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lady perished miserably, during the year 1802, in consequence of an accident from her clothes catching fire.

Mr. Jones survived the birth of his son William but three years. He was attacked with a disorder which the sagacity of Dr. Mead, who attended him with the anxiety of an affectionate friend, immediately discovered to be a polypus in the heart, and wholly incurable. This alarming secret was communicated to Mrs. Jones, who, from an affectionate, but mistaken, motive, could never be induced to discover it to her husband; and, upon one occasion, displayed a remarkable instance of self-command and address in the concealment of it.

A well-meaning friend, who knew his dangerous situation, had written to him a long letter of condolence, replete with philosophic axioms on the brevity of life. Mrs. Jones, who opened the letter, discovered the purport of it, at a glance; and being desired by her husband to read it, composed, in the moment, another lecture, so clearly and rapidly, that he had no suspicion of the deception; and this she did in a style so chearful and entertaining, that it greatly exhilarated him. He died soon after, in July, 1749, leaving behind him a great reputation and moderate property.

The history of men of letters is too often a melancholy detail of human misery, exhibiting the unavailing struggles of genius and learning against penury, and life consumed in fruitless expectation of patronage and reward. We contemplate, with satisfaction, the reverse of this picture in the history of Mr. Jones, as we trace him in his progress from obscurity to distinction, and in his participation of the friendship and beneficence of the first characters of the times. Nor is it less grateful to remark that the attachment of his professed friends did not expire with his life: after a proper interval, they visited his widow, and vied in their offers of service to

her. Amongst others, to whom she was particularly obliged, I mention, with respect, Mr. Baker, author of a Treatise on the Improved Microscope, who afforded her important assistance, in arranging the collection of shells, fossils, and other curiosities, left by her deceased husband, and in disposing of them to the best advantage. The library of Mr. Jones, by a bequest in his will, became the property of Lord Macclesfield.

The compilers of the Biographical Dictionary, in their account of Mr. Jones, have asserted, that he had completed a mathematical work of the first importance, and had sent the first sheet of it to the press, when the indisposition, which terminated in his death, obliged him to discontinue the impression; that, a few days before his demise, he entrusted the manuscript, fairly transcibed by an amanuensis, to the care of Lord Macclesfield, who promised to publish it, as well for the honour of the auther, 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."

* 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.

In the Philosophical Transactions:

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

The care of the education of William now devolved upon his mother, who, in many respects, was eminently qualified for the task. Her character, as delineated by her husband, with somewhat of mathematical precision,

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 Quantitatem 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.

SIR,

Letter from Mr. Jones to Mr. Cotes.

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 injury to the curious in these things to be kept any longer 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 M. Demoire's Treatise on Chances, which makes a whole transaction. He is very fond of it, and we 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 favor) 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

is this: "that she was virtuous without blemish, gener"ous without extravagance, frugal but not niggard, "cheerful but not giddy, close but not sullen, ingenu"ous but not conceited, of spirit but not passionate, of

done at your leisure. It would be a great satisfaction to me, if I could be any 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.

From the same to the same.

SIR,

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 disadvantage. I have nothing of news to send you, only the Germans and French have in a violent manner attacked 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.

DEAR SIR,

I am, Sir,

Very much your friend and servant,
WILLIAM JONES.

Answer to the foregoing, by Mr. Cotes.

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 inserpolation; but I find no cause from thence to make any alteration....

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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. He will add an Appendix, in which he undertakes also to square the circle. I need not recommend his performance any further to you.

I am, Sir, your obliged friend,
And humble servant,

R. C.

From Mr. Jones to Mr. Cotes.

London, Jan. 11, 1711-12.

DEAR SIR,

I have sent you here enclosed the copy of a letter, that I found among Mr. Collin's papers, from Sir Isaac Newton to one Mr. Smith. The contents thereof seem in a great measure to have relation to what you are about, as being the application of the Doctrine of Differences to the making of tables; and for that reason I thought it might be of use to you, so far as to see what has been done already. I shewed this to Sir Isaac: he remembers that he applied it to all sorts of tables. I have more papers of Mr. Mercator's, and others, upon this subject; though I think none so material to your purpose as this. I should be very glad to see what you have done upon this subject all published; and I must confess, that unless you design a large volume, it were much better to put them into the Philosophical Transactions, for that would sufficiently preserve them from being lost, which is the common fate of small single tracts, and, at the same time, to save the trouble and expense of printing them, since the subject is too curious to expect any profit from it; and besides now, as the Royal Society having done themselves the honour of choosing you a member, something from you cannot but be acceptable to them. Sir Isaac himself expects these things of you, that I formerly mentioned to him as your promise.

I am, Sir, your much obliged friend, and humble servant,
WILLIAM JONES.

From Mr. Jones to Mr. Cotes.

SIR,

London, Feb. 6, 1712-13.

The Royal Society having ordered one of their books for you, and another for Mr. Saunderson, also one for Trinity-College library, and

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