Printed and manuscript material concerning mathematics, compiled circa 1785 by Thomas White, schoolmaster in Dumfries.
Scope and Contents
The volume consists of Bernard de Fontenelle, ‘The life of Sir Isaac Newton’ (folio 3); John Lawson, ‘A synopsis of all the data for the construction of triangles’ (folio 17); and John Landen, ‘Observations on converging series’ (folio 29).
The remaining material is in manuscript: 'An investigation of the theorem on which the foregoing operations [i.e. Landen's article] are grounded' (folio 45); 'Geometrical analysis' a general criticism of the work of Thomas Simpson (folio 63); and 'Extracts from [Jacques] Ozanam's Dictionnaire Mathématique' of 1691 (folio 100). These items are all apparently in Thomas White's hand, and the first two may be by him. The last item in the volume is “An abstract of M. [Jean Etienne] Montucla's Histoire des Mathématiques” of 1758.
Dates
- Creation: 1691-1781.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
144 Leaves ; Quarto.
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Arrangement
144 folios.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bought, 1976.
Bibliography
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk