The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

A letter from G. Baron, one of the editors of the Mathematical Correspondent, to the Rev. Thomas P. Irving, Newbern, North Carolina, announcing the publication of an English edition of a celebrated analytical work.

SIR,

I have just received from London, a copy of the Analytical Institutions of the very learned Italian lady Donna Maria Gaetana Agnesi, late professor of the mathematics and philosophy in the University of Bologna. This work, well known and justly valued on the continent of Europe, was published at Milan, in the year 1748, when the celebrated author was about 28 years of age: The learned and ingenious John Colson, M. A. F. R. S. &c. who was well acquainted with what had appeared, on the same subject, in the works of those ingenious men, Emerson, Maclaurin and Simpson, found, after all, the Analytical Institutions of Agnesi, to be so excellent, that he was at the pains of learning the Italian language, at an advanced age, for the sole purpose of translating that work into English, for the benefit of the British youth. This great design he lived to accomplish, and had actually transcribed a fair copy for the press when death put an end to his labors. Mr. Colson's manuscript remained many years in obscurity, and might probably have been consigned to eternal oblivion, had it not been for the active and liberal spirit of Baron Maseres the great encourager of Mathematical learning in England.

Vir in rem mathematicam promovendam natu.

This noble patron of science and generous rewarder of mathematical merit, resolved to bear the whole expense of the handsome English edition of the Institutes lately published; and to render the work as correct as possible, he employed the Rev. J. Hellins, a man eminent for mathematical knowledge, to superintend the printing of the same. To delineate the merits of this work, and the handsome manner in which it is executed, would far exceed my present limits: I shall therefore only inform you that the work contains 623 large quarto pages, bound in two volumes, and that in my opinion it is, without exception, one of the best and most useful treatises on the subject now extant. The first volume treats of Algebra, and contains a vast number of ingenious geometrical constructions, designed to exhibit and illustrate the nature and resolution of Algebraic equations; the second includes the doctrine of fluxions, applied to a great variety of useful and sublime subjects. Convinced that this excellent work might be of great benefit to yourself and to the public, I have been induced to write through the medium of the public papers.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.
G. BARON.
New York, May 14th, 1804.

N B. The editors of papers, who are friendly disposed to the promotion of science, will confer a public benefit by noticing the work abovementioned.