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268 General Propositions of Pappus, in which many of Euclid's Porisms are indialed, vol. xxxii., anri. 1723. These t\vo propositions were afterwards incorporated into the author's posthumous works, published by earl Stanhope. 2. On the Extraction of the Approximate Hoots of Numbers of Infinite Series, vol. xlviii., aim. 1753. His separate publications in his lifetime, were: 3. " Conic Sections," 1735, 4to. 4. "The Loci Plani of Apollonius Restored," 1749, 4to. 5. " Euclid's Elements," 1756, 4to, of which there have been since many editions in 8vo, with the addition of Euclid's Data. In 1776, earl Stanhope printed, at his own expense, several of Dr Simson's posthumous pieces. 1. Apollonius's Determinate Section. 2. A Treatise on Porisms. 3. A Tract on Logarithms. 4. On the Limits of Quantities and Ratios; and, 5., Some Geometrical Problems. Besides these, Dr Simson's MSS. contained a great variety of geometrical propositions, and other interesting observations on different parts of mathematics ; but not in a state fit for publication. Among other designs, was an edition of the Works of Pappus, in a state of considerable advancement, and which, had he lived, he might perhaps have published. What he wrote is in the library of the college of Glasgow; and a transcript was obtained by the delegates of the Clarendon press. To this university he left his collection of mathematical books, supposed to be the most complete in the kingdom, and which is kept apart from the rest of the library.

SKINNER, (, the well known author of several popular poems, and of an ecclesiastical history of Scotland, was born at Balfour, in the parish of Birse, Aberdeenshire, October 3, 1721. His father was schoolmaster of that parish, and his mother was the widow of Donald Farquhnrson, Esq. of Balfour. Having in boyhood displayed many marks of talent, he was placed at thirteen years of age in Marischal college, Aberdeen, where his superior scholarship obtained for him a considerable bursary. After completing his academical education, he became assistant to the schoolmaster of Kenmay, and subsequently to the same official at Monymusk, where he was so fortunate as to gain the friendship of the lady of Sir Archibald Grant. The library at Monymusk house, consisting of several thousands of well-selected works, in every department of literature, was placed by lady Grant at his command, and afforded him better means of intellectual improvement, than he could have hoped for in any other situation. He now found reason to forsake the presbyterian establishment, in which he had been reared, and to adopt the principles of the Scottish episcopal church, of which he was destined to be so distinguished an ornament. After spending a short time in Shetland, as tutor to the son of Mr Sinclair of Scolloway, and marrying the daughter of Mr Hunter, the only episcopal clergyman in that remote region, he commenced his studies for the church; and, having been ordained by bishop Dunbar of Peterhead, was appointed, in November, 1742, to the charge of the congregation at Longside, over which he presided for sixty-five years, probably without a wish to "change his place." Of the severities with which the episcopal clergy were visited after the rebellion of 1745, Mr Skinner bore his full share. His chapel was one of those which were burnt by the ruthless soldiers of Cumberland. After that period, in order to evade an abominable statute, he officiated to his own family within his own house, while the people stood without, and listened through the open windows. Nevertheless, he fell under the ban of the government, for having officiated to more than four persons, and was confined, for that offence, in Aberdeen jail, from May 26th, to November 26th, 1753. This was the more hard, as Mr Skinner was by no means a partizan of the Stuart family.

Mr Skinner's first publication was a pamphlet, entitled "A Preservative against Presbytery," which he published in 1746, to re-assure the minds of his