Volume 1

A mathematical and philosophical dictionary: containing an explanation of the terms, and an account of the several subjects, comprized under the heads mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy both natural and experimental: with an historical account of the rise, progress, and present state of these sciences: also memoirs of the lives and writings of the most eminent authors. Both ancient and modern, who by their discoveries or improvements have contributed to the advancement of them ... With many cuts and copper-plates / By Charles Hutton.

  • Charles Hutton
Date:
1795-1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A mathematical and philosophical dictionary: containing an explanation of the terms, and an account of the several subjects, comprized under the heads mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy both natural and experimental: with an historical account of the rise, progress, and present state of these sciences: also memoirs of the lives and writings of the most eminent authors. Both ancient and modern, who by their discoveries or improvements have contributed to the advancement of them ... With many cuts and copper-plates / By Charles Hutton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    •( • about fquaring the circle, was grown fo famous by it, that in 1647 he was recommended to inilrudl Charles prince of Wales, afterwards king Charles the 2d, in mathematical learning. During this he employed his vacant time in compofing his Leviathan, which was publiflied in England in 1651. After the publication of this work, he returned to England, and paffed the remainder of his long life in a very retired and ftudious manner, in the houfe of the Earl of Devonlhire, moft- ly at his feat in Derbyfhire, but accompanying the earl always to London, fearing to^ be left out of his imme- diate protedlion, left he fliould be feized by officers from the parliament or government, on account of the freedom of his opinions in politics and religion. He received great marks of refpedt from king Charles the 2d ' at the reftoration in 1660, with a penfion of lool. a year. From that time, till his death, he applied him- felf to his ftudies, and in oppofing the attacks of his adverfaries, who were very numerous : in mathematical fubjedls difputes rofe to a great height between him and Dr. Wallis, on account of his pretended Quadrature of the Circle, Cubature of the Sphere, and Duplication of the Cube, which he obftinately'' defended without ever acknowledging his error. His longlife was that of a perfeftly honeft man ; a lover of his country, a good friend, charitable and ob- liging. He accuftomed himfelf much more to think- ingj than reading ; and was fond of a well-felefted, ra- ther than a large library. Ele had a hatred to the clei'gy, having been perfecuted by them, on account of the fi'eedom of his doftrine, and having a very indifferent opinion of their knowledge and their principles. In his laft ficknefs he was very anxious to know whether his difeafe was curable ; and when intimations wei'e given, that he might have eafe, but no remedy, he faid, ‘ I fhall be glad to find a hcle to creep out of the world at.’ He died the 4th of Dec. 1679, 91 years of age. His chief publications were, 1. An Englifh tranflation of Thucydides’s Hiftory of the Grecian war. 2. De Mirabilibus Pecci, and Memoirs of his own Life, both in Latin verfe. 3. Elements of Philofophy. 4. Anfwer to Sir William Davenant’s Epiftle, or Preface to Gondibert. 5. Human Nature, or the Fundamental Elements of Polic)'. 6. Elements of Law. 7. Leviathan; or the Matter, Form, and Power of a Commonwealth. 8. A Compendium of Ariftotle’s Rhetoric. 9. A Letter on Liberty and Neceffity. 10. The Queftions, concerning Neceffity and Chance, Hated. 11. Six I.effonsto the Profeffors of Mathematics, of the Inftitutlon of Sir Henry Saville. 12. The marks of Abfurd Geometry, S:c. 13. Dialogues of Natural Philofophy. Befides many other pieces on Polity^, Theology, Mathematics, and other mifcellaneous fubjedls, to the number of 41. HOBITS, in Gunnery. See Howitz. HOGSHEAD, a meafure, or veffel, of wine or VoL, 1. oil ; containing the 4th part of a tun, the half of a pipe, or 63 gallons. HOLDER (William), a learned and philofophi- cal Engliffiman, was born in Nottinghamffiire, educa- ted at Cambridge, and in 1642 became redfor of Ble- chingdon in Oxfordfhire. In 1660 he proceeded D. D. he became afterwards canon of Ely, Fellow of the Royal Society, canon of St. Paul’s, fub-dean of the royal chapel, and fub-almoner to the king. He was a general fcholar, a very accompliffied perfon, and a great virtuofo. Dr. Holder greatly' diftingulffied himfelf, by giving fpeech to a young gentleman of the name of Popham, who was born deaf. This was elFetled at his own houfe at Blechingdon in 1659 ; but the young man lofing what he had been taught by Holder after he was called home to his friends, he was fent to Dr. Wallis, who brought him to his fpeech again. Plolder publiflied a book, intitled “ the Elements of Speech ; an effiiy or inquiry' into the natural Produdtion of Letters : with an appendix, concerning perfons that are deaf and . dumb, 1669,” 8vo. In the appendix he relates how' foon, and by what methods, he brought young Pop- ham to fpeak. In the Philof. Tranf. for July 1670, was inferted a letter from Dr. Wallis, in which he claim.s to himielf the honour of bringing that gentleman to fpeak. By way of anfwer to which, in 1678, Dr. Holder publllhed in qto, “ A Supplement to the Philof. Tranf. of July 1670, with fomc refledtions on Dr. Wallis’s letter there inferted.” P^pon which the latter foon af- ter publlfhed “ A Defence of the Royal Society^', and the Philofophical Tranfadlions, particularly thofe of July 1670, in anfwer to the cavils of Dr. William Hol- der, 1678,” qto. Dr. Holder’s accomplifliments were very general. He was flcilled in the theory and practice of mufic, and wrote A Treatife of the Natural Grounds and Principles of Harmony, 1694,” 8vo. He wrote alfo “ A Treatife concerning Time, with applications of the Natural Day', Ininar Month, and Solar Year, See, 1694,” 8vo. He died at Amen Corner in London, Jan. 24, 1697, and was buried in St. Paul’s. HOLLOW, in Architedlure, a concave moulding, about a quarter of a circle, by'' fome called a Cafement, by others an Abacus. H OLLOW-To-zver, in Fortification, is a rounding made of the remainder of two brffures, to join the curtin to the crillon, wheie the fnrall fliot are played, that they may not be fo much expofed to the view of the enemy'. PIOLY Thiirfdayy otherwife called Afeenfion day, being the 39th day after Eafter Sunday', and kept in commemoration of Chrift’s alcenfion up into heaven. Holy Rood, or Holy Crofs, a feftival kept on the 14th of September, in memory' of the exaltation of our Saviour’s crofs. Holy IVeek, is the laft week of Lent, called alfo Paffion Week, HOLY WOOD (John), or Halifax, or Sacro^^ bofeo, was, according to Leland, Bale, and Pitts, born at Halifax inYorkffilre; according to Stainhurft, at Holywvood near Dublin ; and according to Dempfter and Mackenzie, in Nithfdale in Scotland* Though 4 H t]<efe