trifles it was loaded with. Sir, I have one thing which I would trouble you with further, and that is, to let me know what lectures, or other papers of Sir Isaac Newton's, remain in your University unpublished. This may be done at your leisure. It would be a great satisfaction to me, if I could be any

way

by her husband with somewhat of mathematical precision, is this: " that she was " virtuous

way serviceable to you here at London; and should readily embrace any opportunity to approve and express myself, what I am exceedingly obliged to be,

Your most affectionate friend,

And faithful servant,

WILLIAM JONES.

SIR,

From the SAME to the SAME.

London, Oct. 25, 1711.

The favour of your account of Sir Isaac's papers left at Cambridge, I return you my hearty thanks for; and, as you have some further considerations about the Doctrine of Differences, I am assured that they cannot but be valuable; and if a few instances of the application were given, perhaps it would not be amiss. Having tarried some time for a convenient opportunity, I was obliged to send you at last Moreton's book by the carrier, though it will only satisfy you that Dr. Gregory had but a very slender notion of the design, extent, and use of lib. 3d of the Principia. I hope it will not be long before you find leisure to send me what you have further done on this curious subject. No excuse must be made against the publishing of them, since with respect to reputation, I dare say it will be no way to your disadvantages I have nothing of news to send you, only the Germans and French have in a violent manner attacked

the

"virtuous without blemish, generous with"out extravagance, frugal but not nig

the philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton, and seem resolved to stand by Des Cartes. Mr. Keil, as a person concerned, has undertaken to defend and answer some things, as Dr. Friend and Dr. Mead do in their way, the rest. I would have sent you the whole controversy, was I not sure that you know those only are most capable of objecting against his writings, that least understand them. However, in a little time, you will see some of them in the Philosophical Transactions.

I am, Sir,

Very much your friend and servant,

WILLIAM JONES.

Answer to the foregoing, by Mr. COTES.

DEAR SIR,

I have received Moreton's book. I thank you for the favour you did me in sending it. I have looked over what relates to his way of interpolation; but I find no cause from thence to make any alteration. The controversy concerning Sir Isaac's philosophy is a piece of news that I had not heard of. I think that philosophy needs no defence, especially when attacked by Cartesians. One Mr. Green, a fellow of ClareHall, seems to have nearly the same design with those German and French objectants, whom you mention. His book is now in our press, and almost finished I am

told;