DR HUTTON.

Jan. 27.-Charles Hutton, LL.D. and F.R.S. of London and Edinburgh, also an honorary member of several other learned societies, both in Europe and America, was born at Newcastleupon-Tyne, on the 14th of August, 1737. He was descended from a family in Westmoreland, which had the honour of becoming connected, by marriage, with that of Sir Isaac Newton. His father, who was a viewer or superintendant of mines, gave his children such education as his circumstances would permit, which was confined to the ordinary branches; but Charles, the youngest of his sons, (the subject of this memoir,) early manifested an extraordinary predilection for mathematical studies, in which he made considerable progress, while yet at school, with very little aid from his master; for, like most other eminent mathematicians, he was in a great measure selftaught. After the death of his parents, which took place in his early youth, he determined on undertaking the profession of a teacher, and commenced his labours at the neighbouring village of Jesmond, before he was twenty years of age; his master, who was a clergyman, having, upon being presented to a living, resigned the school in his favour.

In the year 1760, Dr Hutton removed to Newcastle, where he soon experienced great encouragement; and, among his earliest pupils, was the present Lord Chancellor. We here call him Doctor prematurely, he not having received the diploma of LL.D. until the year 1779, when that honour was conferred upon him by the University of Edinburgh; but, as it is the title by which he is best known in the scientific world, we thus early adopt it.

It appears, that neither the duties of his profession, nor the cares of a increasing family, interrupted his b vourite studies, as he devoted all ba leisure hours to mathematical pursua In 1764 he published "A Treatise Arithmetic and Book-keeping," whi soon passed through numerous edition. and is still held in high estimation His next publication was "A Treatis on Mensuration, both in theory a practice," and is considered the most complete work on the subject eve published. It established his reput tion as a mathematician, although merous proofs of his superior talent and acquirements had been already nifested, by his able solutions of thematical questions in various scienti fic journals. Among these repositores, the celebrated Almanack, under thetit of the Ladies' Diary, particularly a tracted his attention. This work had been conducted with great ability, from its commencement in 1704; Dmerous learned correspondents contributing, annually, curious mathemati cal questions, and answers, with enigmas, &c. Dr Hutton collected the Diaries of fifty years, and republished their questions and solutions, in five volumes, with notes and illustrations, which form a very useful and interesting miscellany. He some time afterwards became the editor of the Diary, and conducted it for nearly half a century, with such ability and judgment, as greatly to increase the number of eminent mathematicians, and to enlarge the boundaries of useful science, Dr Hutton's office of editor of this work, also afforded him an opportunity of procuring biographical notices of the most eminent of his correspondents; with which he afterwards enriched his Mathematical Dictionary, and his abridgment of the Philosophical Transactions.

In 1773, the situation of Mathematical Professor to the Royal Military

Academy at Woolwich having become rracant, numerous gentlemen of the first eminence in science applied for the appointment; and, among the number, Dr Hutton presented himself as a canlidate. The office was in the gift of the Master-General of the Ordnance, and the strongest interest was made by various noblemen and gentlemen for heir respective friends; but, to the honour of the then Master-General, Lord Viscount Townshend, nothing out superior qualifications were allowed to avail. His lordship gave public notice, that merit alone should decide the preference, which must be determined by a strict and impartial examination. With this view, four eminent mathematicians were selected as examiners on the occasion, viz. Dr Horsley, afterwards Bishop of Rochester, Dr Maskelyne, the Astronomer Royal, Colonel Watson, the chief engineer to the East India Company, and the celebrated Mr Landen.

Nothing could be more strictly impartial than the examination. The candidates were eight in number, and each was separately examined, not only in the principles, but in the history of mathematics. Several abstruse problems were afterwards given for solution; and, when the answers were received, the report of the examiners expressed high approbation of all the candidates, but gave a decided preference in favour of Dr Hutton. This was, indeed, an unequivocal test of superior merit. The judicious determination of the Master-General, by conferring the appointment on Dr H., was in a short time found to be most advantageous to the Institution. It is, indeed, well known, that Dr Hutton raised the Royal Military Academy, from a state of comparative inferiority, to the highest degree of celebrity and national importance. To his steady and persevering conduct for thirty-five

years, and his improvements in military science, his country is essentially indebted, for the success of the British artillery and engineers in all parts of the world, during the last half century.

His removal from Newcastle to so distinguished a situation near the metropolis, and his election, soon after, as a fellow of the Royal Society, gave him new opportunities for the advancement and diffusion of the most useful knowledge; for, it should be observed, that, at all times, his attention was particularly directed to those branches of the mathematics which are most conducive to the practical purposes of life. In a short time, he became an important contributor to the Philosophical Transactions, which, from the specimens he gave, it is probable he would have enriched more than any other member either ancient or modern, had not a stop been put to his valuable labours by unfortunate dissensions in the Royal Society, which nearly gave a death-blow to that excellent institution.

He

When Dr Hutton first entered the Society, Sir John Pringle was the President. He was a person of great acquirements, and eminently well-qualified to fill the chair of Newton, always manifested a particular regard for the Doctor, which probably excited the jealousy of many persons, who were not attached to mathematical investigations; among the members of this description, was Mr (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks, who obtained his election as President, upon the resignation of Sir John Pringle. H. had for some time held the office of Foreign Secretary with the greatest credit; but the new President procured a vote to be passed by the Society, that it was requisite this secretary should reside constantly in London; a condition with which the Doc

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tor could not possibly comply; and he therefore resigned the situation. Many of the most valuable members of the Society, however, warmly espoused Dr H.'s cause, and discontinued their accustomed attendance at the usual periodical meetings; among the number may be mentioned Dr Horsley, Dr Maskelyne, Baron Maseres, and many other distinguished characters; who, finding that the disciples of Newton were always outvoted by those of Linnæus, retired, with Dr Hutton, from the Society.

Although Dr Hutton's retirement deprived him of the great stimulus to exertion which such a Society must have afforded, he still continued to give to the world, from time to time, various valuable works. In 1785 he published his "Mathematical Tables," containing common, hyperbolic, and logistic logarithms; also sines, both natural and logarithmic; with several other tables used in mathematical calculations; to which is prefixed, a large and original history of the discoveries and writings relating to those sciences. In 1786 appeared his "Tracts on Mathematical and Philosophical Subjects," in three volumes, which contain much new and valuable matter. They were reprinted in 1812. In 1787 "The Compendious Measurer" was published; which is chiefly an abridgment of his large work on mensuration. In the following year he published his "Elements of Conic Sections," with select exercises in various branches of mathematics and philosophy, for the use of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. This work was warmly patronized by the Duke of Richmond, then Master-General of the Ordnance, who, on that occasion, presented Dr H. at court to his Majesty.

In 1795 appeared his "Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary," in two large volumes, quarto, which was

the result of many years' preparatiz and has since advanced to a second s tion. It has supplied all subseque works of the kind, and even the voluminous Cyclopædias, with valuati materials, both in the sciences, and scientific biography.

His next publication was Course of Mathematics," in two v lumes octavo, composed for the u of the students of the Royal Milit Academy; which has since become standard work in all eminent school. both in Great Britain and Ament. It has passed through numerous et tions; and in 1811 a third volume wa added, which is said to have been pr pared nearly in equal portions by D Hutton, and his esteemed friend, Dr Olinthus Gregory, now Professor d Mathematics in the Royal Military Academy.

In the year 1803, he undertook the arduous task of abridging the Ph losophical Transactions," in conjunc tion with Dr Pearson and Dr Shav Dr Hutton is said to have execute: the chief part of the work, and to hav received for his labour no less a san than six thousand pounds. It wa completed in 1809, and the who comprised in eighteen quarto volumes About the same period was published his translation of "Montucla's Recreations in Mathematics and Natura Philosophy;" and an improved edition of the same work appeared in 1814.

In 1806 the Doctor became afflict ed with a pulmonary complaint, which confined him for several weeks; but in the following year he resumed his professional duties. His medical friends, however, advised him to retire from the labours of the Academy, as soon as it might be deemed convenient; and, in consequence of an application to this effect, the Master-General and Board of Ordnance acceded to his wishes, and manifested their approba tion of his long and meritorious ser

ices, by granting him a pension for ife, of 500l. per annum. This annuiy, together with a large property which he had realised, chiefly by his publications, enabled him to retire in iffluent circumstances. But in his reirement, his constant amusement coninued to be, the cultivation and diffu. sion of useful science. He officiated for some time, every half year, as the principal examiner to the Royal Military Academy, and also to the East India College at Addiscombe.

During this period, as well as previously, he was indefatigable in kind offices, especially in promoting the interest of scientific men, and recommending them to situations, where their talents might prove most useful both to themselves, and to their country. To his recommendations, as well as to his instructions, our most eminent scientific institutions have been chiefly indebted for the Professors of Mathematics during the last thirty years.

He was constantly visited at his residence in Bedford-row by an extensive circle of friends; and his cheerfulness and urbanity were uniformly the same. It is remarkable, that, during the last twelve months of his life, he was often heard to declare that it was one of the most happy years he had ever experienced. His death was caused by a cold, which brought on a # return of his pulmonary complaint. = His illness was neither tedious nor painful; and his valuable life terminated on the 27th of January, 1823, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. His remains were interred in the familyvault at Charlton, in Kent; and his funeral was most respectably attended.

MRS RADCLIFFE.

In Stafford-row, Pimlico, Mrs Ann Radcliffe, wife of W. Radcliffe, Esq. barrister-at-law, and late proprietor

and editor of the English Chronicle newspaper. Mrs Radcliffe was known and admired by the world, as the able and ingenious authoress of some of the best romances that have ever appeared in the English language; and which, to the honour of the country, have been translated into every European tongue, and read everywhere with enthusiasm. Her first work was "Athlin and Dumblaine," her second" The Sicilian Romance," and her third "The Romance of the Forest," which established her fame as an elegant and original writer. Her next production, published in 1793, was the famous "Mysteries of Udolpho," for which the Robinsons gave her 1000%., and were well repaid for their speculation, the work being universally sought for, and many large editions rapidly sold. Having been incorporated by Mrs Barbauld, into her edition of the British Novelists, and being, in that or other forms, in every library, it would be superfluous, in this place, to enlarge on its transcendent merits. Hyper-criticism alone can detect its faults. The denouement is not considered by many persons as a justification of the high colouring of the previous narrative; but it was Mrs Radcliffe's object to shew how superstitious feelings could feed on circumstances easily explained by the ordinary course of nature. This object she attained, though it disappoints the votaries of superstition, and, in some degree, irritates the expectations of philosophy. Be this as it may, taken as a whole, it is one of the most extraordinary compositions in the circle of literature. In 1791, Mrs Radcliffe gave to the world a narrative of her travels in France, Germany, and Italy; but in describing matters of fact, her writings were not equally favoured. Some years after, Cadell and Davies gave her 1500l. for her " Italians," which, though generally read, did not increase her reputation. The anonymous criticisms

which appeared upon this work, the imitations of her style and manner by various literary adventurers, the publication of some other novels under a name slightly varied for the purpose of imposing on the public, and the flippant use of the term "Radcliffe school," by scribblers of all classes, tended altogether to disgust her with the world, and create a depression of spirits, which led her for many years, in a considerable degree, to seclude herself from society. It is understood that she had written other works, which, on these accounts, she with held from publication, in spite of the solicitude of her friends, and of tempting offers made her by various pub. lishers. Her loss of spirits was followed by ill health, and the only solace of her latter years was the unwearied attentions of an affectionate husband, whose good intelligence enabled him to appreciate her extraordinary worth. The situation in which they resided, during the last ten years, is one of the most cheerful round the metropolis; and here, under the gradual decay of her mental and bodily powers, this intellectual ornament of her sex expired on the 7th day of February, in the 62d year of her age. In person, Mrs Radcliffe was of diminutive size; and, during the prime of her life, when she mixed in company, her conversation was vivacious, and unalloyed by the pedantic formality which too often characterizes the manners of literary ladies.

MR WILLIAM PLAYFAIR.

Feb. 11.-In his 64th year, Mr Wil. liam Playfair. The subject of our present memoir was the son of a clergyman in the neighbourhood of Dundee, and was born in 1759. His father dying when he was young, his education and support principally rested on his elder brother, the late Professor,

who was then a minister of the churc of Scotland. Discovering an ear taste for the mechanical arts, he wa when of a sufficient age, apprentice for a short period, to a mill-wrights the name of Mickle, where he had fr his fellow apprentice John Rennie, te celebrated engineer. Mr Playfair que ted Scotland for England, and preceeding to Birmingham, was engag in 1780, as a draughtsman at Soha: the employment of Mr James Watt

Had Mr Playfair cultivated his m chanical genius, there is no doubt that he would not only have obtaine considerable eminence, but have redered no inconsiderable service to thi country. Unhappily, however, for b own interests, he had the ambition become an author.

Few individuals of the present day have written so much or so consistent ly as Mr Playfair. Politics and pol tical economy were his favourite pics, and there has scarcely been i subject of public interest, connected with either, during the last forty years, that has not elicited a pamphlet from his prolific pen. Firmly devoted to the interests of his country, he never suffered any opportunity of serving t by his pen to escape him, though m exertions went unrewarded, and he of ten incurred expenses which his circumstances would very ill bear. As one instance of the neglect with which he was treated, we may mention, that although he was the person who furnished the plan and alphabet of the te legraph to the British Government, which enabled it to adopt a system of communication then so successfully employed by our great enemy, yet Mr Playfair's services were not only unrequited, but even very tardily acknow ledged. Mr Playfair happened to be at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, when a member of the Parliament of Bourdeaux arrived at the same inn, and described to him a telegraph which had been erected on the mountain of Bel