Diagram in papers for Commercium Epistolicum
Date
23 July 1675
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p41
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 309mm
width (page): 198mm
width (page): 198mm
Subject
Description
Diagram from Isaac Barrow's edition of Euclid, which poses the problem: to prove that the square of the tangent DB to a circle is equal to the rectangle AD.DC of segments of any secant through D (James Gregory, ed. by H. W. Turnbull (London, 1939) p. 314). James Gregorie sent his proof to John Collins on 23 July 1675.
This volume contains the letters and papers of John Collins (1625-1683), which came into the possession of William Jones (1675-1749), who used them in Commercium Epistolicum, designed to prove Isaac Newton’s priority over Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the invention of fluxions.
The original letters were sealed up at the order of the Royal Society's council (25 October 1714) and stored in an iron chest. Further letters used in the 1722 edition of Commercium Epistolicum must have been added and stored with the original papers. These were ordered on 13 September 1737 to be ‘taken out of the Iron Chest’ and entrusted to Jones, who was asked to paste them into a guard-book in one volume (CMO/2/252, CMO/3/73).
This volume contains the letters and papers of John Collins (1625-1683), which came into the possession of William Jones (1675-1749), who used them in Commercium Epistolicum, designed to prove Isaac Newton’s priority over Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the invention of fluxions.
The original letters were sealed up at the order of the Royal Society's council (25 October 1714) and stored in an iron chest. Further letters used in the 1722 edition of Commercium Epistolicum must have been added and stored with the original papers. These were ordered on 13 September 1737 to be ‘taken out of the Iron Chest’ and entrusted to Jones, who was asked to paste them into a guard-book in one volume (CMO/2/252, CMO/3/73).
Transcription
Endorsed 'No. 46: p. 127, 128 Commerc. Epist. Edit. 1722. Extracts from Mr Gregories Letters To be sent to Monsr Leibnitz to peruse who is desired to returne the same to you.'
In his Letter of the 23rd of July 1675
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
In his Letter of the 23rd of July 1675
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
Mentioned (without diagrams) in Commercium Epistolicum D. Johannis Collins, et aliorum De analysi promota (London: Typis Pearsonianis, 1712), pp. 46-47; Commercium epistolicum D. Johannis Collins, et aliorum de analysi promota (London: J. Tonson & J. Watts, 1722), pp. 127-28.
Related fellows
James Gregorie (1638 - 1675, Scottish) , Mathematician
Isaac Barrow (1630 - 1677, British) , Classical and Mathematical Scholar, Scholar
John Collins (1625 - 1683, British) , Mathematician, Mathematician
Isaac Barrow (1630 - 1677, British) , Classical and Mathematical Scholar, Scholar
John Collins (1625 - 1683, British) , Mathematician, Mathematician
Associated place