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First published in 1857, this work comprises assorted noteworthy
writings by the mathematician and astronomer Sir John Herschel
(1792 1871), reflecting his diverse scientific and literary
interests. It includes a piece on terrestrial magnetism, a review
of William Whewell's writings on the history and philosophy of
science, and several addresses to the Royal Astronomical Society.
Of particular interest is Herschel's commentary on Adolphe
Quetelet's work on probability, which advocated applying statistics
and probability calculus to social and political questions.
Herschel's article not only influenced the growth of social science
in Britain, but also played an important role in James Clerk
Maxwell's development of a statistical treatment of heat phenomena.
Also included in this collection are Herschel's translations of
poems by Schiller (accompanied by the original German) as well as
examples of his own verse. In an intriguing appendix, Herschel
outlines a method for compiling vocabularies of indigenous
peoples."
By the end of the eighteenth century, British mathematics had been
stuck in a rut for a hundred years. Calculus was still taught in
the style of Newton, with no recognition of the great advances made
in continental Europe. The examination system at Cambridge even
mandated the use of Newtonian notation. As discontented
undergraduates, Charles Babbage (1791 1871) and John Herschel (1792
1871) formed the Analytical Society in 1811. The group, including
William Whewell and George Peacock, sought to promote the new
continental mathematics. Babbage's preface to the present work,
first published in 1813, may be considered the movement's
manifesto. He provided the first paper here, and Herschel the two
others. Although the group was relatively short-lived, its ideas
took root as its erstwhile members rose to prominence. As the
society's sole publication, this remains a significant text in the
history of British mathematics.
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