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TO THE

EDITOR OF THE EDINBURGH REVIEW.

MY DEAR SIR,

UNITED UNIVERSITY CLUB,

January 23, 1836.

I was gratified to find that a little pamphlet which I recently published as "Thoughts on the Study of Mathematics," had excited so much notice ast to give it a place at the head of an article in the Edinburgh Review; and in regard to the manner in which the Reviewer has spoken of me, I have certainly no reason to be dissatisfied; nor am I at all disposed to complain of the way in which he has urged his own opinions. But I think the article is likely to give rise to a misapprehension which ought to be corrected, and for that purpose I trouble you with this letter.

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I wrote my pamphlet in order to enforce certain views respecting the conduct of our mathematical examinations at Cambridge. The question on which I threw out a few Thoughts" was, what kind of mathematics is most beneficial as a part of a liberal education. That this was the question to which I was trying to give some answer I stated in a passage (quoted by the Reviewer) at page 8 of the pamphlet. The previous seven pages, in which, among other matter, I had said a few words on the question, whether mathematics in general or logic is the

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better mental discipline, were obviously only an introduction to the discussion of certain propositions which, as the Reviewer observes, occupy the remainder of the pamphlet."

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It was therefore with no slight surprise that I looked at the magnificent manner in which the Reviewer has spoken of the small portion of these seven small pages which refers to the more general question. He calls it a treatise, (a Treatise!) apparently on the very point" (p. 410), " a vindication of mathematical study" (p. 411); and having thus made me work at a task of his own devising, he repeatedly expresses great disappointment that have executed it so ill;-that, 66 so little is said on the general argument." I should have thought that this circumstance might have helped him to perceive that it was not my general argument.

I see nothing but the convenient and blameless practice of reviews in making the title of my book the occasion of publishing an Essay on a subject only slightly connected with mine; but it appears to me that to attempt to gain a victory by representing a page or two of my "Thoughts" as containing all that can be said by an able, earnest, official, advocate on the other side, is not a reasonable treatment of the question. The writer proclaims that he means to give 66 no quarter to my reasonings," but this proceeding looks rather like making an unexpected attack on a point when he thinks himself well prepared, on the arbitrary pretext that the truce has been broken by the adversary.

I should have no disinclination, on a convenient occasion, to discuss the very important and interesting question which is the subject of the Review. I cannot, however, look forward with confidence to the prospect of my being

able to take it up for a considerable period, and shall probably leave the Reviewer in possession of his self-chosen field of battle for several months, it may be years. But if I should return to the subject, I should wish to know as definitely as is possible what are the questions at issue between us; and I would therefore beg from the Reviewer information on the following points.

The Works which form our examples of Mathematical reasoning are well known: I wish to know also what works of "Practical Logic" on other subjects (p. 413) the Reviewer is willing to propose as rival instruments of education.

I wish to have some distinct account of the nature of that " Philosophy" which is by the Reviewer put in contrast to Mathematical study; (p. 422,) and if possible to have some work or works pointed out, in which this philosophy is supposed to be presented in such a way as to make it fit to be a cardinal point of education.

I may remark also, that all the Reviewer's arguments, and, I believe, the judgments of all his "cloud of witnesses," are founded upon the nature and processes of pure mathematics only;-on a consideration of the study of the mere properties of space and number. My suggestion of the means of increasing the utility of mathematical studies was directed mainly to this point;-that we should avoid confining ourselves to pure mathematics;that we should resort to departments in which we have to deal with other grounds of necessary truth, as well as the intuitions of space and time: so far, therefore, the Reviewer and I have a common aim, and I notice this with the more pleasure, since we have so far a better prospect of understanding each other in any future discussion.

I will not now trespass further on your patience. In order to remind my Cambridge readers of the state of the question, I shall probably place before them something to the same effect as what I have now written.

Believe me, my dear Sir,

Yours very faithfully,

W. WHEWELL.

OF THE

GASITY

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